Donald Gibb, “Revenge of the Nerds” and “Bloodsport” Actor, Dies at 71

NEED TO KNOW

• Donald Gibb, known for his roles in movies like Revenge of the Nerds and Bloodsport, died at 71 on Tuesday, May 12

• Gibb’s family said in a statement that he “brought joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories to countless people throughout his life and career”

• Gibb appeared in a movie for the first time in over a decade this year with the film Hands

Donald Gibb, the character actor best known for portraying Ogre in the Revenge of the Nerds movies and the 1988 action film Bloodsport, has died. He was 71.

Gibb’s talent agent Tina Presley-Borek confirmed the news of his death with PEOPLE on Wednesday, May 13, after TMZ and Rolling Stone first reported the news of his death on Tuesday, May 12.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Donald Gibb — a beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and actor. Donald loved the Lord, his family, his friends, and his fans with all his heart,” Gibb’s children said in a statement shared with PEOPLE. “Known for his larger-than-life presence on screen and his kindness off screen, he brought joy, laughter, and unforgettable memories to countless people throughout his life and career.”

The statement continued, “Above all else, Donald treasured his faith and the people he loved. His strength, generosity, and spirit will never be forgotten by those who had the privilege of knowing him personally and by the many fans whose lives he touched over the years.”

“We ask for prayers and privacy for the family during this difficult time while celebrating a life well lived and a legacy that will continue on forever,” the statement added. “Our father will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”

Gibb made his earliest onscreen appearances with uncredited roles in movies like 1980’s Any Which Way You Can and Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s 1982 movie Conan the Barbarian. He also appeared on television series like The A-Team, Hardcastle and McCormick and Magnum, P.I. in the early ’80s before appearing in Revenge of the Nerds as the fraternity brother Ogre.

Gibb reprised that role in the 1987 sequel Nerds in Paradise and 1994’s television movie Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love.

Gibb was perhaps also best known for costarring with Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport, a martial arts movie that also launched Van Damme’s own career as an action hero. He also reprised that role in 1994’s Bloodsport 2.

Van Damme, 65, shared a photo of himself and Gibb from the movie’s set to his Instagram Stories on May 12, after the news of Gibb’s death broke. “Rest in peace, my brother 🙏🏻,” he wrote over the photo.

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Gibb racked up roughly 100 acting roles over the course of his career, which also included appearances in television series like The X-Files and a role on the series 1st & Ten. In the 21st century, Gibb appeared in Will Smith‘s 2007 superhero movie Hancock and voiced a character in the video games Mafia II and Rage, but he appeared to take a hiatus from acting after 2011.

Gibb returned to the screen earlier this year with a movie titled Hands and is listed as an actor in an upcoming movie titled Burlesque Ghost Hunters, which filmed in New Mexico in 2024.

An “about” page on Gibb’s personal website reads that he was “a devoted father to Moana, Lehua, Travis, Mykkal, and Olivia” and that he was “embracing new opportunities with his return to film, convention appearances, and working on his new book.”

Read the original article on People