Donald Gibb, best known for playing the “Ogre” in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise, has died. He was 71.
The actor’s son, Travis, shared with TMZ that his father had died on Tuesday evening “due to health complications.”
Travis said that his dad died in his Texas home and “was surrounded by family who loved him deeply.”
The outlet reports that Gibb had ongoing health issues that led to his death, with the family asking fans “for prayers and privacy during this difficult time,” noting that their father “will be deeply missed and forever remembered.”
Gibb was famously known for playing the lovable brute Frederick Aloysius “Ogre” Palowaski in the 1984 comedy film directed by Jeff Kanew. He would reprise his role in 1987’s Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise. Gibb would later reprise his role in the TV film sequel of the franchise in 1994’s Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love.
Other films in which Gibb was credited included Meatballs Part II (1984), Jocks (1986), They Still Call Me Bruce (1987), Amazon Women on the Moon (1987), Bloodsport (1988), Missing Pieces (1992), Magic Kid 2 (1994), Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite (1996), U.S. Marshals (1998), Durango Kids (1999), The Biggest Fan (2002), and Hancock (2008), ton name a few.
In television, Gibb had guest-starring roles in Magnum, P.I. (1982), The A-Team (1983), Knight Rider (1984), The Facts of Life (1987), My Two Dads (1989), Night Court (1990), Sons and Daughters (1991), MacGyver (1991), Quantum Leap (1992), Cheers (1992), The X-Files (1993), Boy Meets World (1994), and Seinfeld (1995).
Gibb was a regular on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten, which ran for six seasons. The actor shared credits with Delta Burke and O.J. Simpson throughout its 80-episode run.
Between 1993 and 1998, Gibb appeared in the ABC sitcom Step by Step. Other shows he appeared in included Unhappily Ever After (1996), Pacific Blue (1996), Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper (1997), Arli$$ (1999), Veronica’s Closet (2000), She Spies (2002), The Young and the Restless (2003), among others.
