Bubba Smith, NFL Star and Police Academy Actor, Was 66

Sad news: According to an L.A. Times report, former NFL all-pro defensive end and actor Bubba Smith passed away this week at the age of 66. Smith was reportedly found deceased in his Los Angeles home, likely having succumbed to natural causes. While known for his outstanding pro-football career in the '60s and '70s, Smith followed sports stardom by transitioning into an acting career highlighted by his iconic turn as the gentle florist-turned-cop, Moses Hightower, in all but one of the Police Academy films.

The 6'7" Smith, born in Texas in 1945, started out as an All-American athlete at Michigan State University, where he took out rival quarterback Terry Hanratty in the 1966 Notre Dame-Michigan State "Game of the Century;" selected by Baltimore as the number one draft pick in 1967, Smith went on to play for the Baltimore Colts, the Oakland Raiders, and the Houston Oilers before transitioning into an acting career in the '70s.

After making his small-screen debut in 1978 on an episode of Wonder Woman, Smith turned in guest appearances on various shows including Good Times, Charlie's Angels, and Taxi (along with a recurring role on the short-lived sitcom Open All Night) before landing the role of Police Cadet Hightower in 1984's seminal Police Academy.

Smith continued to pop up in film and TV throughout the '00s, but Hightower remained his most iconic and celebrated role. There's also this '70s-era Miller Lite commercial in which the former athlete compares his on-the-field technique ("I used to grab the whole backfield, then I threw them out until I found the one with the ball") to choosing his beer of choice. In Smith's honor, why not grab a cold one, rip the top off, sit back, and cue up Police Academy on the Netflix tonight?

• Bubba Smith, NFL star and 'Police Academy' actor, found dead at home [L.A. Times]