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John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon

Actor · Died October 29, 2019, aged 77 · Detroit, Michigan, USA

John Witherspoon was an African-American comedian and actor who has roles in over 20 movies and television shows. Acting for over three decades, Witherspoon starred in films such as Hollywood Shuffle (1987), Boomerang (1992), and the Friday film series. He also made appearances on television shows such as Barnaby Jones (1973), The Wayans Brothers (1994-99), The Tracy Morgan Show (2003), and Boondocks (2005). He has also taken his success in acting into screenwriting a movie called From the Old School where he takes the role as an elderly working man who tries to prevent a neighborhood convenience store from being developed into a strip club. Witherspoon released The John Witherspoon Collection, a line of comical greeting cards known as Spoon Cards.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 27, 1942
Died
October 29, 2019 (aged 77)
From
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
52 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 11% in 30 days

What are John Witherspoon's films like?

Across their 22 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
33%
Bonds
29%
Society
21%
Morality
8%
Survival
5%
Power
4%
Ideas
1%
Community8 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 15 · Serious 3 · Dark 0

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 9 · Charged 9 · Intense 0

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 9 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 4

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 0 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 17

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 2

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 15 · Engaged 3 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

7 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 3 of 7 analyzed roles.

Mentor
3 of 7
Herald
1 of 7
Trickster
1 of 7
Threshold guardian
1 of 7
Ally
1 of 7
Show the 7 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Absurd
14
Joyful
13
Warm
12
Tense
6
Manic
4
Other
7

How their films linger

Fun18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy14
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous2
  • Cyclical2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch John Witherspoon's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 35 of their 52 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (18).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Witherspoon's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 52 with a MovieCove page; 4 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Boosters LA(2022)

    as Luther

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Reality Queen! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2020)

    as Joe The Plumber

  • I Got the Hook Up 2(2019)

    as Mr. Mimm

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • White Famous(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Limo Driver

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all shows

  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as James Brown

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • BoJack Horseman(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Franco Aplenty (voice)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • Black Jesus(2014)

    Show 31 episodes · as Lloyd

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The First Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 28 episodes · as Grandpa Alvin

  • Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as S. Ward Smith (voice)

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Anger Management(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Will

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • A Thousand Words(2012)

    as Blind Man

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Chick Magnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as John (uncredited)

  • Bring Me the Head of Lance Henriksen(2010)

    as John

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Hustle(2008)

    as Mr. Wikes

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • After Sex(2007)

    as Gene

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • A Boo Crew Christmas: A Miracle on D-Roc's Street(2006)

    as Real Santa/Christmas Singer on a Radio (voice)

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Little Man(2006)

    as Pops

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Boondocks(2005)

    Show 55 episodes · as Robert Freeman (voice)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Soul Plane(2004)

    as Blind Man

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • The Tracy Morgan Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 16 episodes · as Spoon

  • Friday After Next(2002)

    as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Kim Possible(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Wayne (voice)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Dr. Dolittle 2(2001)

    as Zoo Bear #2 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Little Nicky(2000)

    as Street Vendor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Ladies Man(2000)

    as Scrap Iron

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Next Friday(2000)

    as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • High Freakquency (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Wes Thomas

  • I Got the Hook Up(1998)

    as Mr. Mimm

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Bulworth(1998)

    as Reverend Morris

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Ride(1998)

    as Roscoe

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Fakin' Da Funk(1997)

    as Bill

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Sprung(1997)

    as Detective

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Waynehead(1996)

    Show as Dad

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • Vampire in Brooklyn(1995)

    as Silas Green

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Friday(1995)

    as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Scofflaw (voice)

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all shows

  • Murder Was the Case: The Movie(1995)

    as Drunk #1

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • The Wayans Bros.(1995)

    Show 101 episodes · as John 'Pops' Williams

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all shows

  • Cosmic Slop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Homeless Man #1 (segment 'The First Commandment')

  • Fatal Instinct(1993)

    as Arch

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Meteor Man(1993)

    as Clarence James Carter III

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Martin(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Junior

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all shows

  • Bebe's Kids(1992)

    as Card Player #1 (voice)

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Boomerang(1992)

    as Mr. Jackson

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Killer Tomatoes Strike Back! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Evan Rood

  • Talkin' Dirty After Dark(1991)

    as Dukie

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sunday in Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Fredic Dickson

  • The Five Heartbeats(1991)

    as Wild Rudy

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Augustus Adams

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • House Party(1990)

    as Mr. Strickland

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 4 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Actor

  • I'm Gonna Git You Sucka(1988)

    as Reverend

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Actor

  • Kidnapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Pimp

  • Bird(1988)

    as Sid

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Robert Townsend: Partners in Crime: Vol. 1 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    Actor

  • Hollywood Shuffle(1987)

    as Mr. Jones

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Ratboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Heavy

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Steadman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • 227(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Jazz Singer(1980)

    as M.C. Cinderella Club

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • WKRP in Cincinnati(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • The Incredible Hulk(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • The Richard Pryor Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • What's Happening!! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · as DJ

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles from 1974 to 2022; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

Little Man (2006)

$104M worldwide

Highest rated

The Boondocks (2005)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

19742022

Peak 2001 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 6 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 67: 67 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score44th

By decade

1970s5 · acting1980s13 · acting1990s23 · acting2000s13 · acting2010s11 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 22 roles
8095

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do John Witherspoon's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 32nd percentile, the median of all 33; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 37th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

77thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 52 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th18
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 52 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Divisive4
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed24

Most divisive · actor

I Got the Hook Up 2 (2019)

98th percentile spread · 61% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Boondocks (2005)

Midcredits 96th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 54/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 35. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is John Witherspoon's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and alcohol & drugs run heavier than most films and frightening / intense lighter.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles41–71 · median 50 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles27–74 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles60–97 · median 85 · severeheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles47–90 · median 73 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles14–51 · median 27 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does John Witherspoon work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Witherspoon's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tom Lister Jr. shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers