Donald Gibb, the actor best known for his roles in the ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ film series and ‘Bloodsport’, died on Tuesday. He was 71.
His son, Travis Gibb, confirmed to TMZ that the actor passed away from health complications at his home in Texas. While the exact cause of death was not disclosed, Gibb’s son noted he had been battling unspecified health issues for some time and died surrounded by loved ones.
Early Life and Sports Career
Born in New York City on August 4, 1954, Gibb moved to California as a child. He attended Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles before earning a basketball scholarship to the University of New Mexico. He later transferred to the University of San Diego, where he played football on a sports scholarship.
Gibb briefly played for the San Diego Chargers but left football after a career-ending injury in an automobile accident. This incident led him to pursue acting, beginning with small, uncredited roles in films like ‘Stripes’ and ‘Conan the Barbarian’.
Breakthrough Roles and Legacy
Gibb gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of the dim-witted fraternity brother Ogre in the 1984 cult classic ‘Revenge of the Nerds’. He reprised the role in the sequels ‘Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise’ (1987) and ‘Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love’ (1994).
In 1988, he starred alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in ‘Bloodsport’, playing fighter Ray Jackson. He returned to the role in the 1996 sequel, ‘Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite’.
Other notable credits include ‘1st Ten’, ‘Hancock’, ‘Jocks’, and ‘Amazon Women on the Moon’.
Tribute to a Co-Star
Gibb’s passing follows the death of his ‘Revenge of the Nerds’ co-star Robert Carradine, who died at age 71 in April 2024 after a two-decade battle with Bipolar Disorder.
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