Truck Turner

He was the voice of Meadowlark Lemon in the Harlem Globetrotters cartoon, Hong Kong Phooey in the series of the same name, and Jazz in the original Transformers TV show and movie.

But he also had some pretty significant live-action roles, including Truck Turner, Black Belt Jones, Lady Sings the Blues, Slaughter's Big Ripoff, I mean, it was the 70s, you did need to do some blaxploitation at some point, and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest with Nicholson.

as well as numerous TV appearances including an extended role on Chico and the Man, and he stayed working right up until around 1985 when an inoperable tumor in his lungs spread to his esophagus and restricted his ability to perform.

He passed away not long after, in 1986 at the age of 76, but he remains a beloved figure in the entertainment industry to this day.