LOS ANGELES — Bubba Smith, a former all-pro football player turned actor and commercial pitch man who delighted TV viewers by wrenching off the tops of “easy-opening cans” of beer, was found dead Wednesday at his home. He was 66.
The cause of death has not been determined, but a police spokesman said the death does not appear to be suspicious.
A 6-foot-7, 280-pound defensive end, Smith was the No. 1 NFL draft pick from Michigan State when he joined the Baltimore Colts in 1967. He played five seasons for the Colts, which included their upset loss to the New York Jets in Super Bowl III and a victory over the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V. He spent two seasons with the Oakland Raiders and two more with the Houston Oilers before a knee injury ended his career in 1976.
After football, Smith was recruited to the ranks of former professional athletes who appeared as themselves in commercials for Miller Lite beer. He was featured in one commercial extolling the virtues of the beer, beaming into the camera, “I also love the easy-opening cans,” while ripping off the top of the can. A nondrinker, Smith walked away from the job to pursue acting, notably playing Moses Hightower in six “Police Academy” movies.
Los Angeles Times
