Former NFL star Bubba Smith, who went from feared defensive end on the field to endearing giant in his successful second career as an actor, died Wednesday. He was 66.

Former NFL star Bubba Smith, who went from feared defensive end on the field to endearing giant in his successful second career as an actor, died Wednesday. He was 66.

Smith, who was born in Beaumont, Texas, played football for Michigan State. While playing for the school he was one of the strongest players, inspring fans to change "Kill, Bubba, Kill" during games.

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Former NFL star Bubba Smith, who went from feared defensive end on the field to endearing giant in his successful second career as an actor, died Wednesday. He was 66.

STORY: Bubba Smith, Football Star and ‘Police Academy’ Actor, Dies The outpouring of fans was so great after news of Smith’s death broke that the term “Police Academy” became a national ...

Bubba Smith, a Pro Bowl defensive end who transitioned to acting after his NFL career, suffered with the debilitating brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) when he died, researchers ...

Bubba Smith, a former All-Pro football player turned actor and commercial pitchman who delighted TV viewers by wrenching off the tops of "easy-opening cans" of beer, was found dead Wednesday at ...

Bubba Smith, the football star who went on to play a lovable lug in the Police Academy films and Miller Lite commercials, was found dead Wednesday at his Baldwin Hills home in Los Angeles. He was 66.

Bubba Smith, a college and professional football star who went from feared defensive end on the field to endearing giant in his successful second career as an actor, was found dead Aug. 3 at his ...

Bubba Smith, who died on August 3, was a teammate of mine. I can see him giving me a stern put-on sneer in response to that claim, and in truth, Bubba and I were not football teammates.

Bubba wanted to go to Kansas to block for his older brother, Willie Ray Jr., a running back. But the Jayhawks’ coach wasn’t interested in another Smith.

Bubba Smith, the fearsome defensive end who played five seasons for the Baltimore Colts and helped them to victory in Super Bowl V in January 1971, was the very definition of a larger-than-life ...