Bubba Smith
A mountain of a man who won a Super Bowl on the gridiron before becoming a beloved comic actor in the 'Police Academy' films.
1945–2011 (age 66)·American actor and athlete·Birthday: February 28·The Silent Generation
Biography
Bubba Smith was a physical phenomenon who lived two distinct public lives. First, he was a fearsome defensive end, a number one overall NFL draft pick whose size and power helped the Baltimore Colts win Super Bowl V. His football career was defined by brute strength and athleticism. Then, in a surprising second act, he translated his imposing frame into comedic gold. Cast as Moses Hightower in the 'Police Academy' series, Smith turned his size into a gentle giant's asset, delivering laughs with a quiet, deadpan charm that made him a fan favorite. He navigated this transition with grace, becoming a recognizable face in commercials and television, proving that a man known for sacking quarterbacks could also master the timing of a joke.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Bubba was born in 1945, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bubba Was Born
The biggest hits of 1945
#1 Movie
The Bells of St. Mary's
Best Picture
The Lost Weekend
Bubba's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1945Born
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1950Started school
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1958Became a teenager
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1961Could drive
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1963Could vote
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1966Turned 21
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1975Turned 30
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 40
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 50
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 60
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2011Died at 66
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Won Super Bowl V as a starting defensive end for the Baltimore Colts in 1971.
- Was selected as the first overall pick in the 1967 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Colts.
- Earned two Pro Bowl selections during his NFL career (1970, 1971).
- Starred as Officer Moses Hightower in the first six 'Police Academy' films, making the character an icon of 1980s comedy.
Did You Know?
He stood 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighed around 265 pounds during his playing days.
He earned All-American honors at Michigan State University.
The famous Miller Lite 'Tastes Great, Less Filling' commercials featured him after his football career.
His jersey number, 78, was retired by the Baltimore Colts franchise.
“I went from sacking quarterbacks to selling beer.”
