Bubba Smith Died Of Drug Intoxication: Coroner’s Report

Posted: November 2, 2011

Bubba Smith

Pro-football player turned actor Bubba Smith died of acute drug intoxication according to a report released this week by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office.

The body of Smith, 66, was discovered in his Baldwin Hills home on Aug. 3 and the weight-loss drug phentermine was found in his system.

Coroner’s officials also say Smith had high-blood pressure and heart disease that lead to a heart that was nearly twice the weight of a normal heart with some arteries 75% clogged.

Born Charles Aaron Smith in Orange, Texas his mother was a teacher and his father was a high school football coach, Bubba eventually attended Michigan State where he became an All-American defensive end while earning his degree in sociology and then moving on as the No. 1 NFL draft pick by the Baltimore Colts in 1967.

Smith would go on to play five seasons with the Colts, including their Superbowl V victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Smith ended his NFL career in 1976 after two seasons with the Oakland Raiders and then two more with the Houston Oilers.

For a younger generation Bubba Smith is best known for his role as Moses Hightower in six Police Academy movies. Smith also appeared in several TV series including Half-Nelson, Blue Thunder and Good Times.

Hightower to this day is still one of my favorite movie characters, even if Police Academy was a little played out by the third movie they still make me smile when they come on TV. Are you sad to hear of Bubba Smith’s passing?