Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, the father of the late Basketball Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, has died at the age of 69, La Salle University’s athletics department reported.
Citing La Salle men’s head basketball coach Fran Dunphy, The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote Joe had recently suffered a stoke. The exact cause of death hasn’t been confirmed yet.
La Salle University, where Joe played and coached, said in a statement that he “was a beloved member of the Explorer family and will be dearly missed.”
Just like his famous son, Joe was a renowned basketball player himself. Drafted by the Golden State Warriors as the 14th overall pick in the 1975 NBA draft, he played for the Philadelphia 76ers for four seasons, the then-San Diego Clippers for three seasons, and the Houston Rockets for one season. He also played in Europe.
The 76ers paid tribute to Joe, calling him “a local basketball icon, whose legacy on the court transcended his journey across Bartram High School, La Salle University, and his first four NBA seasons with the 76ers from 1975-79.”
Joe’s sudden passing comes four years after the tragic death of his son Kobe and his granddaughter Gianna, who were killed in a helicopter crash with seven other people.
Kobe’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, wrote on her Instagram story on Tuesday, “Sending our condolences upon hearing the news of my father-in-law’s passing.
“We hoped things would’ve been different. Although the times we spent together were few, he was always sweet and nice to be around. Kobe loved him very much.”
Former Kobe teammate Doug Young praised Joe as the ideal “role model.”
“Joe was our JV coach at Lower Merion and I could not have asked for a more positive mentor, teacher, and role model,” Young told ESPN. “It’s difficult to overstate how much he influenced me and my teammates. He made basketball fun and made us all want to be better; he believed in us. I’ll never forget his infectious smile, his bear hugs and the incredible bond he shared with Kobe. Growing up in Lower Merion, there was no family we loved and admired more than the Bryants, and that started with Joe.”
Arn Tellem, the vice chairman of the Pistons and formerly Kobe Bryant’s agent, expressed his sadness over the loss of Joe and joined the basketball community in mourning a true Philly hoops legend. “Our friendship opened the door for me to represent Kobe as he entered the NBA, a memory I’ll always cherish. Joe was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, whose warmth touched everyone he met.”
May he rest in peace.
Ron Howard calls wife ‘good luck charm,’ shares secret to 49-year marriage
Ron Howard has been well-known for almost seven decades, the length of his life. The Hollywood heavyweight started his career as a young age and has never stopped being in the spotlight for television and movies.
The multiple award winner is not only a long-term single man but also has an incredible career. He and his spouse Cheryl have been wed for about fifty years.
Keep reading to find out more about Howard, his marriage, and his extensive career!
Ronald Howard, who rose to fame in Hollywood, was born on March 1, 1954, in Duncan, Oklahoma.
At the age of eighteen months, Howard starred in his first motion picture, Frontier Woman, and at two years old, he made his theatrical debut in The Seven Year Itch.
The redhead with freckles soon after became famous after being cast in The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968).
As he played Griffith’s son Opie, Howard had the full support of his parents at this time, who were also in the entertainment industry.
It’s not required of you, but you can do it if you so choose. Remember the way we used to say that? Howard remembered responding, “Well, once you get started, there’s no stopping it,” recalling a conversation he’d had years previously with his parents. “You are not required to do other parts on other shows if you so choose, but you would have to continue doing this show.”
Furthermore, Howard indicates that he understood the message his parents were attempting to get across by saying, “I think it was pretty clear at that point that I was enjoying it, and I was good at it.”
He was about to become incredibly famous and was actually pretty good at it.
“Happy Days” spent with Howard
In 1962, Howard starred in The Music Man, a hugely popular musical, and he also appeared on The Andy Griffith Show.
Being gifted from birth, he went on to star in the 1973 movie American Graffiti, which had Harrison Ford, Cindy Williams, Richard Dreyfuss, and other performers he would go on to work with.
He was selected to play Richie Cunningham in Happy Days, a brand-new Garry Marshall sitcom that aired in 1974. The program was televised in homes across the globe from 1974 to 1984.
A number of popular spin-offs from the TV show were created, such as Mork & Mindy, starring Robin Williams as the adored Orkan Mork, and Laverne & Shirley, starring Williams and Marshall’s sister Penny.
High school sweetheart
In 1970, Howard met Cheryl Alley, his high school sweetheart, who he would marry in 1975, before he won a Golden Globe for his performance as the innocent teenager in Happy Days.
“When I first met her, there was never anyone else like her,” In an interview with People, the director of Da Vinci Code continued, saying, “She’s unbelievably supportive and always has been.” Our compatibility has remained strong in a range of situations.
After 50 years of shared adventures, Howard—who won an Oscar for directing A Beautiful Mind—celebrated on Instagram the 50th anniversary of his first date with Cheryl.
He said, “We went on our first date on November 1, 1970, with Cheryl,” and he sent a photo of himself wearing socks with Cheryl’s face on them. “After watching Stanley Kramer’s It’s a Mad Mad Mad World reissue, we got pizza at the now-closed Barnone’s in Toluca Lake. Not bad for a start, huh?
He went on to describe his plans for the day, saying, “We’ll be driving in the same ’70 VW Bug I picked Cheryl up in five decades ago.” It works perfectly. We also carry this out.
His “fortune charm”
In several of Howard’s ventures, Cheryl played herself in the humorous television series Arrested Development, which Howard produced and narrated.
Ron referred to Cheryl as his “lucky charm” in an interview with the Television Academy, explaining why she appears in each of his films.
At one point, he said, “I got really paranoid about making sure she shows up and can be recognized in at least one frame.” “She must be included, even if her roles are brief.”
In addition to wishing her spouse well, Cheryl holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in screenwriting. She has also published novels.
The power couple is also the grandparents of six children. Together, they have four children: daughter Bryce, twins Paige and Jocelyn, and son Reed.
Ron Howard and his actress daughter, Bryce Dallas Howard. Getty / David Livingston is given credit.
Famous actor Bryce is well known for his roles in Jurassic World and The Help, while in 2009 Paige made her feature film debut in Adventureland. ever since her parts in the motion pictures The Employer and Collection.
Paige’s twin sister Jocelyn is private, whereas Reed is a professional golfer.
The secret to endless life
Coming up on June 7, their 49th anniversary, the Emmy Award-winning producer claims that “communication” is the secret to their enduring love.
“People inquire, ‘How did you handle?’” According to Howard, there is no way. “Communication is the sole strategy, and it is very important. You need to work on your communication abilities and learn how to conduct productive but awkward talks. Beyond that, I think there’s a chance component because you can’t force people to grow together or apart.
Which film or television program starring this incredibly talented man is your favorite?
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