Actor Donald Gibb Dead at 71
Donald Gibb, the actor best known for playing the lovable lout "Ogre" in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise and the tough-talking Ray Jackson in Bloodsport, has died.
Cause of Death
Gibb died on Tuesday at his home in Texas. His son, Travis, confirmed to TMZ that his father died from health complications. The family stated that Gibb "was surrounded by family who loved him deeply" and that ongoing health issues contributed to his death.
Career Highlights
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Revenge of the Nerds Franchise: Gibb played Frederick Aloysius "Ogre" Palowaski in the 1984 comedy. He reprised the role in Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise (1987) and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love (1994).
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Bloodsport: He co-starred as Ray Jackson in the 1988 martial arts film opposite Jean-Claude Van Damme, a role he reprised for the 1996 sequel, Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite.
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Other Film Credits: His extensive filmography includes Any Which Way You Can (1980), Conan the Barbarian (1982), Meatballs Part II (1984), Jocks (1986), Hancock (2008), and Magic Kid 2.
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Television Roles: Gibb was a regular on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten for six seasons, playing Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner. He also appeared on ABC's Step by Step from 1993 to 1998. His guest roles include appearances on Magnum, P.I., The A-Team, Knight Rider, Cheers, MacGyver, The X-Files, Seinfeld, The Young and the Restless, and Days of Our Lives.
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Video Games: Gibb provided voice work for titles including Rage, Mafia II, and Alter Echo.
Background & Anecdote
Born on August 4, 1954, in New York City, Gibb grew up in California. He attended the University of New Mexico on a basketball scholarship before transferring to the University of San Diego to play football. He briefly had a roster spot on the San Diego Chargers before pursuing acting.
In a 2025 interview, Gibb revealed he initially did not get the role of Ogre in Revenge of the Nerds because he was told he looked too old. With help from a friend and director, he shaved and successfully re-auditioned.
Related Event
Robert Carradine, Gibb's co-star in the Revenge of the Nerds films, died on February 23 at age 71.