- Source of Wealth: Film, Television
- Age: 78
- Birth Place: Detroit, Michigan, United States
- Height: 5′ 10″ (1.78 m)
- Marital Status: Married (Angela Robinson-Witherspoon)
- Full Name: John Witherspoon
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: January 27, 1942
- Occupation: Actor, Comedian
- Children: 2 (Alexander, John David)
Born on January 27, 1942 in Detroit, MI, Witherspoon began his show business career as a model in the early ’70s before striking out on his own as a comedian.His first big break came in 1977 when he landed a regular spot on Richard Pryor’s short-lived television variety series,and he began playing supporting roles on such shows as What’s Happening!, Good Times, and WKRP in Cincinnati. In 1980, Witherspoon made his film debut playing a nightclub MC in Neil Diamond’s 1980 remake of The Jazz Singer. Witherspoon’s big-screen breakthrough, however, came in Robert Townsend’s comedy Hollywood Shuffle, in which Witherspoon played Mr. Jones, the manager of the Winky Dinky Dog hot-dog stand.The surprise success of Hollywood Shuffle led to a string of film parts and recurring roles on television series.Witherspoon also brought his caustic sensibility to his voice work on the animated television adaptation of the controversial comic strip The Boondocks.