Donald Gibb
Gibb at an event in 2018
Born
Donald Richard Gibb

(1954-08-04)August 4, 1954
New York City, U.S.
Died May 12, 2026(2026-05-12) (aged 71)
Texas, U.S.
Other name Don Gibb
Education University of New Mexico
University of San Diego
Occupation Actor
Years active 1980–2026

Donald Richard Gibb (August 4, 1954 – May 12, 2026) was an American actor, best known for his roles as the hulking, dimwitted fraternity brother Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski in several installments of the Revenge of the Nerds film series, as Kumite fighter Ray Jackson in Bloodsport, and as Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten.

Early life

Gibb was born in New York City on August 4, 1954. He was raised in California and Gibb attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. Upon graduation he went to the University of New Mexico on a basketball scholarship,[1] where he joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He then transferred to the University of San Diego, where he played football on scholarship. Gibb played professional football briefly for the San Diego Chargers before suffering an injury in an automobile accident.[2]

Career

Gibb turned to acting following the automobile accident that prevented him from having a football career.[1] He began with small, uncredited roles in Stripes and Conan the Barbarian. He received recognition in a small role in Lost in America, playing an ex-convict who picks up a hitchhiking main character, with a review stating that his casting was one of several in the film showing that director Albert Brooks had "a rare knack for filling supporting roles with exactly the right person, however unlikely that person would seem to be for that particular role".[3]

He is best known for his Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski character portrayed first in Revenge of the Nerds and later in Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love. Chugging beer from a trophy, throwing nerds off fraternity buildings and competing in belching contests, Gibb gleefully played up his former days as a college football jock. Gibb "experienced a life makeover" between the first and second films in the series, objecting to a proposed scene in the second film in which the script called for the character "to threaten somebody with a piece of wood," with Gibb saying "I personally didn't want to be associated with that kind of action, and I didn't think Ogre would do it, either".[4] The sequel ends with Ogre joining Lambda, Lambda, Lambda, the titular Nerds' fraternity.

Gibb's other most famous recurring role was in a string of martial arts pictures. As an American entrant named Ray Jackson, he starred alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport,[5][6] and alone in the 1996 sequel Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite. In all, Gibb appeared in more than 25 movies including Jocks, Hancock, and Amazon Women on the Moon. He also played a small role in several video games, including the PC game Zork: Grand Inquisitor, as the man in the third portal with Lucy.

On TV, Gibb gained notoriety on HBO's 1st & Ten, as linebacker Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner. Gibb played the role from 1984 until 1991, making him one of the few members of the fictional California Bulls to last the entire seven-year run. Among other roles, he played the illiterate biker Scab on the 1992 Fox sitcom Stand by Your Man, which co-starred Melissa Gilbert and Rosie O'Donnell, and played small roles in Quantum Leap, MacGyver, Magnum, P.I., Night Court, Cheers, Renegade, The X-Files, The A-Team, Step by Step, and Early Edition.[7][8]

Gibb served as the spokesman for Chicago bar Trader Todd's, through which Gibb marketed "Ogre Beer," named after his iconic character in Revenge of the Nerds.[9]

Death

Gibb died from complications of throat cancer at his home in Texas on May 12, 2026, at the age of 71.[10][11][12] Weeks before his death, Gibb also had a heart attack.[10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1980 Any Which Way You Can Henchman Uncredited [11]
1981 Stripes Bouncer Uncredited
1982 Conan the Barbarian Osric's Guard Uncredited [11]
1984 Revenge of the Nerds Frederick Aloysius "Ogre" Palowaski [11]
Meatballs Part II Mad Dog
1985 Lost in America Ex-Convict
Transylvania 6-5000 Larry the Wolfman
1986 Jocks Ripper Credited as Don Gibb
1987 They Still Call Me Bruce The Executioner
Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise Fred "Ogre" Palowaski [11]
Amazon Women on the Moon Graceless Pirate
1988 Bloodsport Ray Jackson [11]
1992 Missing Pieces Hurrudnik
1993 Breakfast of Aliens Darrell
1994 Magic Kid 2 Luther Credited as Don Gibb
1995 Broken Bars Jake
Savate Cody Johnson Credited as Don Gibb
1996 Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite Ray 'Tiny' Jackson [11]
American Tigers Dan Storm
1997 High Voltage Bartender Uncredited
1998 U.S. Marshals Michael Conroy Credited as Don Gibb
1999 Durango Kids Mountain Man Morris Credited as Don Gibb
2002 The Biggest Fan Band Manager Credited as Don Gibb
2003 Grind Scabby Security Guy Credited as Don Gibb
2004 Lightning Bug Uncle Marvin Credited as Don Gibb
2005 Window Theory Judson
2006 8 of Diamonds Big Mike Credited as Don Gibb
2008 Hancock Convict Credited as Don Gibb [11]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1981 Nichols & Dymes Television film
1982–1983 Magnum, P.I. Condley Willard
Harms		 2 Episodes [11]
1983 Alice Moose 1 Episode: "Jolene and the Night Watchman" as Don Gibb
Simon & Simon Lebow's #2 henchman 1 Episode: "Grand Illusion" (Uncredited)
Hardcastle and McCormick Johnson 1 Episode: "The Crystal Duck" [11]
The A-Team Hal Billings 1 Episode: "The Taxicab Wars" [11]
Just Our Luck 1 Episode: "No Holds Barred" as Don Gibb
1984 Knight Rider Gibbs 1 Episode: "Knight of the Chameleon" as Don Gibb
1984–1991 1st & Ten Leslie 'Dr. Death' Krunchner 80 Episodes [11]
1985 Otherworld Motoface 1 Episode: "Village of the Motorpigs"
Benson Big Luther 1 Episode: "Uncle Jack"
Streets of Justice Road Rodant Television film; Credited as Don Gibb
1987 U.S. Marshals: Waco & Rhinehart Varela Leader Television film
The Facts of Life Wendell 1 Episode: "The More the Marrier" as Don Gibb
1989 227 Skullcrusher 1 Episode: "Flying Down to Leo's" as Don Gibb
1989–1990 My Two Dads Chuck
Officer Eugene		 2 Episodes
1990 Hunter Stryber 1 Episode: "Unfinished Business" as Don Gibb
Dear John Frenchie 1 Episode: "John's Night Out" as Don Gibb
Night Court Terry Benoon 1 Episode: "Nobody Says Rat Fink Anymore" as Don Gibb
They Came from Outer Space Mr. Geek 1 Episode: "Mr. Geek" as Don Gibb
Doctor Doctor Sam 1 Episode: "Somewhere in the Berkshires"
1991 Sons and Daughters Slasher Martin 1 Episode: "The Thing"
Amen Cashmere 1 Episode: "The Wild Deak" as Don Gibb
MacGyver Herman the German 1 Episode: "Split Decision" as Don Gibb
True Colors Officer Johnson 1 Episode: "Seems Like Old Times" as Don Gibb
1992 Quantum Leap Jeeters 1 Episode: "Roberto!" as Don Gibb
Stand by Your Man Scab 7 Episodes
Cheers Tiny 1 Episode: "Teaching with the Enemy" as Don Gibb
1992–1993 Renegade Hog Adams
Cletus Hog Adams		 2 Episodes
1993 Harry and the Hendersons Valentine 2 Episodes as Don Gibb
The X-Files Kip 1 Episode: "Conduit" as Don Gibb [11]
Daddy Dearest Inmate #2 1 Episode: "American We"
Hearts Afire Ray 1 Episode: "The Stud Club" as Don Gibb
1993–1994 Empty Nest Jake
Biker #1		 2 Episodes as Don Gibb
1993–1998 Step by Step Slasher / Moose 6 Episodes
1994 Boy Meets World Tony 1 Episode: "It's a Wonderful Night" as Don Gibb
Midnight Runaround Clyde Television film; Credited as Don Gibb
Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Ogre Television film; Credited as Don Gibb
Muddling Through Bud 1 Episode: "It's a Date"
1994–1996 Weird Science Biker Dude
Singing Guy
Rolph		 3 Episodes
1995 Seinfeld Letter S in Devils Body Painter 1 Episode: "The Face Painter" (Uncredited)
Misery Loves Company Prussian Helmet Biker 1 Episode: "Uneasy Rider"
Kirk Biker 1 Episode: "Helloween"
1996 Unhappily Ever After Spike 1 Episode: "Meter Maid"
Homeboys in Outer Space Galdor 1 Episode: "Behold a Pale Planet, or What If God Was One of Us" as Don Gibb
Pacific Blue Barger 1 Episode: "Cranked Up" as Don Gibb
1997 Sparks Fitch 1 Episode: "Self Defense"
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Security Guard 1 Episode: "The Idol" as Don Gibb
1998 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction Gunnar
Kind Trucker		 2 Episodes
1999 Arli$$ Jake's Father 1 Episode: "Taking One for the Team"
2000 The Steve Harvey Show Tiny 1 Episode: "Black Streak" as Don Gibb
Secret Agent Man Buff Bobby Barnett 1 Episode: "WhupSumAss"
Early Edition Odessa "Stumpy" McNeil 1 Episode: "Mel Schwartz, Bounty Hunter" as Don Gibb
Veronica's Closet Spaz 1 Episode: "Veronica's Sleepover"
2001 Black Scorpion Smash Clone #1 1 Episode: "An Officer and a Prankster
Philly Mickey Horvath 1 Episode: "Truth or Consequence" (Uncredited)
2002 She Spies Scarface 1 Episode: "Daddy's Girl" as Don Gibb
2003 The Young and the Restless Worm 2 Episodes; Credited as Don Gibb
2007 The Fantastic Two Psycho Television mini-series
2011 Secret Mountain Fort Awesome Additional Voices 1 Episode: "The 6th Disqustoid" (Voice Role)
2016 Captain Kyle's Cosplay Spotlight 1 Episode: "Pennywise"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes Ref(s)
1995 What's My Story Giant Voice Role; Credited as Don Gibb
1997 Zork: Grand Inquisitor Floyd the Bouncer Voice Role; Credited as Don Gibb
2003 Alter Echo Gherran Voice Role; Credited as Don Gibb
2010 Mafia II Angry Prisoner Voice Role [11]
2011 Rage Voice Role [11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Undemanding may get yucks from 'Nerds'", The Santa Fe New Mexican (August 17, 1984), Film P1.
  2. ^ Rahman, Abid (May 13, 2026). "Donald Gibb, Actor in 'Revenge of the Nerds,' 'Bloodsport,' Dies at 71". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 13, 2026.
  3. ^ Bill Hagen, "Brooks should find audience for 'Lost in America' film", Hazleton Standard-Speaker (April 17, 1985), p. 43.
  4. ^ Jack Curry, "They're Back!", The Bangor Daily News (June 13, 1987), p. 4-5.
  5. ^ "We Must Confess, It's Bad", New York Daily News (April 27, 1988), p. 40.
  6. ^ Joe Bob Briggs, "High-powered kicks make 'Bloodsport'", Alabama Journal (May 6, 1988), p. 23.
  7. ^ Dunn, Jack (May 13, 2026). "Donald Gibb, 'Revenge of the Nerds' and 'Bloodsport' Actor, Dies at 71". Variety. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  8. ^ "Donald Gibb(1954-2026)". www.imdb.com. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  9. ^ "Trader Todd's Adventure Bar". centerstagechicago.com. 2008. Archived from the original on March 24, 2004. Retrieved September 19, 2008.
  10. ^ a b ""Revenge of the Nerds" actor Donald Gibb dies at 71 following a battle with throat cancer". Yahoo. May 13, 2026. Retrieved May 14, 2026.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o McArdle, Tommy (May 13, 2026). "Donald Gibb, Revenge of the Nerds and Bloodsport Actor, Dies at 71". People Magazine.
  12. ^ "'Revenge of the Nerds' Actor Donald Gibb Dead At 71". TMZ. May 12, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.