Original article Thursday September 14th 2017

With his commanding stature and distinct voice, any time Bernie Casey appeared in a movie scene, he left others in his shadow. From blaxploitation films like Cleopatra Jones to even comedies like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventures, Casey’s acting career ran the gamut. After a career that spanned more than 40 years, Casey, who was born in West Virginia and raised in Columbus, Ohio, died from an undisclosed illness Wednesday in Los Angeles at the age of 78.

Before even stepping foot in Hollywood, Casey was an accomplished athlete, going from playing for Bowling Green University to playing in the NFL for eight seasons. Casey’s athletic prowess would also eventually prove to be an asset on-screen.

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