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Donald Gibb, the imposing character actor who achieved cult fame as the hulking "Ogre" in the Revenge of the Nerds franchise, passed away on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. He was 71 years old.
Reports indicate that the actor died peacefully at his home in Texas. Known for his massive 6'4" frame and deep voice, Donald Gibb became a staple of 1980s cinema, often playing lovable brutes or formidable antagonists.
Donald Gibb's most recognizable role came in 1984 with the comedy classic Revenge of the Nerds.
As Frederick "Ogre" Palowaski, a beer-chugging, nerd-tossing football player, he created one of the decade's most iconic comedic archetypes.
He reprised the role in several sequels, eventually showing a softer side of the character that fans grew to adore.
Beyond comedy, Gibb left a significant mark on the martial arts genre.
He played Ray Jackson, the brawling American Kumite fighter and loyal friend to Jean-Claude Van Damme’s character in the 1988 hit Bloodsport.
His performance was so well-received that he later starred in the 1996 sequel, Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite.
On television, he was a regular fixture on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten, playing the fierce defensive lineman Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner for the show's entire seven-season run.
Before finding success in Hollywood, Donald Gibb was a standout athlete. He attended the University of New Mexico and the University of San Diego on basketball and football scholarships.
His physical prowess nearly led to a professional sports career, as he held a roster spot with the San Diego Chargers before an automobile accident resulted in head injuries that shifted his path toward acting.
In his later years, Donald Gibb remained a popular figure at fan conventions, where he projected a personality completely opposite to his "Ogre" persona—kind, soft-spoken, and deeply appreciative of his supporters.
He also ventured into the business world, co-founding a brewery that produced "Ogre Beer," leaning into the legacy of the character that made him a household name.
