Lou Myers, known for his role as Mr. Gaines on “A Different World,” passed away at the age of 76 on Tuesday, according to Tonia McDonald. McDonald is from Myers’ nonprofit, Global Business Incubation Inc. He passed away at Charleston Area Medical Center in West Virginia.
According to McDonald, Myers was in and out of the hospital dating back to Christmas and recently collapsed. An autopsy has been scheduled. Myers was living in the Charleston area.
Myers appeared in other television shows include “NYPD Blue,” “E.R.,” “The Cosby Show,” “Touched by an Angel,” and many more. The films he appeared in are “Tin Cup,” “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” “Wedding Planner” and many more.
He was mainly known for his work on “A Different World,” which aired from 1987-93 and originally starred Lisa Bonet from “Cosby.” Myers credited his introduction to Hollywood to Bill Cosby.
Myers even appeared in some Broadway productions, including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “Oprah Winfrey’s The Color Purple.”
Myers was the chairman of Global Business Incubation, which helps urban small businesses. He also was the chairman of the Lou Myers Scenario Motion Picture Institute/Theatre.
He is survived by his 95-year-old mother and his son.
Myers won an NAACP ‘Best Actor’ award for playing the Stool Pigeon in “King Hedley II.”