Keeping with that tie to the ubiquitous Wayans, Witherspoon played the Pops of “In Living Color”’s David Alan Grier in the 1992 Eddie Murphy romantic comedy, “Boomerang.” For me, this is Witherspoon’s funniest role. Grier’s character is mortified by his parents’ behavior, and who wouldn’t be? They bring an enormous pot of chitlins to a dinner party, get bizzy in the bathroom and Witherspoon loudly smacks his lips as he’s eating, something he would become notorious for doing. “Boomerang” was where Witherspoon got one of his nicknames, “Mr. Bang Bang Bang,” for reasons too filthy for me to divulge here. This role also earned him his signature phrase. When Murphy is checking out his attire, Witherspoon shows just how committed he is to the mushroom motif that adorns each article of clothing. “You gotsta co-ordinate!” he advises.
Most recently, Witherspoon appeared as the voice of Grandpa Freeman on “The Boondocks,” which re-teamed him with Reginald Hudlin, the director who gave him a role in '90s Kid ‘n Play comedy “House Party.” Taking advantage of his ability to hilariously use malapropisms, “House Party” has him refer to rap group Public Enemy as “Public Enema.” “Who the hell wants a public enema?” he argues in the grumpy voice he’ll use for Huey and Riley’s guardian. Grandpa Freeman is perhaps Witherspoon’s most complex role; in addition to being a tough disciplinarian, he has to deal with racist, self-hating Uncle Ruckus and milquetoast Buppie lawyer, Tom. Grandpa also has his own desires—hormonal and monetary—that he must contend with while maintaining his role as the show’s official voice of wisdom and authority. Only the voice of Witherspoon could convince us that Lionel Richie’s ex-wife, Brenda fought in the Kumite, the same event Jean-Claude van Damme won in “Bloodsport.”
In a way, Witherspoon reminded me of Dick Miller and M. Emmet Walsh, actors who made me happy just by showing up. They may not be the center of the plot, but they commandeer it whenever they appear. And people remember them, even if they don’t remember their names. Though he rarely played the lead, Witherspoon elevated everything in which he appeared. Except maybe “The Jazz Singer”—nothing could save that. I hope wherever he is, he’s coordinating. Rest in peace, Spoon.
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