Michael "Bear" Taliferro, Actor ("Life", "Bad Boys") dead at 45

[deb...@comcast.net]

WE REMEMBER MICHAEL 'BEAR' TALIFERRO: Actor, best known for role in
Eddie Murphy's 'Life,' dies of a stroke.
(May 11, 2006)

*Michael "Bear" Taliferro, best known for his role in Eddie
Murphy's "Life," is dead at 45 from a stroke he suffered last
Thursday.

Funeral services are set for tomorrow. A viewing will be held
today. A benefit celebration has also been planned at the Comedy Store
in West Hollywood. Read on for specifics.

Taliferro parlayed a professional football career into a
burgeoning life as an actor in movies and on television. He made his
1990 feature film debut in "The Last Boy Scout"; followed by
"Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit"; "Bad Boys" with Will Smith
and Martin Lawrence; "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate", again
with Lawrence; "Witch Hunt", with Dennis Hopper; "Armageddon"
and "Life" with Eddie Murphy. On television, Taliferro was seen on
"Martin," "The Drew Carey Show," and he had a recurring role on the
"Jamie Foxx Show."

A graduate of Texas Christian University, Taliferro was signed by
the Washington Redskins in 1984, followed by two seasons in the USFL
with the Denver Gold in 1985 and the Arizona Outlaws in 1986, finishing
his career with the British Columbia Lions in the Canadian Football
League the following year.

Taliferro's latest projects before his untimely death included
the role of Crixus in "3/5 of a Man" starring Ving Rhames and the
project "Steppin'" in which he produced and made his directorial
debut.

Taliferro leaves behind his fiancée, Cathey L. Tyree and their
three children; A grandson; two sisters and a brother

[William Barger]

He was certainly of bearlike proportions; 6' 6" tall and weighing
between 350 and 375 pounds. The kind of size that makes NFL scouts drool
unabashedly.
Bill