Actor Ron Lester’s movie career was defined by his role as a morbidly obese football player named Billy Bob in the 1999 film “Varsity Blues.”
And that’s exactly how Lester, who died Friday at the age of 45, will be remembered by most people. His scene stealing performance as the lovable, overweight offensive lineman in the MTV Films production that satirized high school football in West Texas remains a teen cult classic.
He later parodied his exact role in 2001’s teen movie spoof “Not Another teen Movie” where he starred alongside the future Captain America, Chris Evans.
Lester wrestled with real weight problems all of his life. And media reports state that he was at one point tipping the scales at “more than 500 pounds, though he had gastric bypass surgery in 2001 and lost 350 pounds.”
Lester’s endearing portrayal as Billy Bob turned him into a fan favorite, but tragically the second cast member after Paul Walker to pass away.
Lester succumbed to liver and kidney failure.
His former co-stars have had nothing but praise for him since his death was announced.
Sad day… #RonLester was a sensitive soul with a huge heart. Everything you loved about Billy Bob was authentically Ron. #RIP bud.
— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) June 18, 2016
