Sadly, we bring you the news that Brandon Smith, best known for his role as Sargent Davis Tubbs in two of the Jeepers Creepers films has died.
A Texas native for all his 71 years, Smith began his career in 1970 with a small role in the TV-film My Sweet Charlie. This would set the pattern of the next 53 years, as Smith would remain mostly on television and primarily stayed local with projects that were shot in Texas.
Among his many television guest appearances, Smith can be seen in Magnum P.I., Into the West and lending his talents to several of the reconstruction segments on the long-running The FBI Files. Some of Smith’s more sizeable parts on the small screen would come opposite Farrah Fawcett in Margaret Rourke White, with Roy Schnider in the made-for-television horror film Night Game, and starring with Chuck Norris in eight episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger.
Whilst feature parts were rare, Smith did manage to land a small part in Robocop 2, as well as a sizeable role in the 1995 political drama Powder.
However, it is for his portrayal of police officer Davis Tubbs in 2001’s Jeepers Creepers that this small-time actor will always be best remembered. As the officer in charge of a small-town’s law enforcement, Smith’s Tubbs leads the charge when the titular Creeper descends upon their station. Facing down the beast with a slew of guns, Tubbs and his men prove to be no match as the creature flies off into the night with its prey.
Smith would reprise the role in a somewhat smaller capacity for the much-more-maligned third entry in the series. Taking place just moments after the original, it was difficult not to notice Smith’s 17-year age difference, but the actor still gave his all and has gone on record stating it was the first and only role he was asked to reprise.
Brandon Smith died on October 27th at the age of 71, however his death remained unreported until November 4th. He is survived by his wife Margaret and had no children.
Rest in peace, Brandon.
