Donald Gibb

Donald Richard Gibb (August 4, 1954 – May 12, 2026) was an American actor, best known for his roles as the hulking, dimwitted fraternity brother Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski in several installments of the Revenge of the Nerds film series, as Kumite fighter Ray Jackson in Bloodsport, and as Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten.

Early life Gibb was born in New York City on August 4, 1954. He was raised in California and Gibb attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. Upon graduation he went to the University of New Mexico on a basketball scholarship, where he joined Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He then transferred to the University of San Diego, where he played football on scholarship. Gibb played professional football briefly for the San Diego Chargers before suffering an injury in an automobile accident.

Career Gibb turned to acting following the automobile accident that prevented him from having a football career.

He is best known for his Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski character portrayed first in Revenge of the Nerds and later in Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise and Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love. Chugging beer from a trophy, throwing nerds off fraternity buildings and competing in belching contests, Gibb gleefully played up his former days as a college football jock. Gibb "experienced a life makeover" between the first and second films in the series, objecting to a proposed scene in the second film in which the script called for the character "to threaten somebody with a piece of wood," with Gibb saying "I personally didn't want to be associated with that kind of action, and I didn't think Ogre would do it, either". The sequel ends with Ogre joining Lambda Lambda Lambda, the titular Nerds' fraternity.

Gibb's other most famous recurring role was in a string of martial arts pictures. As an American entrant named Ray Jackson, he starred alongside Jean-Claude Van Damme in Bloodsport, and alone in the 1996 sequel Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite. In all, Gibb appeared in more than 25 movies including Jocks, Hancock, and Amazon Women on the Moon. He also played a small role in several video games, including the PC game Zork: Grand Inquisitor, as the man in the third portal with Lucy.

On TV, Gibb gained notoriety on HBO's 1st & Ten, as linebacker Leslie "Dr. Death" Krunchner. Gibb played the role from 1984 until 1991, making him one of the few members of the fictional California Bulls to last the entire seven-year run. Among other roles, he played the illiterate biker Scab on the 1992 Fox sitcom Stand by Your Man, which co-starred Melissa Gilbert and Rosie O'Donnell, and played small roles in Quantum Leap, MacGyver, Magnum, P.I., Night Court, Cheers, Renegade, The X-Files, The A-Team, Step by Step, and Early Edition.

Gibb served as the spokesman for Chicago bar Trader Todd's, through which Gibb marketed "Ogre Beer," named after his iconic character in Revenge of the Nerds.

Death Gibb died from complications of throat cancer at his home in Texas on May 12, 2026, at the age of 71. Weeks before his death, Gibb had also had a heart attack.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Any Which Way You Can Henchman Uncredited 1981 Stripes Bouncer Uncredited 1982 Conan the Barbarian Osric's Guard Uncredited 1984 Revenge of the Nerds Frederick "Ogre" Palowaski Meatballs Part II Mad Dog 1985 Lost in America Ex-Convict Transylvania 6-5000 Larry the Wolfman 1986 Jocks Ripper Credited as Don Gibb 1987 They Still Call Me Bruce The Executioner Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise Fred "Ogre" Palowaski Amazon Women on the Moon Graceless Pirate 1988 Bloodsport Ray Jackson 1992 Missing Pieces Hurrudnik 1993 Breakfast of Aliens Darrell 1994 Magic Kid 2 Luther Credited as Don Gibb 1995 Broken Bars Jake Savate Cody Johnson Credited as Don Gibb 1996 Bloodsport II: The Next Kumite Ray 'Tiny' Jackson American Tigers Dan Storm 1997 High Voltage Bartender Uncredited 1998 U.S. Marshals Michael Conroy Credited as Don Gibb 1999 Durango Kids Mountain Man Morris Credited as Don Gibb 2002 Band Manager Credited as Don Gibb 2003 Grind Scabby Security Guy Credited as Don Gibb 2004 Lightning Bug Uncle Marvin Credited as Don Gibb 2005 Window Theory Judson 2006 8 of Diamonds Big Mike Credited as Don Gibb 2008 Hancock Convict Credited as Don Gibb

Television Year Title Role Notes 1981 Nichols & Dymes Television film 1982–1983 Magnum, P.I. Condley WillardHarms 2 Episodes 1983 Alice Moose 1 Episode: "Jolene and the Night Watchman" as Don Gibb Simon & Simon Lebow's #2 henchman 1 Episode: "Grand Illusion" (Uncredited) Hardcastle and McCormick Johnson 1 Episode: "The Crystal Duck" Hal Billings 1 Episode: "The Taxicab Wars" Just Our Luck 1 Episode: "No Holds Barred" as Don Gibb 1984 Knight Rider Gibbs 1 Episode: "Knight of the Chameleon" as Don Gibb 1984–1991 1st & Ten Leslie 'Dr. Death' Krunchner 80 Episodes 1985 Otherworld Motoface 1 Episode: "Village of the Motorpigs" Benson Big Luther 1 Episode: "Uncle Jack" Streets of Justice Road Rodant Television film; Credited as Don Gibb 1987 U.S. Marshals: Waco & Rhinehart Varela Leader Television film Wendell 1 Episode: "The More the Marrier" as Don Gibb 1989 227 Skullcrusher 1 Episode: "Flying Down to Leo's" as Don Gibb 1989–1990 My Two Dads ChuckOfficer Eugene 2 Episodes 1990 Hunter Stryber 1 Episode: "Unfinished Business" as Don Gibb Dear John Frenchie 1 Episode: "John's Night Out" as Don Gibb Night Court Terry Benoon 1 Episode: "Nobody Says Rat Fink Anymore" as Don Gibb They Came from Outer Space Mr. Geek 1 Episode: "Mr. Geek" as Don Gibb Doctor Doctor Sam 1 Episode: "Somewhere in the Berkshires" 1991 Sons and Daughters Slasher Martin 1 Episode: "The Thing" Amen Cashmere 1 Episode: "The Wild Deak" as Don Gibb MacGyver Herman the German 1 Episode: "Split Decision" as Don Gibb True Colors Officer Johnson 1 Episode: "Seems Like Old Times" as Don Gibb 1992 Quantum Leap Jeeters 1 Episode: "Roberto!" as Don Gibb Stand by Your Man Scab 7 Episodes Cheers Tiny 1 Episode: "Teaching with the Enemy" as Don Gibb 1992–1993 Renegade Hog AdamsCletus Hog Adams 2 Episodes 1993 Harry and the Hendersons Valentine 2 Episodes as Don Gibb Kip 1 Episode: "Conduit" as Don Gibb Daddy Dearest Inmate #2 1 Episode: "American We" Hearts Afire Ray 1 Episode: "The Stud Club" as Don Gibb 1993–1994 Empty Nest JakeBiker #1 2 Episodes as Don Gibb 1993–1998 Step by Step Slasher / Moose 6 Episodes 1994 Boy Meets World Tony 1 Episode: "It's a Wonderful Night" as Don Gibb Midnight Runaround Clyde Television film; Credited as Don Gibb Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Ogre Television film; Credited as Don Gibb Muddling Through Bud 1 Episode: "It's a Date" 1994–1996 Weird Science Biker DudeSinging GuyRolph 3 Episodes 1995 Seinfeld Letter S in Devils Body Painter 1 Episode: "The Face Painter" (Uncredited) Misery Loves Company Prussian Helmet Biker 1 Episode: "Uneasy Rider" Kirk Biker 1 Episode: "Helloween" 1996 Unhappily Ever After Spike 1 Episode: "Meter Maid" Homeboys in Outer Space Galdor 1 Episode: "Behold a Pale Planet, or What If God Was One of Us" as Don Gibb Pacific Blue Barger 1 Episode: "Cranked Up" as Don Gibb 1997 Sparks Fitch 1 Episode: "Self Defense" Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Security Guard 1 Episode: "The Idol" as Don Gibb 1998 Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction GunnarKind Trucker 2 Episodes 1999 Arli$$ Jake's Father 1 Episode: "Taking One for the Team" 2000 Tiny 1 Episode: "Black Streak" as Don Gibb Secret Agent Man Buff Bobby Barnett 1 Episode: "WhupSumAss" Early Edition Odessa "Stumpy" McNeil 1 Episode: "Mel Schwartz, Bounty Hunter" as Don Gibb Veronica's Closet Spaz 1 Episode: "Veronica's Sleepover" 2001 Black Scorpion Smash Clone #1 1 Episode: "An Officer and a Prankster Philly Mickey Horvath 1 Episode: "Truth or Consequence" (Uncredited) 2002 She Spies Scarface 1 Episode: "Daddy's Girl" as Don Gibb 2003 Worm 2 Episodes; Credited as Don Gibb 2007 Psycho Television mini-series 2011 Secret Mountain Fort Awesome Additional Voices 1 Episode: "The 6th Disqustoid" (Voice Role) 2016 Captain Kyle's Cosplay Spotlight 1 Episode: "Pennywise"

Video games Year Title Role Notes 1995 What's My Story Giant Voice Role; Credited as Don Gibb 1997 Zork: Grand Inquisitor Floyd the Bouncer Voice Role; Credited as Don Gibb 2003 Alter Echo Gherran Voice Role; Credited as Don Gibb 2010 Mafia II Angry Prisoner Voice Role 2011 Rage Voice Role