JOHN BEASLEY: Malik Beasley, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, paid tribute to his grandfather on Instagram: “To the man who put the Beasleys on the map.”PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK

Associated Press and wire reports 

OMAHA, Neb. – John Beasley, the veteran character actor who played a kindly school bus driver on the TV drama "Everwood" and appeared in dozens of films dating back to the 1980s, has died. He was 79.

Beasley died Tuesday after a "brief and unexpected illness" at a hospital in his hometown of Omaha, his manager, Don Spradlin, said.

Beasley played an assistant coach in the 1993 football film "Rudy" and a retired preacher in 1997’s "The Apostle," co-starring and directed by Robert Duvall.

On TV, Beasley was the father of Cedric the Entertainer in the TV Land comedy "The Soul Man" and later starred for four seasons alongside Treat Williams in The WB’s "Everwood."

He also portrayed Chris Vaughn Sr., the father of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s character, in the 2004 remake of “Walking Tall.”

Most recently, Beasley had small parts in the Showtime drama "Your Honor," with Bryan Cranston, and "The Mandalorian," a Star Wars offshoot on Disney+.

For more than a dozen years, he ran the John Beasley Theater and Workshop in Omaha, where he was born in 1943.

"To be a working artist is the highest calling, and I appreciate wherever it takes me," Beasley told the publication American Theatre last year.

He is survived by Judy, his wife of 58 years; two sons, Michael and Tyrone; and six grandchildren, including Malik Beasley, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The NBA veteran paid tribute to his grandfather on Instagram. "To the man who put the Beasleys on the map," he wrote.

Beasley’s earlier work includes portraying Terry Hall’s dad, Jesse, in the 1992 movie “The Mighty Ducks.”

Beasley didn’t start acting until his mid-40s. Before that, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad, the Los Angeles Times reported.

“I knew those things would come, even when I was in college,” he told American Theatre late last year. “I dropped out early because I didn’t feel I really needed a college degree to pursue what I wanted to do in life. Bottom line, I worked.”

Last year, the Times reported, Beasley played the older Noah Calhoun in the Broadway-bound musical theater adaptation of “The Notebook” at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

“To be a working artist is the highest calling, and I appreciate wherever it takes me,” he told American Theatre. “If I never got to Broadway, I would still feel I’ve had a pretty successful career.”

Beasley has nearly 70 acting credits to his name. In 2002, he founded the John

Beasley Theater & Workshop to promote live theater in Omaha. Most recently, he played small roles in Showtime’s drama “Your Honor,” starring Bryan Cranston, and a Star Wars franchise favorite, Disney+ series “The Mandalorian.”

“Man … you know this is a part of life … but that doesn’t make it any easier,” Beasley’s son Mike wrote Tuesday in a Facebook tribute to his father. “I lost my best friend today. They say you shouldn’t ever meet your heroes because they don’t turn out to be who you thought they were. That is so wrong. My hero was my father. Thank you for everything. I hope I made you proud. Love you more.”

Michael Beasley is also an actor with an extensive list of credits. His most recent roles include Colonel Cheesesteak in “Shazam Fury of the Gods,” Uncle Calvin in Max’s “Rap S—” and Mr. Marksby in the Apple+ drama “Swagger.”

John Beasley is survived by Judy, his wife of 58 years; two sons, Michael and Tyrone; and six grandchildren, including Malik Beasley, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Earlier this month, “Guardians of the Galaxy” star Chris Pratt shared a courtside video from the Lakers game calling out John Beasley for something he had said decades ago.

“Yo Beasley, I’m looking at your grandson Malik right now, courtside, I remember when you told me on ‘Everwood’ when he was 4-years-old, ‘My grandson is gonna play in the NBA.’ Well look at this, there he is,” Pratt said turning the camera toward Malik who walks over in his Lakers uniform and says, “What’s up Grandpa, I love you.”