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NY Times, YouTube

Actor Known for ‘Varsity Blues’ Dies at 45

Jun 20, 2016  •  Post A Comment

A film and television actor who was best known for roles in the TV series “Popular” and movies including “Good Burger,” “Varsity Blues” and “Not Another Teen Movie” has died. Ron Lester reportedly died in Dallas Friday night of liver and kidney failure after asking to be taken off life support. He was 45.

The New York Times cites Lester’s agent, Dave Bradley, saying that Lester had been hospitalized for about four months. The Times notes that Lester had battled obesity throughout his life.

“Mr. Lester played the oversize lineman Billy Bob in ‘Varsity Blues,’ a 1999 movie about high school football that starred James Van Der Beek and Paul Walker,” The Times reports.

His TV roles also included “Freaks and Geeks,” “CSI: NY” and “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.”

“Mr. Lester, who at one point weighed 508 pounds, nearly died after having gastric bypass surgery but recovered and lost more than 300 pounds,” The Times reports. “After his extreme weight loss, however, he was no longer in demand to play the ‘fat guy’ roles for which he had been known.”

Here’s a clip from “Varsity Blues” in which Lester’s character makes a big play …

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