Donald Richard Gibb (August 4, 1954 – May 12, 2026) was an American actor. He was best known for his roles as Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski in the Revenge of the Nerds series, as Ray Jackson in Bloodsport, and as Leslie “Dr. Death” Krunchner on the HBO sitcom 1st & Ten.
🏈 Early Life and Sports
Gibb was born in New York City on August 4, 1954. He was raised in California and 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.
🎭 Acting Career Beginnings
Gibb turned to acting following the automobile accident that prevented him from having a football career. He began with small, uncredited roles in Stripes and Conan the Barbarian. He received recognition in a small role in Lost in America, playing an ex-convict who picks up a hitchhiking main character.
🍺 Ogre and Revenge of the Nerds
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. Gibb “experienced a life makeover” between the first and second films, objecting to a proposed scene where the character would threaten someone with a piece of wood. The sequel ends with Ogre joining Lambda, Lambda, Lambda, the titular Nerds’ fraternity.
🥋 Martial Arts and Other Films
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.
📺 Television Roles
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, 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.
🍺 Spokesman and Death
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. Gibb died after a long illness at his home in Texas, on May 12, 2026, at the age of 71.
| Category | Detail | Category | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | August 4, 1954, New York City | Died | May 12, 2026, Texas (age 71) |
| Education | Notre Dame High School; University of New Mexico (basketball scholarship); University of San Diego (football scholarship) | Pro Football | Briefly for San Diego Chargers; ended by auto accident injury |
| Famous Roles | Frederick “Ogre” Palowaski (Revenge of the Nerds series); Ray Jackson (Bloodsport); Dr. Death Krunchner (1st & Ten) | Film Count | More than 25 movies |
| TV Appearances | 1st & Ten (1984–1991); Stand By Your Man; Quantum Leap; MacGyver; Magnum P.I.; Cheers; The X-Files; The A-Team; and others | Other Work | Spokesman for Trader Todd’s; marketed “Ogre Beer”; video game role in Zork: Grand Inquisitor |