Lou Myers, an actor best known for his role as restaurant owner Mr. Gaines on the television series A Different World, died February 19, 2013, in Charleston, West Virginia. He was 76.
According to news reports, Myers had been ill for several months.
Myers' other television credits included The Cosby Show, of which A DIfferent World, which aired from 1988-1993, was a spin-off. He also appeared in episodes of The Sinbad Show, Living Single, The Jamie Foxx Show, JAG, ER, NYPD Blue, Touched by an Angel, Lucky Louie and many others.
He feature film credits included Tin Cup, How Stella Got Her Groove Back and The Wedding Planner.
In addition, he made Broadway appearances in such productions as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple.
Myers won an NAACP Award for best actor for his portrayal of the Stool Pigeon in King Hedley II, a play by August Wilson.
He was also a singer who toured the world with a popular cabaret act.