John Thompson(1941-2020)

Actor
Soundtrack

More than two decades after his tragic cocaine overdose, the late Len Bias still leaves more questions than answers. When Bias dropped dead two days after the 1986 NBA Draft, he forever altered our perception of casual drug use and became the tipping point of America's drug crisis in the mid-80's.

Future generations continue to face the harsh punishment of drug policies that were influenced by the public outcry after his heartbreaking death. Instead of becoming an NBA star, he became a one-man deterrent, the athlete who reminded everyone just how dangerous drug use can be.

Amazingly, questions still linger about his death nearly a quarter-century later. How good could he have been in the pro ranks? Has he become underrated or overrated as the years pass? How could a University of Maryland superstar and Boston Celtics lottery pick be derailed by a cocaine binge? Was Bias a one-time user as we were led to believe, or was there a pattern of recreational use that led to his fatal last night? Did he fall in with the wrong crowd?

In the most ambitious, comprehensive and uncompromising account of Bias' life and death ever captured on film director Kirk Fraser utilizes dozens of interviews with Bias' closest teammates, friends and family in an effort to determine exactly what happened on that fateful night. Maybe it wasn't as much of a fluke as we thought.

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Len Bias (2009)

John Robert Thompson Jr. (born September 2, 1941) is a former American college basketball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas. He is now a professional radio and TV sports commentator. In 1984, he became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate championship, capturing the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship when Georgetown, led by Patrick Ewing, defeated the University of Houston 84-75.

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John Thompson in American Gangster (2006)

John Thompson and Kirk Fraser in American Gangster (2006)

From Seasons of Change: The African American Athlete; (left to right) Howard White, Richard Lapchick, John Thompson, John Saunders

From Seasons of Change: The African American Athlete; (left to right) Howard White, Richard Lapchick, Coach John Thompson, John Saunders, Bobby Mitchell, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Eddie George

The taping of Seasons of Change: The African American Athlete from Cramton Auditorium at Howard University

Cast and Crew of Seasons of Change: The African American Athlete

[left to right] Joe C. Farr III (Executive Producer), Howard White, Richard Lapchick, Coach John Thompson, John Saunders, Bobby Mitchell, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Eddie George, Fred Brown (Producer)

Known for:

He Got Game

6.9

John Thompson

1998

The Sixth Man

5.6

John Thompson

1997

First Monday

7.5

TV Series

John Thompson

Hangin' with Mr. Cooper

6.4

TV Series

John Thompson

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actor

Like Mike
- John Thompson (uncredited)
- 2002
First Monday
- John Thompson
- TV Series
- 2002
He Got Game
- John Thompson
- 1998
The Sixth Man
- John Thompson
- 1997
Hangin' with Mr. Cooper
- John Thompson
- TV Series
- 1995
The Exorcist III
- John Thompson - Georgetown Hoyas Basketball Coach (uncredited)
- 1990