On top of his NBA resume, Kobe Bryant made a name for himself in the world of entertainment. Over the years, Bryant explored ventures in hip-hop music and music videos.
He also starred and cameoed in numerous TV shows and films. In recent years, Kobe had collaborated on several documentary projects and an animated film that won an Oscar. Here's a look at his most memorable film and TV work.
Kobe Bryant: Oscar Winner for Dear Basketball
In 2015, Bryant announced his retirement from the NBA in a letter titled "Dear Basketball," published in The Players' Tribune. Two years later, the letter was made into an animated short film directed by Glen Keane, a long-time Disney animator.
Kobe received writing credit for Dear Basketball, which put animated visuals to his retirement letter. He also narrates the letter in the film.
Legendary film composer John Williams wrote the music for Dear Basketball. The movie went on to win Best Animated Short Film at the 90th Academy Awards in 2018.
Kobe's television appearances
Bryant's first TV role came as "Terry Hightower" in one episode of the TV series Moesha. Many cameos followed in shows including In The House, Hang Time, and The Proud Family.
A recent TV appearance came in 2019 when Kobe was on MTV's Ridiculousness, a show where celebrity guests comment on viral videos.
Bryant's other film and documentary work
Kobe made a cameo in the comedy Daddy's Home with Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg. He's also been the focus of several documentaries.
These include Nike: The Black Mamba, a short directed by Robert Rodriguez in 2011, and Kobe Bryant's Muse, a feature length documentary from 2015 covering Bryant's career and life.
Kobe Bryant along with his daughter Gianna and seven other people tragically lost their lives in a crash in Calabasas, California, on Jan. 26, 2020. Bryant was 41.
The news of his loss rocked the world today...
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