what happened to ron lester
Ron Lester, the actor best known for playing Billy Bob in the 1999 film “Varsity Blues,” died in 2016 after serious health complications related to organ failure.
What Happened to Ron Lester?
Quick Scoop
Ron Lester was a character actor who became widely recognized for playing the lovable offensive lineman Billy Bob in “Varsity Blues,” along with roles in “Good Burger,” “Not Another Teen Movie,” and several TV shows.
In June 2016, at just 45 years old, he died in Dallas, Texas, after liver and kidney failure following months of declining health.
Health Issues and Cause of Death
Ron Lester struggled with severe obesity from a young age and reportedly weighed more than 500 pounds at one point.
In 2001 he underwent major weight-loss surgery (gastric bypass/duodenal- switch–type procedure) and lost around 300–350 pounds over the following years.
By late 2015 and early 2016, reports and interviews indicated:
- He was hospitalized for liver problems and later kidney complications.
- His health declined over about four months in hospital before his death.
- He was moved from intensive care to hospice, and his breathing tubes were removed shortly before he passed away.
His agent and manager confirmed that he died of organ failure (liver and kidney failure) and that he passed peacefully in hospice care.
Life and Career Snapshot
Even before “Varsity Blues,” Ron Lester had started building a niche as the “funny big guy”:
- Breakout screen work in “Good Burger” (1997).
- Billy Bob in “Varsity Blues” (1999), which became a late‑90s teen sports cult favorite.
- Roles in “Not Another Teen Movie,” “Popular,” and appearances in shows like “CSI: NY” and “Freaks and Geeks.”
After losing a massive amount of weight post‑surgery, he spoke candidly about how:
- He felt he had “sold” his “funny fat guy” niche in exchange for health and a chance at a longer life.
- Some acting opportunities dried up once his appearance changed.
Despite that, he described being grateful for the chance to live healthier, even if the industry typecasting shifted.
Forum and “Latest News” / Rumors
There isn’t any new development about Ron Lester himself since his 2016 death; “latest news” about him tends to be:
- Obituary retrospectives and cause‑of‑death explainers revisiting his story years later.
- Fans on forums remembering his work in “Varsity Blues,” “Popular,” and “Freaks and Geeks.”
Because he died in 2016, any “trending topic” around “what happened to Ron Lester” today usually refers to:
- Clips of Billy Bob circulating on social media.
- Reposts of articles explaining that he passed away from liver and kidney failure at 45 and had a long history of obesity and drastic weight‑loss surgery.
If you see videos or posts hinting that he only “recently” died or suggesting some other cause (like sudden accident or mystery event), those are misleading; reputable reports all agree on the 2016 organ‑failure narrative.
Mini Timeline
- Early career: Commercials in Atlanta, then parts in movies like “Good Burger.”
- 1999: Breakthrough as Billy Bob in “Varsity Blues.”
- Early 2000s: Major weight‑loss surgery; loses hundreds of pounds, speaks publicly about changing his life.
- 2014–2015: Publicly mentions ongoing health issues tied to liver and kidneys.
- Early 2016: Hospitalized for liver and kidney complications, condition steadily declines.
- June 17–18, 2016: Moved to hospice, removed from life support, dies at age 45 in Dallas.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
TL;DR: Ron Lester, the “Varsity Blues” actor who played Billy Bob, struggled with extreme obesity, had drastic weight‑loss surgery, later developed serious liver and kidney problems, and died in hospice in Dallas in June 2016 at age 45.