Michigan State's most iconic football figure of the past half century, Charles "Bubba" Smith, died Wednesday at his Los Angeles home. He was 66.

Smith was a two-time All-America at Michigan State during the Spartans' glory era of the mid-1960s, and is one of only three players in Spartan history to have his jersey number retired. Smith wore No. 95 at Michigan State.

Los Angeles County coroner's spokesman Ed Winter said Smith was found dead at his Baldwin Hills home. Winter said he didn't know the circumstances or cause of death.

Police spokesman Richard French added the death does not appear to be suspicious.

"I'm brokenhearted," Smith's former Spartan teammate Robert Viney said in an MSU press release, Wednesday night. "I will shed some tears tonight because I've lost a great friend."

"Bubba was a very concerned, kind person to everybody," Gene Washington said, in an MSU press release, Wednesday evening. "He liked giving back to the community and helping others. Bubba will be sorely missed because he touched many lives."

The top overall pick in the 1967 draft after a sensational career at Michigan State, he spent nine years in the NFL, including five seasons in Baltimore (1967-71), two in Oakland (1973-74) and two more in Houston (1975-76). Smith was a member of the 1970 Colts team that defeated Dallas, 16-13, in Super Bowl V (Jan. 17, 1971). He made back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 1970-71 and was named First-Team All-Pro by AP and Pro Football Writers in 1971.

"Charles Bubba Smith was a larger-than-life figure," Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio said Wednesday night in a press release. "He's arguably the greatest defensive end to ever play the college game. He ranks as one of Michigan State's all-time greats. He had a national presence in both football and later in cinema. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and all of his former teammates at this time of great sorrow. He will forever be one of our greatest Spartans."

One of the most feared defensive ends in the game, Smith often drew two blockers, yet was effective enough to make two Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team. His best work actually came in college, and Smith was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Smith played for his father, Willie Ray Smith, in Beaumont, Texas, before heading to Michigan State.

As an actor his most memorable role was playing Moses Hightower, the soft-spoken officer in the Police Academy series. He also appeared in such television series as Good Times, Charlie's Angels and Half Nelson, and was a regular in the ground-breaking Miller Lite commercials featuring retired players.

"I just spoke with Bubba by phone on Monday," Viney said. "He had invited some old veterans from the Raiders and Rams over to his house to review the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement.

"He was simply a good guy. His size made him an intimidating figure, but he was a real gentleman. He was a helluva player."

A Cornerstone to MSU Greatness

Born Feb. 28, 1945, in Orange, Texas, Smith earned three letters at Michigan State from 1964-66, while playing for legendary head coach Duffy Daugherty. In his final two seasons, the 6-foot-7, 280-pound defensive end helped the Spartans to a combined record of 19-1-1, including back-to-back Big Ten and National Championships in 1965 and '66.

As a junior, he emerged as one of the top playmakers on a defensive unit that led the NCAA in rushing defense (45.6 yards per game) and scoring defense (6.2 points per game), earning First-Team All-America honors from the American Football Coaches Association and United Press International. Michigan State held three of its 1965 opponents to negative rushing yards: Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

As a senior, Smith was named First-Team All-American by nine different organizations, including The Associated Press. He was selected UPI Lineman of the Year in 1966. Despite being regularly double- or triple-teamed or having opponents run away from his side of the field, Smith still produced 30 tackles (15 solos, 15 assists), including 10 for losses (59 yards). Michigan State ranked third in the NCAA in rushing defense in’66, allowing just 51.4 yards per game.

"As I remember him, I recall the chants of 'Kill, Bubba, Kill' from the crowd in Spartan Stadium," Viney said. "He never sought the spotlight. He was a humble man. He will be missed."

"Bubba was definitely a game changer as a defensive end," Washington said. "You simply didn’t see guys with his size and quickness coming off the defensive line. His ability spoke for itself. He was a great teammate and a great leader.

"Bubba and I played against each other in both football and basketball in high school," Washington said. "His father (W.R. Smith) was his high school coach, and his dad really encouraged Duffy (Daugherty) to recruit me. His father was a well respected high school coach so his recommendation carried a lot of weight. I'll be forever thankful for his dad's efforts to put me on Duffy's recruiting list.

"Needless to say, Bubba was a longtime friend. Our football careers were very involved both as competitors in high school and later in the pros and as teammates in college.

"As students at MSU, Bubba and I took several classes together. I also remember how supportive he was of my track career. During both the indoor and outdoor track seasons, I could count on Bubba being there in the stands, cheering me on."

In 1988, the Beaumont, Texas, native was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Smith became a member of the inaugural class inducted into the MSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.

In 2006, he was rated among the Top 10 Greatest Defensive Players of All-Time, according to lists compiled by CollegeFootballNews.com's Pete Fiutak (No. 6) and Richard Cirminiello (No. 8).

On Sept. 23, 2006, Smith became just the third player in MSU football history to have his jersey number retired (photo above). His jersey retirement was part of a special program to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1966 "Game of the Century" between the second-ranked Spartans and top-ranked Notre Dame that ended in a 10-10 tie.

In 2010, Smith ranked No. 26 among the Top 50 Big Ten Icons, according to a list compiled by the Big Ten Network. At the conclusion of the 2011 season, the Big Ten will present the Smith-Brown Defensive Lineman of the Year Award as selected by the league's head coaches and media panel, honoring MSU's two-time All-American as well as Penn State's Courtney Brown.

"Bubba Smith was a great Spartan," said Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis. "Years ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time with him when he served as the grand marshal for the Homecoming parade and again when he returned to campus for the retirement of his jersey number, and he had a great presence wherever he want. Despite his stature and notoriety, you felt comfortable around him because he had an engaging personality. As both a football player and later as an actor, Bubba was a great ambassador for the University. It's only fitting that beginning this fall the Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year Award bears his name."