Lou Myers, who played cantankerous-but-lovable character “Mr. Gaines” on ‘A Different World’, has passed away from complications due to pneumonia, PEOPLE magazine reports. He was 77.
From PEOPLE:
Myers was born in Chesapeake, W.V., the son of a Cabin Creek coal miner, according to the Charleston Gazette. After attending West Virginia State University, he got his first acting break as an understudy in the Broadway play The First Breeze of Summer.
He went on to appear in more than a dozen films, including How Stella Got Her Groove Back and The Wedding Planner.
On television, he had roles on ER, JAG and NYPD Blue, but is best remembered for playing Vernon Gaines on A Different World, which was a spin-off from The Cosby Show.
He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Jeffries, 95, a son, Melvin Myers, and two grandsons, Brayden and Christian, the Gazette said.
Photo: NBC/Getty Images
Awww RIP.
RIP Mr. Gaines
RIP Mr. Gaines, i’ll always remeber you for looking out for kim’s sexy azz. thanks for keeping my boo motivated, even when she dated that clown azz sprite!
his momma outlived him? bless her heart…may he RIP
it’s a different world
from where you come from
the episode where he told Gina he had a cousin said “I don’t believe he loves me unless he beat me” then he said “he loved her to death…”
Awww RIP!!
My young too grown for anything ass used to watch this show..I remember the episode when ole girl had that abusive boyfriend and he blacked her eye and gave her them ugly ass blue shoes
And the Aids episode…and who could forget..when Dwayne stopped Whitley’s wedding…chillleee that show made me want to go to a HBCU
Then my folk said hell naw, take your ass to the Private sprite University
Rest In Peace Mr. Gaines
RIP
May Mr. Myers soul rest in peace. Wow he passed before his mom. I hope the family is doing ok during this time.
RIP Mr. Gaines!
Was it him in a movie (I THINK it was Lackawana Blues – I could be wrong) that said “I got the ‘roaches of the liver'”?
damn Rip, was he the snagga toof dude in Harlem nights that died at the start? the “I told you I hate kids Ray” guy?
They said he had a heart condition
lawd his mama outlived him 
KABYEYOU says:
damn Rip, was he the snagga toof dude in Harlem nights that died at the start? the “I told you I hate kids Ray” guy?
_________________________
Naw that dude looked too YOUNG to be him.
He is survived by his mother, Dorothy Jeffries, 95,
may he RIP i enjoyed his work
West Virginia State University
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
He was an alum of a HBCU. Prolly why he played the heck outta Mr. Gaines. Prolly was one at his school. RIP Mr. Myers
Rip….but he had to be at least 136 years old. He was 77 when ADW was on.
NaijaGal says:
the episode where he told Gina he had a cousin said “I don’t believe he loves me unless he beat me” then he said “he loved her to death…”
_________________________________
My favorite one with him in it.
NaijaGal says:
his momma outlived him? bless her heart…may he RIP
_______
That’s what I was thinking. Sad. I would have assumed he was older. He seemed like he was in his 70s on the show. Dang!
RIP Mr. Gaines.
:thinks: Now would be the perfect time for a reunion show though. Maybe a funeral held at The Pit and everyone comes to pay their respects. Whitley and Dwayne’s child should be about college aged right now too…
I’ve been thinking about this for a while before hearing of his passing.
What a blessing to still have his mother around…RIP Mr. Gaines
:wails:
this and fay story downstairs….
PRYN yes it was him
Between School Daze and A Different World I am proud to be a product of HBCU and will go back soon
@ Sam
Did you get the song I sang for you downstairs?
Gigi26 says:
Awww RIP!!
My young too grown for anything ass used to watch this show..I remember the episode when ole girl had that abusive boyfriend and he blacked her eye and gave her them ugly ass blue shoes
And the Aids episode…and who could forget..when Dwayne stopped Whitley’s wedding…chillleee that show made me want to go to a HBCU
Then my folk said hell naw, take your ass to the Private sprite University
it was such a good show. but when i go back & look at ole epi’s i’m like
how in HELL did i believe these was college kids back in the day?? errybody lookin mid 20’s-30’s & chit 
Well the life he lived made it possible for his moms to live to 95..he prolly worked really hard to make life easy for her…95 is a blessing in itself
He lived pretty long himself, 77 is good too…
iAmChan says:
@ Sam
Did you get the song I sang for you downstairs?
^^^
yes love
that_VA_thickchick says:
That’s what I was thinking. Sad. I would have assumed he was older. He seemed like he was in his 70s on the show. Dang!
sorry if this is our 1st interaction & it being so violent
I MISS DA 90’s!!!
My niece (cousin) got a four year scholarship to hbcu honors
I think it’s cookman 
She had the biggest trunk party we had so much fun that day…. I be missin chicago :wails:
@rif hello ma’am how r u doing today with lent? y haven’t cheated have u?
May he now be with his LORD. Auntie, is it true that he was also homosexual?
SAM
Congrats to your niece
RIP Mr. Gaines.
I thought he was about 70 atleast 60 during filming of A Different World.
Between School Daze and A Different World I am proud to be a product of HBCU
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I am not a product but I PROMISE they add to who WE are. B/c without them a lot of OUR parents, grandparents, etc who grew up at a time when we weren’t allowed in other higher institutions…would have had NO PLACE to go to further educate themselves. They still doing an excellent job too
Aww Sam, Congrats to her
FayMrsWhipfinityIfYewNassy
says:
that_VA_thickchick says:
That’s what I was thinking. Sad. I would have assumed he was older. He seemed like he was in his 70s on the show. Dang!
my DAMN self for laughing at this! <—for YOU for fonting it!
sorry if this is our 1st interaction & it being so violent
___________
LOL Sowwwyy!
Gigi26 says:
And the Aids episode…and who could forget..when Dwayne stopped Whitley’s wedding…chillleee that show made me want to go to a HBCU
hell_on_heels says:
May he now be with his LORD. Auntie, is it true that he was also homosexual?
_____________________________
Lawd, not Mr. Gaines! Bet not nobody talk bad bout Mr. Gaines.
RIP Mr. Gaines!!! A different World was my show!!!!!!! That dayum Whitley Gilbert was a mess…….just like a DIVA!
What ‘Fay story’ Sam?
RIP
Disclaimer: My previous font in no way means that I think of homosexuality as a ‘bad’ thing.
iAmChan says:
Rip….but he had to be at least 136 years old. He was 77 when ADW was on.
—————————-
I didn’t see this before I posted #36. But we on the same page.
Diva says:
RIP Mr. Gaines!!! A different World was my show!!!!!!! That dayum Whitley Gilbert was a mess…….just like a DIVA!
_______
We don’t talk THAT dayum country. In hindsight it was cute. But as a teenager, I felt some kinda way about it. 
I remember when I found out she was supposed to be from Richmond, VA. I was like
Sam’s Niece :woot:
KDUB you betta
girl I could go on and on about how IMPORTANT they are and still are till this day. Still play a very intergral role in how we are. So excited to return!!
Some of em Who Dat…some of em are disgracing themselves
But no bands can play like an HBCU one…
BrendBew
<–gummibear flavored 
thanks guys
my sister ( who is really my first cousin we all that close) did such a good job. They didn’t have to come outta pocket with anything but her dorm stuff. They offered her all four years paid she left with a gpa of over 4.0 she was takin those ap classes I think but anyhoo good girl we are all proud of her.
I saw the preview to RHOA and how did them heffas get invited to Nene’s house at 9pm and didn’t get there until 12am. I would have cussed them out too. RIP mr. gaines. I loved that man…When he wanted to name the club ‘a place where the bluew will be played” Ron was looking like
Howard University!!!!! dont forget thats what A Different World was based on…Never forget we are the HBCU that the rest of the HBCU’s want to be….Most your favorite Sororities and Fraternities were originated here…BISONS BABY H….U………..
Yaaay for Sam’s niece!! My mentee got into Howard but they ain’t throw her no money…hopefully they give her something…
Is Morgan St a HBCU? Lemme go do some research
SON, I heard this one this morning
:2dance: Off On Your Own Girl by Mr. Al B. Sure
What ‘Fay story’ Sam?
^^^
her supervisor saw the light :wails: well had a dream about the light but still :wails:
Hey dtts
When NCCU was having issues with mold in their brand new dorm…our governor at the time was like “FIX IT…NOW”…Well someone wrote the paper and said “why does the governor care so much about that black school over in Durham”…our Executive Editor wrote BACK to the reader in his weekly column…that “black school” over in Durham provided the LAW degree to our current WHITE governor AND HIS WIFE; and graduates attorneys of all races as a top law school. WHEN I SAY I DIED…
The ‘Carol Ann’ light?
DTTS
girl about my supv & this eerie ass dream she had last night. it’s downstairs.
DARIA
oh how I love thee!!!!!!
<–Doesn't Talk To Strangers says:
SON, I heard this one this morning
Off On Your Own Girl by Mr. Al B. Sure
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Al B Sure…..Mr. Unibrow was sessy in a odd sort of way to be back then!!!
Who Dat says:
When NCCU was having issues with mold in their brand new dorm…our governor at the time was like “FIX IT…NOW”…Well someone wrote the paper and said “why does the governor care so much about that black school over in Durham”…our Executive Editor wrote BACK to the reader in his weekly column…that “black school” over in Durham provided the LAW degree to our current WHITE governor AND HIS WIFE; and graduates attorneys of all races as a top law school. WHEN I SAY I DIED…
hey Fay
Hop in!
Let’s go to Cali Fay! 
KAB their have been plenty of arguements about where the show was based and being a SPARTAN Im not being biased. However it was never stated where just in VA.
KDUB what was the consensus about this again?
SON :2dance: my fav song of Whitney just went off “im your baby tonight”
Fay….Could be sleep paralysis.. I have it as well but have never had images or scary thoughts related to it. I just have the inability to move or speak (might feel like a heart attack to someone who has never had a heart attack). Others have reported seeing ‘demon-like’ things. Feeling like something was chasing them. ETC. That issh is so crazy and I’m usually a skeptic but, it’s real and comes in different forms.
DISPUTE
He was sexy.
#controversy
RIP Mr. Gaines he shole use to keep them in line didnt he. He didnt play that nonsence up in his place of business!
GIGI
MORGAN is. Which HBCU is a disgrace? Just curious bc the one I knew of was in financial trouble and got SHUT DOWN
*nonsense
Whatevaaa You Want From Meeeee
Everthinggggggggggggggggggg
I’m Yo Baby Tonighttttttttttttt
@missharlem Norfolk state……..Baby sister to Virginia State….they had the freak jawns down there though lmao Hampton Broads were uppity
Mainy
it’s horrible to feel like you are “trapped” in your body but also made me think what exactly am “I” if “I” can feel “trapped” in my own body 
too deep
I’ve had that once in my life and don’t ever want to experience it again
@Harlem: I heard bad things about Fisk, CAU, and FAMU and their administrations….The educations are not questionnable, its the ppl they put in authority
Just squandering funds n chit..
caus you gotta you gotta way that you makin me feel and i feel i can do anything for ya bay be I be there for ya bay be lay all my cards out tooo night
Yall I’m going to be broke fuggin around w/ this Itunes no mo songs k?
So yall know that my son is at Savannah State and my daughter who graduated last May who didn’t know what to do with her life after her daddy died was just informed that she got a tennis scholarship. God ILL good!!!
KAB Baby sis to V State
our accreditations mean more *ahem* 
nah but love all around. Hampton was a lil uppity but I also had friends there but they stayed on our side bc we would do the damn thing 
GIGI Fisk had their share of issues which is a shame being that ICONS of ours came from there (Langston Hughes etc) but been in overhaul with that. CAU
chile and FAMU after their recent hiccup will also get an overhaul. Education def is NOT a question as I know someone personally making 100g a year from that FAMU degree
YNH college-bound daughter! :woot:
Yall trying to make this post all Boogity Boogity Booo
Ok, time to make the donuts…
BBL
GIGI but I dont mind 3 out of 105 being questionable not a bad track record at all
RIP Mr. Gaines.
“Love Licks” or “Lover Hurts” was that episode where Gina’s boyfriend was beating her. ADW is definitely a classic show for my generation. I was just online the other day looking for the School Daze poster. I want to frame it and put it up in my crib. That and “A Piece of The Action.”
***love hurts