Ron Lester, 'Varsity Blues' actor, dead at 45

Ron Lester, an American actor known for Varsity Blues and Not Another Teen Movie, has passed away at age 45.

Lester was suffering from liver and kidney issues since November and was hospitalized for four months. On Friday, June 17, Lester asked to be taken off life support before passing away, according to Hollywood Take.  His fiancee was at his side when he died.

Born in Kennesaw, Georgia in 1970, Lester received his first film role in the 1997 comedy Good Burger. Two years later, he starred in Varsity Blues as Billy Bob and then parodied his character as Reggie Ray in Not Another Teen Movie in 2001. Around that time, Lester underwent gastric bypass surgery and lost almost 350 pounds.

At the time of his death, Lester was working on his own film, Racing Legacy.

Lester's final role will be in the movie, Bomb City, currently without a release date.

James Van Der Beek paid tribute to his Varsity Blues co-star in a series of tweets, expressing his condolences at Lester's passing.