Richard Moll was an actor best known for starring as courtroom bailiff Bull Shannon on the sitcom “Night Court.”
- Died: October 26, 2023 (Who else died on October 26?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Big Bear Lake, California, at the age of 80.
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Richard Moll’s legacy
Moll began his Hollywood career in the 1970s, with many movie and TV appearances before he landed his breakout role in “Night Court.” In fact, his iconic shaved head from the sitcom had its genesis in another project. When he auditioned for “Night Court,” his head was already shaved from his role in the 1983 space Western film “Metalstorm,” in which he played a nomadic warrior. Adding flair to his already imposing look – Moll was six feet, eight inches tall – the shaved head became an indelible part of his role. Moll played Bull as friendly and gentle, in contrast to the first impression a defendant might get upon seeing his hulking frame. In fact, the character had originally been written as more menacing, but Moll deliberately brought a softness to the role, a trait that the writers began leaning into as the show evolved.
Moll starred in all nine seasons of “Night Court” and continued working regularly after its finale. He had a notable voice role in “Batman: The Animated Series” as Two-Face/Harvey Dent. He also had recurring roles on such TV shows as “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” “The Legend of Calamity Jane,” and “100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd.” He was often seen on such game shows as “Super Password” and “The $25,000 Pyramid,” and his many other TV appearances included “Happy Days,” “The A-Team,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” “Santa Barbara,” “The Facts of Life,” “Highlander,” “Babylon 5,” “Married… With Children,” and “Smallville.”
Moll also appeared in dozens of movies, both live action and in voice roles such as when he played a beat poet in Ralph Bakshi’s animated “American Pop.” He was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for 1986’s “House.” Moll’s other films included “The Flintstones,” “Jingle All the Way,” “But I’m a Cheerleader,” and “Scary Movie 2.”
Moll on auditioning for “Night Court”
“When I went in they said, ‘Oh, that’s great. We love the look. Will you shave your head for the role?’ I said, ‘Are you kidding? I’ll shave my legs for this role.’” —from a 2003 interview for People
Tributes to Richard Moll
Full obituary: Los Angeles Times
