Richard Moll

Charles Richard Moll (January 13, 1943 – October 26, 2023) was an American actor known for playing Aristotle Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon, a bailiff on the NBC sitcom ''Night Court'' from 1984 to 1992. Moll also voiced Harvey Dent/Two-Face in the DC Animated Universe series '' Batman: The Animated Series'' and ''The New Batman Adventures'', and briefly reprised the role in the '' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' episode " Chill of the Night!".

Early life

Charles Richard Moll was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Violet Anita (née Grill), a nurse, and Harry Findley Moll, a lawyer. He was tall early in his life, reaching by age 12. He kept growing until he was about tall. As a child, he and his family would often visit Jackson Hole, Wyoming. He attended the University of California, Berkeley, and was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity. During his time at UC Berkeley, Moll performed in works of William Shakespeare.

Career

In the 1977 film '' Brigham'', Moll (credited as Charles Moll) appeared as Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Moll would go on to often portray hulking or imposing characters due to his height and deep voice. In 1979, Moll played the part of Eugene, a gangster on the television series ''Happy Days'' in the episode "Fonzie's Funeral". In 1981, Moll co-starred with Jan-Michael Vincent and Kim Basinger in the film '' Hard Country'', and he also played the Abominable Snowman in the comedy feature film ''Caveman''. The same year, he had a small part in the ''Mork & Mindy'' episode "Alienation", where he appeared with future fellow ''Night Court'' cast member John Larroquette. In 1982, he played the sorcerer Xusia in '' The Sword and the Sorcerer''.

In 1983, Moll shaved his head for the role of Hurok in the science fiction B movie '' Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn''. The producers of the TV sitcom ''Night Court'' liked the look so much in his audition that they asked him to keep it. He played bailiff Aristotle Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon on ''Night Court'' from 1984 to 1992. He also used the Bull persona in commercials for the Washington Lottery.

Moll played the role of Big Ben in the 1985 horror film ''House''. He earned a Saturn Award nomination for the role. Moll made an appearance in the first episode of '' Highlander: The Series'' as Slan Quince, the villain who reunites Connor MacLeod with his kinsman and the show's protagonist, Duncan MacLeod. Moll made a guest appearance on ''Babylon 5'' in the episode " Hunter, Prey" as a lurker criminal who was holding a VIP hostage, and as a gangster on '' Married... with Children''. Moll made another guest appearance in the TV series '' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'', playing the cyclops in episode two, "Eye of the Beholder".

In ''Super Password'', Moll appeared with Judy Norton Taylor, Nancy Lane, Markie Post, Gloria Loring, Florence Halop, Debra Maffett, Elaine Joyce, and Kim Morgan Greene, with Bert Convy as the game show's host from 1984 to 1987.

Moll played himself in '' The Facts of Life'' (Season 9, episodes 1 and 2: "Down and Out in Malibu").

Moll appeared in ''The Flintstones'' and '' Casper Meets Wendy'', both TV spin-offs. In 1999's '' But I'm a Cheerleader'', Moll played a gay man who, with his partner (Wesley Mann), helps gay teenagers escape from a nearby camp where parents send their teenage offspring for conversion therapy. He played the drifter on the Nickelodeon show '' 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd''.

In 2001, he played Hugh Kane, the ghost haunting a mansion in '' Scary Movie 2''. In 2007, he played (along with M. Steven Felty) Kolchak Jefferson Stillwall in the Anthony C. Ferrante horror film ''Headless Horseman''. In 2014, Moll appeared as a security guard on an episode of '' Anger Management'' with Charlie Sheen.

Voiceover work

Moll can be heard in many animated productions, often as a villain with a deep, growling voice. He voiced Two-Face in '' Batman: The Animated Series'', Scorpion in later episodes of ''Spider-Man'' (who was originally voiced by Martin Landau) and the Abomination in '' The Incredible Hulk'' (who was originally voiced by Kevin Schon).

Moll also provided voice work in the '' Batman: The Brave and the Bold'' episode " Chill of the Night!" voicing Lew Moxon as well as briefly reprising Two-Face (who was mainly voiced by James Remar). His first role in an animated film was as a beat poet in Ralph Bakshi's '' American Pop''. Moll also starred as Norman in the animated series '' Mighty Max'' and voiced Vorn the Unspeakable, a Cthulhu-like character, in the '' Freakazoid!'' episode "Statuesque".

Moll voiced the Devil Hulk in the 2005 video game '' Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction''. In the 2010 video game ''Dante's Inferno'', he voiced Death (which he shared with Dee Bradley Baker) and King Minos.

Personal life and death

Moll was married twice: he was married to Laura Class from 1989 to 1992 and Susan Brown from 1993 to 2005. He had two children with Brown as well as stepchildren.

Moll was an avid bird watcher who spent his retirement in Big Bear Lake, California.

Moll died at his home in Big Bear Lake on October 26, 2023, at the age of 80.

Filmography

Film

Television

Video games

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Moll, Richard
1943 births
2023 deaths
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
Male actors from Pasadena, California
University of California, Berkeley alumni
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors