Actor and voice actor Richard Moll, best known for his role as Bull the bailiff in Night Court, has passed away at the age of 80. At 6’8″, or 2.03 m., he was popular with casting directors and appeared in the cult classic, The Sword and the Sorcerer 1982), Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983), Caveman (1981), and the horror film House (1981). He was also well-respected for his voicework, notably Harvey Dent aka Two-Face in Batman the Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures, as well as Norman in Mighty Max.
Moll had shaved his head for the role of Hurok in Metalstorm:The Destruction of Jared-Syn. He was still bald when he auditioned for the role of the gentle giantbailiff Aristotle Nostradamus “Bull” Shannon. The producers said ‘Richard, the shaved head looks good. Will you shave your head for the part?” Moll recalled. “I said, ‘Are you kidding? I’ll shave my legs for the part. I’ll shave my armpits, I don’t care.’” For years afterward he shaved his head to play Bull on Night Court, and let it grow for other roles when the show was on hiatus.
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Roles
The Bovum Ferryman – The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (1981) Mayhu – The Time Crystal (1981) Fater Esteban – Evilspeak (1981) The Abominable Snowman – Caveman (1981) Xusia of Delos – The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) Hurok – Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983) Mestema – The Dungeonmaster (1984) James Hansen and Otto – Night Train to Terror (1985) Big Ben – House (1986) Nathan “Nat” Pringle – Wicked Stepmother (1989) The Cyclops – Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Xusia of Delos – The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982) Hans – The Last Halloween (1991) Hoagie – The Flintstones (1994) Kyla – Galaxis (1995)Principal Rabbie – Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997) Jules – Casper Meets Wendy (1998) |
Hell House Ghost – Scary Movie 2 (2001) Dr.Grbac – Spiders II: Breeding Ground (2001) Fire Training Inspector – Evolution (2001) Captain McCormack – Nightmare Man (2006) Kolchak Jefferson Stillwall – The Headless Horseman (2007) The Ghost of Hollywood Future – A Four Cent Carol (2008) Finch – Ghost Shark (2013) Elmer Uggins – Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2020) Kreeger – Sorority Party Massacre (2012) Old Man – The End, My F.R.E.N.D. (2012) Baba Gentle – Mork and Mindy Yarat – Buck Rogers in the 25th Century Lohr-Khan One – Bigfoot and Wildboy Gengas Khan – The Munsters Today Arcturus – Monsters Driver’s License Examiner – Out of This World Slan Quince – Highlander: the Series Butler – Kids vs. Monsters |
- The Bovum Ferryman – The Archer: Fugitive from the Empire (1981)
- Mayhu – The Time Crystal (1981)
- Fater Esteban – Evilspeak (1981)
- The Abominable Snowman – Caveman (1981)
- Xusia of Delos – The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)
- Hurok – Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn (1983)
- Mestema – The Dungeonmaster (1984)
- James Hansen and Otto – Night Train to Terror (1985)
- Big Ben – House (1986)
- Nathan “Nat” Pringle – Wicked Stepmother (1989)
- The Cyclops – Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
- Xusia of Delos – The Sword and the Sorcerer (1982)
- Hans – The Last Halloween (1991)
- Hoagie – The Flintstones (1994)
- Kyla – Galaxis (1995)Principal Rabbie – Casper: A Spirited Beginning (1997)
- Jules – Casper Meets Wendy (1998)
- Hell House Ghost – Scary Movie 2 (2001)
- Dr.Grbac – Spiders II: Breeding Ground (2001)
- Fire Training Inspector – Evolution (2001)
- Captain McCormack – Nightmare Man (2006)
- Kolchak Jefferson Stillwall – The Headless Horseman (2007)
- The Ghost of Hollywood Future – A Four Cent Carol (2008)
- Finch – Ghost Shark (2013)
- Elmer Uggins – Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster (2020)
- Kreeger – Sorority Party Massacre (2012)
- Old Man – The End, My F.R.E.N.D. (2012)
- Baba Gentle – Mork and Mindy
- Yarat – Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
- Lohr-Khan One – Bigfoot and Wildboy
- Gengas Khan – The Munsters Today
- Arcturus – Monsters
- Driver’s License Examiner – Out of This World
- Slan Quince – Highlander: the Series
- Butler – Kids vs. Monsters
Voicework
Richard Moll was a big man (taller than Darth Vader) with a big voice. This made him popular in cartoons and videogames. His most famous voice roles were as Two-Face in three Batman cartoons and one video game and Norman in Mighty Max
- Beat Poet – American Pop (1981)
- Org’s DaD – The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald: The Visitors from Outer Space (1999)
- Harvey Dent aka TwoFace – Batman: the Animated Series, the Brave and the Bold, The New Batman Adventures, The Adventures of Batman and Robin Activity Center (video game)
- Cabbot – Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role-Playing Game
- Vorn the Unspeakable – Freakazoid
- Abomination – Incredible Hulk
- Scorpion – Spider-Man
- Death and King Minos – Dante’s Inferno (video game)
- Lew Moxon – The Brave and the Bold
- Empereor Spooj – Superman: The Animated Series
- Devil Hulk – Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction (video game)
- “Gentleman” Bob Graham – Outlaws (video game)
Charles Richard Moll was born in Pasadena, California on Jan. 13, 1943. He died October 26, 2023 in Big Bear Lake, CA. He was married and divorced twice and had two children and two stepchildren. Survivors include his children, Chloe and Mason, and Cassandra and Morgan.
Richard Moll studied history and psychology at UC Berkeley. He was married twice, to Laura Class from 1989 to 1992, and then remarried to Susan Brown from 1993 to 2005.
His first film role was as Joseph Smith in the biopic Brigham Young(1977), He reprised the role of Joseph Smith in the western Savage Journey (1983)
All too often, Richard Moll was cast for his imposing size, rather than his very real Thespian talent. To properly appreciate his range as an actor, you might want to watch him as Larry Morgan-Gordon in But I’m A Cheerleader (1999), where he plays a Gay man who helps teenagers escape from an anti-LGBT conversion camp. His final two performances will be in Whispers and Shadows and Celluloid Wizards in the Video Wasteland: The Saga of Empire Pictures, both of which are currently in post-production.
What an amazing man he was, and what a remarkable contribution to the visual arts his career made. He will be missed.
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Susan Macdonald is the author of the children's book "R is for Renaissance Faire", as well as 26 short stories, mostly fantasy in "Alternative Truths", "Swords and Sorceress #30", Swords &Sorceries Vols. 1, 2, & 5, "Cat Tails" "Under Western Stars", and "Knee-High Drummond and the Durango Kid". Her articles have appeared on SCIFI.radio's web site, in The Inquisitr, and in The Millington Star. She enjoys Renaissance Faires (see book above), science fiction conventions, Highland Games, and Native American pow-wows.