Richard Moll, 'Night Court' Star, Dies at the Age of 80
Richard Moll, a veteran character and voice actor best known for his role as the bailiff Nostradamus “Bull” Shannon on the hit NBC sitcom “Night Court”, has passed away at the age of 80. His family spokesperson Jeff Sanderson confirmed that Moll died peacefully on October 26 at his home in Big Bear Lake, California.
A Towering Presence On Screen & Off
Richard Moll was born in Pasadena, California, and attended the University of California, Berkeley. He started acting in commercials and small roles on TV shows. Because he was so tall (6'8"), he often played bad guys or thugs.
Additionally, he became well-known as Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon, the bald and kind judge on the sitcom Night Court, which ran from 1984 to 1992. A strange group of judges, lawyers, and court staff who worked the night shift at a Manhattan city court were the focus of the show.
The character of Moll was a popular favorite since he frequently delivered jokes with a deadpan delivery and showed his childish innocence. Because of his outstanding performance in 1985 and 1986, he was nominated for two Emmys.
A Versatile Actor With A Passion For Voice Work
Moll kept working as an actor in movies, TV shows, and video games after Night Court stopped. This showed how versatile he was as an actor. Movies he was in included The Flintstones and Jingle All the Way, House, and Scary Movie 2, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, and Babylon 5.
In addition, he also played the role of Two-Face in Batman: The Animated Series and Batman: The Brave and the Bold, among other animated shows. His voice work can be heard in Spider-Man, Cow and Chicken, Duck Dodgers, and other shows.
Moll was a devoted player who also enjoyed contributing to the development of video games. He provided his voice for characters in video games such as Mortal Kombat X, The Suffering, Kingdom Hearts II, and Fallout: New Vegas.
READ MORE: TV Legend Suzanne Somers, 'Three's Company' Star, Passes Away at 76
A Private Person With A Public Spirit
Moll has been married twice: the first time, from 1988 to 1992, he was wed to Laura Class, and the second time, from 1993 to 2005, she was wed to Susan Brown. He did not have any children.
Likewise, he didn't talk much about his personal life, but he did a lot to bring attention to and raise money for Alzheimer's disease research, which was important to him because his father had the disease. In 1989, he spoke to Congress to push for more government help for the disease.
According to a statement released by Moll's family spokesman Jeff Sanderson, Moll passed away peacefully on October 26, 2023, at his home in Big Bear Lake, California. However, the exact cause of death was not disclosed. He is survived by his sister Carolyn Moll and his brother-in-law John Moll.
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A legacy of Laughter & Love
Since Moll's death, many of his fans and coworkers have written messages to him, remembering him as a talented and kind person.
John Larroquette, who played lawyer Dan Fielding on Night Court with Richard Moll, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "Richard Moll was bigger than life and taller too." We first worked together on Mork and Mindy. After that, we helped bring Judge Harry Stone and the Night Court world to life for almost ten years. Sorry for his family and loved ones' loss. My deepest sorrow.
When Night Court was brought back, Melissa Rauch played Judge Abby Stone, Harry Stone's daughter, and she also talked about how sad she was on X: "It breaks my heart to hear about Richard Moll's death." There are many stories about how he made people happy. Being able to work with him on Night Court makes me proud. His family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Mark Hamill, who worked with Moll on several Batman movies, said, "So sad to hear Richard Moll has passed away. He was a wonderful actor and an even better person." He looked great on screen and was even better in real life. He was great to work with on Batman: TAS & beyond. He was funny and kind in every part he played. Thinking about his family and friends. No changes were made to the original sentence.
Richard was a versatile and well-liked actor who made a lot of people laugh with his quick wit and friendly nature. A lot of people will miss him.
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