Richard Moll, Night Court Star, Dead At 80
"Night Court" actor Richard Moll has died at the age of 80, per Deadline. His family reported that he passed away at his home in Big Bear Lake, California on October 26, 2023. The cause of death has yet to be revealed.
Moll became a household name in Hollywood after he starred in the NBC sitcom "Night Court" from 1984 to 1992. Standing at 6 feet 8 inches tall, he played the bailiff Aristotle Nostradamus "Bull" Shannon, who was known for his iconic look of having a shaved head.
Moll revealed to Maximo TV that he entered the audition with a shaved head from a prior role, and the producers loved it and asked him if he was willing to keep it for his character on the "Night Court." Moll was excited about the opportunity. "I said, 'Are you kidding? I'll shave my legs for the part. I'll shave my armpits, I don't care,'" he recalled. It's a good thing he stuck with the shaved head because his character on the show catapulted the actor into success.
After his time on the "Night Court" wrapped, Moll went on to appear in many more television series, including "Getting By" and "Babylon 5." The actor even ventured into voice acting for an iconic comic-book series as the voice of Harvey Dent/Two-Face on "The Adventures of Batman & Robin." Despite his passing, Moll will forever be remembered by fans for his acting and kind heart.
Night Court made Richard Moll a star
Richard Moll was born in Pasadena, California, in January 1943, according to Turner Classic Movies. His height may have felt like a detriment to a long-term acting career at first, as he started out with one- to two-episode appearances on shows like "Happy Days," "The Rockford Files," and "Laverne & Shirley." However, his casting on "Night Court" was the boost he needed to break free of being stuck solely as a character actor.
Moll certainly had the looks and demeanor to make a lasting impression on the hit sitcom. In addition to his astounding height and shaved head, the character of Bull on "Night Court" was also known for his catchphrase, "Ohh-kay."
Ironically, photos illustrate that outside of his "Night Court" role, the actor actually had a lush head of hair. He told Arsenio that "trained professionals" shaved his hair weekly when he was shooting, but he enjoyed letting it grow out as well. "I like all different kinds of looks. I'm a character man. I like to play all different kinds of things," Moll said during an appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show."
Along with John Larroquette (who played prosecutor attorney Dan Fielding), Moll was one of the last surviving members of the main "Night Court" cast, as Harry Anderson (who played Judge Harry T. Stone), Markie Post (who played defense attorney Christine Sullivan) and Charles Robinson (who played clerk of court Mac Robinson) all preceded Moll in death. Larroquette stars as his original character in the 2023 "Night Court" reboot.