When people talk about Richard Moll movies and TV shows, they usually start and end with a 6-foot-8 guy rubbing his bald head and saying "Ooo-kay." It’s the Bull Shannon effect. For nine seasons on Night Court, he was the towering, gentle-hearted bailiff who looked like he could crush a bowling ball but usually just wanted to help a stray cat.
But honestly? If you only know him for the handcuffs and the blue uniform, you're missing out on one of the weirdest and most versatile careers in Hollywood. Richard Moll wasn't just a sitcom sidekick. He was a terrifying horror villain, a legendary voice behind a scarred district attorney, and a guy who spent the early '80s playing basically every monster, alien, or "Big Thug" that casting directors could dream up.
He was a history major from UC Berkeley who found himself playing a beat poet in an animated Ralph Bakshi movie (American Pop). He was a guy who took his height—which he originally thought would kill his career—and turned it into a signature. When he passed away in 2023 at the age of 80, he left behind a filmography that is frankly all over the place in the best way possible.
Beyond the Bailiff: The Horror and Sci-Fi Roots
Before Night Court made him a household name in 1984, Richard Moll was the go-to guy for anything that required a massive physical presence. You want an Abominable Snowman? Call Moll for Caveman (1981). Need a demonic cult leader? He’s Father Esteban in Evilspeak.
One of his most underrated turns came in 1985—right in the middle of his Night Court fame—with the horror-comedy House. He played Big Ben, a rotting, vengeful Vietnam vet. It wasn't just a "big guy" role; he earned a Saturn Award nomination for it. He managed to be genuinely scary while buried under layers of decaying prosthetic makeup.
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He didn't shy away from the "B-movie" label either. You can find him in The Sword and the Sorcerer as Xusia, or playing the villainous Mestema in The Dungeonmaster. He had this way of leaning into the campiness of 80s fantasy without ever making the performance feel lazy. He took the work seriously, even when he was playing a sorcerer in a rubber mask.
The Voice That Defined Two-Face
If you ask a 90s kid about Richard Moll, they might not even mention Bull Shannon. They’ll talk about Harvey Dent.
In Batman: The Animated Series, Moll provided the voice for Two-Face. It’s widely considered one of the best iterations of the character ever put to screen. His voice had this natural gravel to it, but he could switch from the smooth, hopeful District Attorney to the rasping, psychotic "Big Bad Harv" in a single breath.
He didn't just stop at DC. He moved over to Marvel to voice Scorpion in Spider-Man: The Animated Series. He was Norman in Mighty Max. Basically, if a cartoon needed a voice that sounded like it had been dragged through a rock quarry, Moll was the first call.
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Notable Voice and Animation Credits
- Batman: The Animated Series – Harvey Dent / Two-Face
- Spider-Man: The Animated Series – Scorpion (Mac Gargan)
- Mighty Max – Norman
- Freakazoid! – Vorn the Unspeakable
- Justice League – Java
The Post-Night Court "Character" Era
When Night Court wrapped in 1992, Moll didn't go the leading man route. He leaned into being a character actor. He showed up in The Flintstones (1994) as Hoagie and played a disgruntled Dementor in the Arnold Schwarzenegger holiday classic Jingle All the Way.
One of his most surprising later roles was in the 1999 satirical comedy But I'm a Cheerleader. He played Larry, a gay man co-running a "re-education" camp. It was a complete 180 from the tough-guy or dim-witted roles he’d played for decades. It showed a side of him that was dry, funny, and deeply human.
He also stayed busy on the small screen. You’ve likely spotted him in guest spots on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, 7th Heaven, or as a mysterious figure in Smallville. He even popped up in Scary Movie 2, proving he still had the comedic timing that made Bull so iconic.
Why Richard Moll Still Matters
The thing about Richard Moll is that he represented a specific type of Hollywood professional. He was the "working giant." He didn't complain about being typecast; he just did the work and made every role—no matter how small—memorable.
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People often forget that he didn't join the recent Night Court reboot. He had moved to Big Bear Lake, California, enjoying a quieter life away from the cameras. He was a guy who loved the outdoors and his family, far removed from the "menacing" characters he often played.
If you’re looking to dive back into his work, don't just stick to the reruns on IFC. Go find House. Watch the "Two-Face" two-parter in Batman. Look for his cameo in Sidekicks with Chuck Norris. You’ll see an actor who knew exactly how to use his physicality to tell a story.
Where to start your Richard Moll marathon:
- Night Court (Seasons 1-9): Watch for the chemistry between him and Marsha Warfield. It’s the heart of the show.
- House (1985): To see him actually flex his acting muscles under heavy prosthetics.
- Batman: The Animated Series: Listen for the nuance in his Harvey Dent performance. It’s a masterclass in voice acting.
- But I'm a Cheerleader (1999): For a look at his range beyond the "tough guy" trope.
The best way to appreciate Richard Moll today is to look at the sheer variety of his 100+ credits. He was a guy who could make you laugh in a courtroom on Tuesday and give you nightmares as a zombie soldier on Friday. That’s a legacy worth more than just a catchphrase.
To dig deeper into his specific filmography, check out his full credit list on platforms like IMDb or TV Guide, which detail his transition from 70s bit parts to 90s voice acting legend. Many of his cult horror films are currently streaming on niche services like Shudder or Tubi, offering a glimpse into the darker side of the man most knew only as Bull.
Next Steps:
If you want to track down a specific era of his career, I can help you find which streaming services currently host his 80s horror catalog or his complete run on Night Court. Or, if you’re interested in his voice-over legacy, we can look into his contributions to the wider DC Animated Universe.