Moses Gunn
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Notes
Gunn was nominated for the Best Actor Tony for "Poison Tree".
Awarded the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Booker T. Washington in "Ragtime" (1981)
Biography
Authoritative black character actor of film and TV also enjoyed a successful career on stage. Gunn made his NY stage debut in the original off-Broadway production of Jean Genet's "The Blacks" (1962). A co-founder of the celebrated Negro Ensemble Company, he distinguished himself in many of their productions, notably "The First Breeze of Summer" (1975). Gunn was also known for his Shakespearean performances with the Yale Repertory Theatre and the New York Shakespeare Festival.
Gunn rarely had comparable roles to showcase his talents in films but his large, regal features and booming yet somewhat raspy voice stood out during his 25-year film career. Gunn may be best remembered as Bumpy Jonas, the powerful Harlem gangster whose daughter is kidnapped in Gordon Parks' "Shaft" (1971). He reprised that role in Parks' "Shaft's Big Score" (1972). Gunn was also memorable as Booker T. Washington in "Ragtime" (1981). His last major film was Clint Eastwood's "Heartbreak Ridge" (1986) in which he played aging vet Sergeant Webster.
Gunn also worked extensively in TV. He was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of African chief Kintango in the first installment of "Roots" (ABC, 1977). Gunn joined the cast of the hit CBS sitcom, "Good Times" in 1977 as Carl Dixon, the appliance store owner who marries the widowed Esther Rolle and whisks her away from the projects. He was also a guest star on numerous series including "The Cosby Show," "Equal Justice" and "Homicide."
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1938
Began performing dramatic readings at the age of nine (date approximate)
1941
Mother died when Gunn was 12 (date approximate)
1946
Moved into the home of English and diction teacher, Jewel Richie (date approximate)
1962
Stage acting debut, Genet's "The Blacks"
1964
Film debut, "Nothing But A Man"
1974
Starred in short-lived ABC-TV version of the John Wayne-starrer, "The Cowboys"
1977
Joined the cast of the popular CBS sitcom, "Good Times"
1989
Cast as a regular on "A Man Called Hawk", the spinoff from "Spencer: For Hire"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Family
Companions
Bibliography
Notes
Gunn was nominated for the Best Actor Tony for "Poison Tree".
Awarded the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Booker T. Washington in "Ragtime" (1981)
He was awarded the NAACP Image Award for Best Supporting Actor for Sam Shepard's play "Fool For Love".
