Richard Moll, Night Court’s Bull the Bailiff, Dead at 80
Richard Moll, the towering 6-foot-8 actor best known for playing Bull the bailiff on NBC’s original ’80s iteration of Night Court, died Thursday. He was 80.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Moll died peacefully at his home in Big Bear Lake, California. A cause of death was not immediately known.
Moll portrayed the genteel giant Nostradamus “Bull” Shannon during all nine seasons of Night Court, which ran on NBC from 1984-92. As he told People magazine, the character was intended to have a hard edge, but “I think they saw something in me to make him a lot softer.”
Moll’s Night Court co-star John Larroquette paid tribute to Moll on social media: “Larger than life and taller too. We first worked together on Mork & Mindy and then we spent nearly a decade helping Judge Harry Stone and the Night Court world come to life. My condolences and heartfelt sympathy to his family and loved ones.”
Moll was also a prolific voice actor, notably playing Harvey Dent/Two-Face in both Batman: The Animated Series and The New Batman Adventures.
Addition TV credits include guest appearances on Happy Days, Mork & Mindy, Highlander: The Series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Babylon 5, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, Baywatch, Married… with Children, 7th Heaven and Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Moll is survived by his two children, Chloe and Mason Moll.
My Sincerest condolences.
This shocks me, and I don’t know why. But Moll was outstanding as the sometimes childlike boy in a giant’s body, Bull.
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So, sadly, John Larroquette and Ellen Foley [Billie, before Christine] appear to be the only cast members left. 😢
Whoops, forgot poor Marsha Warfield!
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Still, so many gone. Sigh.
I love that Marsha plays Hen’s mom on 911! It’s so nice to see her once in a while.
Among the recurring characters, John Astin (Harry’s father Buddy Ryan) is amazingly still with us. So’s Joleen Lutz, who played Lisette. But still, damn, this is depressing.
And Brent Spiner.
and Will Utay who played Dan’s lackey who was also on Days playing Dr. Rolf
And Karen Austin, who played Lana in the first season.
And Denice Kumagai (Quon Le).
Bull was possibly the best character for the era. While I appreciate the new Night Court, they lack the type of character that Bull was. The compassion and quiet toughness he displayed made him my favorite character.
He also crossed over to My Two Dads as Bull.
Loved Bull and was always happy to see Mr. Moll on screen in whatever show. RIP and condolences to his children.
Rest in peace bull
RIP Richard *Bull* Moll.
You were great on Night Court etc
Thanks for the memories
Have fun up there with Selma, Harry, Markie and Charles
This is crushing. :( He will forever and always be Bull to me and just as beloved for it. Rest in peace and thank you for the many, many laughs. You’re already missed.
Also, that picture.. such a sweet, sweet smile. :(
Thanks for the joy and laughter, Richard. Night Court was a favorite show of mine. I loved Bull for not being the stereotypical mean guy. I loved his heart and joy.
RIP and say Hi to Harry.
Wow. Was not expecting this. I loved Night Court and it’s still my all time favorite show. One of the things from my childhood that I miss from that era. Each of these deaths puts more distance between then and now. Rest in Peace, Mr. Moll. Thanks for all of the memories. 😢🫡
He was also in Thomas Kincaid’s Christmas Cottage movie.
RIP.
Loved Richard Moll in everything he did, from the Kurgan in Highlander, to Bull on Night Court, and Two-Face on Batman: TAS. Rest in peace, and give our regards to Sean Connery, Harry Anderson, Markie Post, Charles Robinson, and Kevin Conroy.
He didn’t play Kurgan in Highlander. That was Clancy Brown. He did play Slan Quince for one episode on Highlander: The Series.
And the sorcerer in The Sword and the Sorcerer
And he was The Drifter on 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd.
I used to watch Night Court when I was a kid.
Bull was my favorite character on the show.
May,,, Richard Moll
rest in peace 🕊️.
They didn’t mention his guest appearance on welcome back kotter. He was hardly recognizable though he had a mullet. I think it was the last season when they first introduced the character of Bo dellabar.
If the term “Gentle Giant” hadn’t already existed they would have invented it for Richard Moll. Rest in Peace, sir.
He was also a Highlander. Loved seeing him as the bad guy for once. He was great.
He will always be my favorite Harvey Dent Two-Face portrayer. This one hits hard.
Even to this day, I still remember one of my favorite Bull jokes. Harry, Dan, and a couple others were betting who has the highest IQ. Bull wants to enter, but they don’t want to take his money. Reluctantly they let him in on the pool. When Bull gets the results, he says his score is 181. Everyone says that can’t be right, so Bull looks at the paper again. He says something like, “Whoops, I had it upside down.”
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Something about the way Moll played that scene, I still find it funny after all this time. And he was absolutely amazing on Batman, the Animated Series. His voice work captured the tragedy of Harvey Dent in a way no other TV or movie has.
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Rest in peace, sir.
i watched richard on night court he is a good actor. on the old night court show. the way he played bull shanne was funny my self liked him i did see him in a nother tv show with hair on his head. rest in peace.
Thank you Richard Moll AKA bull for all the laughs you gave us. And now i here that Matthew Perry AKA Chandler Bing has also passed to great people that make us all laugh. Thank you guys. RIP
You know something folks. I just realize with the passings of Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin and Richard Moll, it’s been a rough year for Batman: The Animated Series.
Rest in peace I am so sorry for your loss prayers to his family and friends we lost another great actor loved watching night court love you Richard Moll