Left:Richard Moll as the character, Bull Shannon, the bailiff on NBC’s hit sitcom, Night Court.
Right: At home with nature in Big Bear, Richard befriends a young pine tree.
Photos and Story by Christie Walker
A native son of the golden state–“one of the older ones”–Richard Moll became a permanent resident of Big Bear City in 2004. Probably best known for his role as the tall, shaved-headed Bull Shannon, the bailiff on NBC’s hit sitcom, Night Court, Moll has moved to the mountains to enjoy the “simple life.”
“I’ve always been partial to the forested atmosphere. I love the change of seasons and like to fish, hike and socialize with friends. I’ve chosen to live the simple life, which is one of the advantages of living up here. My kids call my little cabin in Big Bear City the cozy cabin–not terribly original but appropriate,” said Moll, with a self-deprecating laugh.
Before becoming a permanent resident, Moll had a second home in Big Bear Lake, on Cienega Road. Back in 2003, Moll and his wife were living in Pacific Palisades and took a trip up to Big Bear. His wife told Moll that they weren’t leaving town until they bought a vacation home, and so they did.
“On our way down the mountain, the Old Fire was creeping up the hill and I asked, ‘What have we just done?’ But as you know,” Moll added, “the fire didn’t hit Big Bear.”
Today, Moll rents a small cabin filled with knotty pine charm that was built back in 1961. In front of his fireplace is a black bear skin rug that used to belong to his father. His father shot the bear, not in Big Bear, but in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Moll takes his simple life seriously–no television, no computer–even though it drives his agents and managers nuts, since they like to e-mail their clients with information and offers. Moll spends his time reading and taking leisurely hikes in the forest.
“I read a great deal, from the classics like Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen to a three volume history of the Civil War, by Shelby Foote. I also enjoy hiking, and take along my nature books on wildflowers, birds, trees and plants so I can spend time identifying anything I’m unfamiliar with. It’s more like stalking than hiking,” Moll laughed.
Hiking around Big Bear has given Moll an appreciation for the natural environment in which we live–one he doesn’t mind defending.
“I think protecting the environment up here can be a little bit of a hard sell, which is pretty ironic considering how reliant we are upon the environment–especially the beauty of it–to make this place attractive,” said Moll. “So it’s surprising when people drag their feet when it comes to protecting the environment.”
At a recent Big Bear Lake City Council meeting, Moll encouraged the City Council to take a stand on global warming by signing the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. He also testified in front of the Senate subcommittee on the depletion of the ozone layer, years ago.
While living in Big Bear has many advantages, being close to his work isn’t one of them. Still very active in film, television and other projects, Moll still enjoys his work as an actor.
“I think of myself as a character guy. I think that’s how you grow as an actor, at least to a certain degree, by doing these characterizations,” said Moll.
Being 6’8” lends itself to being cast as some fun and unusual characters. On October 27th of 2007, Moll plays a cranky old “son-of-a-gun” in an evil town, in Headless Horseman, a Halloween-themed program airing on the Sci-Fi channel. November will see the premiere of a full-length feature film, The Christmas Cottage, starring Peter O’Toole, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris Elliott, Ed Asner and a wonderful cast. Based on the young life of painter, Thomas Kinkade, Moll plays the part of Big Jim, “no surprise there,” says Moll, the town electrician who is very competitive about the local Christmas lights competition.
Locally, Moll had a starring role in the short film, The Boy Next Door, a black comedy that won an award as the Best Short Film in the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival.
Like another Big Bear resident, Noel Blanc, Moll has had his share of voice over work for animation including the voice of the villain, Two-Face, in Batman, the animated series. Still active in film, television, and theatre, Moll enjoys working in the independent film arena as well.
“Some of these independent films, even though they don’t have a huge budget, they treat you with a little more deference and you have a little more creative leeway and more to do. Actually in a way, I like independent films as well as anything,” said Moll.
Being a recognizable actor, Moll gets his share of Big Bear visitors who want their picture taken with him, while the locals are more likely to just say, “Hi, Richard” as they pass by in the aisles of Stater Brothers. While fame might make it a little more difficult to live the simple life, living in the Big Bear Valley certainly makes it more possible than in most places in Southern California.
© Big Bear Magazine
No comments:
Post a Comment