I Think The Joker Is Behind It...

Less than a year ago, Batman fans lost Kevin Conroy, the greatest Batman of them all.

Less than two months ago, we lost Arleen Sorkin, the original and greatest Harley Quinn.

Today I learned that we have lost the greatest Two-Face, Richard Moll at age 80.

It's like a Joker plot, taking out all the best players in Batman The Animated Series.  Unfortunately it's not some comic book trope, but all an too real run of tragedy.

Two-Face has been played by several actors in various shows and movies, most notably Tommy Lee Jones in Batman Forever and William Shatner in a direct to video animated movie that featured the last performance of Adam West as Batman, Batman Vs. Two-Face.

Neither Jones scenery chewing or Shatner's signature cadence come close to the great take on the character that Moll brought to life in Batman The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures and Batman: The Brave and the Bold.  The two part Two-Face episode in BtAS is widely considered to be the best representation of the character ever put on film.  Moll plays both sides of the tortured character as if they are separate people and in the process truly nails the character in a way no other actor really has.

 

Yep.  That's Night Court's Bull Shannon.

Of course, most folks in my age group remember him best as Bull on Night Court.  He was brilliant as the kind hearted giant bald bailiff.  Sad to think there's now never going to be a Bull cameo on the reboot of the show.  I couldn't get through the pilot of that monstrosity, but I'd have tuned back in for an episode to see Bull stand under that light fixture once more.  Alas, never to be.

Great actor, great voice and a man who brought a lot of joy to us with his unique talents.  

Rest in peace, big man.