Bill Nunn III obit

Bill Nunn, best known as Radio Raheem in Spike Lee’s ‘Do the Right Thing,’ dies at 63

 

 He was not on the list.

Actor Bill Nunn, a regular in friend Spike Lee's films and best known as the towering, boombox-toting Radio Raheem in "Do The Right Thing," died Saturday morning. He was 63.

The 6-foot-3 Nunn — who also appeared in Lee's "School Daze," "Mo' Better Blues" and "He Got Game" — passed away in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Lee announced via Facebook. Both were Morehouse College alums, with Nunn graduating in 1976.

Long Live Bill Nunn," posted Lee. "Radio Raheem is now resting in power. Radio Raheem will always be fighting da powers dat be. May God watch over Bill Nunn."

Across a career that spanned nearly three decades, the versatile Nunn appeared with Harrison Ford in "Regarding Henry," Whoopi Goldberg in "Sister Act," Al Pacino in "Lockdown" and Tobey Maguire in the "Spider-Man" trilogy.

He also memorably played Duh Duh Duh Man, the drug gang enforcer and personal bodyguard to Wesley Snipes' Nino Brown character in the 1991 film "New Jack City."

Nunn was featured in the 2004 Broadway revival of "Raisin In The Sun" with Sean Combs and Audra McDonald, and was cast in three television series — "Traps" with George C. Scott, a sitcom titled "Local Heroes" and "The Job" with Denis Leary.

The 6-foot-3 Nunn wore matched brass knuckles marked "LOVE" and "HATE" as Raheem, whose boombox blared Public Enemy's "Fight The Power" as he walked through Bedford-Stuyvesant.

The character dies from a police chokehold during a brawl outside the local pizzeria. The 1989 movie classic was his second collaboration with Lee after his major movie debut in "School Daze."

"'School Daze' was one of the highlights of my life because it was the first chance I had to act on screen," he once said. "I would have been happy if that had been it, because I proved that I could do it."

Nunn helped establish the August Wilson Monologue competition in Pittsburgh, where students performed to win acting scholarships.

His father, also named Bill Nunn, was a renowned scout for the Pittsbugh Steelers who became known for helping integrate the team's roster. He was credited for bringing in players like John Stallworth, Mel Blount and Joe Gilliam.

Filmography

    Sharky's Machine (1981) as Kitten's Bouncer (uncredited)

    School Daze (1988) as Grady

    Do the Right Thing (1989) as Raheem 'Radio Raheem'

    A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court (1989) as School Teacher

    Glory (1989) (uncredited)

    Def by Temptation (1990) as Dougy

    Cadillac Man (1990) as Grave Digger

    Mo' Better Blues (1990) as Bottom Hammer (Bass)

    New Jack City (1991) as 'Duh Duh Man'

    Regarding Henry (1991) as Bradley, Physical Therapist

    White Lie (1991) as Chief Adams

    Sister Act (1992) as Lieutenant Eddie Souther

    Loaded Weapon 1 (1993) as Police Photographer

    Blood Brothers (1993) as William Crawford

    The Last Seduction (1994) as Harlan

    Save Me (1994) as Detective Vincent

    Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh (1995) as Reverend Ellis

    Canadian Bacon (1995) as Kabral

    Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995) as 'Easy Wind'

    True Crime (1995) as Detective Jerry Guinn

    The Affair (1995, TV Movie) as Sergeant Rivers

    Money Train (1995) as Crash Train Motorman

    New York Undercover (1995, TV Series) as Lieutenant Carver

    Touched by an Angel (1996, TV Series) as Frank Champness

    Bulletproof (1996) as DEA Agent Finch

    Extreme Measures (1996) as Detective Bob Burke

    Quicksilver Highway (1997) as Len

    Kiss the Girls (1997) as Detective John Sampson

    Mad City (1997) as Cliff Williams (uncredited)

    Ellen Foster (1997) as Mr. Douglas

    Always Outnumbered (1998) as Howard M'Shalla

    He Got Game (1998) as Uncle Bubba

    Ambushed (1998) as Watts Fatboy

    The Legend of 1900 (1999) as Danny Boodman

    The Tic Code (1999) as Kingston

    Passing Glory (1999) as Howard Porter

    Foolish (1999) as Jimmy Beck

    The Hungry Bachelors Club (1999) as Moses Grady

    Lockdown (2000) as Charles

    The Job (2001–2002, TV Series) as Terrence 'Pip' Phillips

    The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option (2001) as Luther

    Spider-Man (2002) as Joe 'Robbie' Robertson

    People I Know (2002) as Reverend Lyle Blunt

    Runaway Jury (2003) as Lonnie Shaver

    Spider-Man 2 (2004) as Joe 'Robbie' Robertson

    Out There (2006) as Desmond

    Idlewild (2006) as G.W.

    Firehouse Dog (2007) as Joe Musto

    Spider-Man 3 (2007) as Joe 'Robbie' Robertson

    Randy and the Mob (2007) as Wardlowe Gone

    A Raisin in the Sun (2008) as 'Bobo'

    Little Bear and the Master (2008) as Warden

    Fences (2009)

    Help Me, Help You (2009) as Detective

    Won't Back Down (2012) as Principal Holland

    Sirens (2014-2015, TV series) as 'Cash' (final appearance)