Moses Gunn

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Moses Gunn
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
DiedDecember 16, 1993(1993-12-16) (aged 64)
Guilford, Connecticut
, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1962–1993
Spouse
Gwendolyn Mumma Landes
​
​
(m. 1966)​
Children2

Moses Gunn (October 2, 1929 – December 16, 1993)

Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in The Poison Tree,[3] and he also played Othello on Broadway in 1970. For his screen performances, Gunn is best known for his roles as Clotho in WUSA (1970), Bumpy Jonas in Shaft (1971) and Joe Kagan on Little House on the Prairie
(1977–1981).

Early life, family and education

Gunn was born in

St. Louis, Missouri
. He was the son of Mary and George Gunn, a laborer, and was one of seven siblings. After his mother died, his family separated. Moses left home and rode the railroad at just 12 years old. He returned to St. Louis and attended school while living at the home of Jewel Richie, his English teacher.

He graduated from

Grambling College
before attempting an acting career in New York City.

Career

A

Shakespeare in the Park, winning an Obie Award for his portrayal of Aaron in Titus Andronicus.[4][5]

Gunn won a second Obie for his work in the NEC produced First Breeze of Summer, which moved to Broadway.[6][5] His acclaimed performance as Othello at the Stratford, Connecticut Shakespeare Festival moved to Broadway in 1970.

Other Broadway plays in which Gunn performed were: A Hand is on the Gate,

Tony Award nomination for Best Actor for The Poison Tree.[3] In 1977, he narrated the film Black Presence in the Era of the American Revolution, produced by US Information Agency
.

In 1991, he toured in a production of Athol Fugard's "My Children! My Africa!" the role of Mr. M, which included a run at Baltimore's Center Stage Theater.[7]

He may be best remembered in film for his portrayal of mobster Ellsworth Raymond "Bumpy" Jonas in the first two

Emmy Award in 1977 for his role in the television mini-series Roots. He also co-starred with Avery Brooks on the television series A Man Called Hawk. Gunn appeared as atheist shop owner Carl Dixon in six episodes of Good Times, as boxer-turned-farmer Joe Kagan on Little House on the Prairie, and as "Moses Gage" in Father Murphy. In 1989, Gunn appeared in two episodes of The Cosby Show as two different characters. His final acting role was as murder suspect Risley Tucker in "Three Men and Adena", an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street.[2]

Personal life and death

Gunn married Gwendolyn Mumma Landes in 1966, becoming stepfather to her daughter Kirsten Sarah Landes. In 1970, they had a son, Justin, who became a musician and composer in the Copenhagen-based band, The Reverend Shine Snake Oil Co.

Gunn died from complications of asthma in Guilford, Connecticut on December 16, 1993, aged 64.[8]

Film and television

References

  1. ^ "Moses Gunn Memorial". The New York Times. January 10, 1994. p. B8. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Jones, Charisse (December 20, 1993). "Moses Gunn, 64, a Veteran Actor Honored for 'Ragtime' and 'Roots'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 18, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Nominations / 1976 / Actor (Leading Role - Play)". tonyawards.com. 1976. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  4. ^ "1968 Obie Award Winners". obieawards.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Milestones: Died: Moses Gunn". Time. November 3, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "1975 Obie Award Winners". obieawards.com. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  7. ^ Rousuck, J. Wynn (November 29, 1991). "Fugard's pen is a persuasive sword in 'My Children! My Africa!'". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  8. UPI
    .com    . December 20, 1993. Retrieved August 5, 2019.

External links

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