Roger E. Mosley
Roger E. Mosley | |
---|---|
Mosley in 1980 | |
Born |
Roger Earl Mosely December 18, 1938 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1971–2014 |
Roger Earl Mosley (born December 18, 1938) is an American actor, director and writer best known for his role as the helicopter pilot Theodore "T.C." Calvin in the television series, Magnum, P.I..[1]
Biography
Mosley was born in Los Angeles, California. He grew up in the Imperial Courts project with his mother Eloise Harris in Watts. In 1974, he founded the Watts Repertory Company.[2]
Mosley is a licensed private helicopter pilot in real life, but when on the set of Magnum P.I. he was not allowed to do his own stunts. A pilot wearing a body stocking with muscles would be used instead.[3] In 2013 at the HAI Heli-Expo in Las Vegas, a ceremony for the restored MD 500D helicopter was held. Both Mosley and fellow Magnum P.I. co-star Larry Manetti autographed the nose of the helicopter.[4]
His daughter is Ch-a Mosley. She co-founded the Las Vegas based "Affluent Lifestyle Concierge" with Nana Rush, daughter of veteran NBA Referee Eddie F. Rush.[5]
Career
Mosley appeared as Monk in Terminal Island (1973). Other actors in the feature were Phyllis Davis, Don Marshall, Ena Hartman and Tom Selleck.[6] Selleck would later become Magnum P.I..[7] His most prominent film role to date was his 1976 starring turn as the title character in Leadbelly, directed by Gordon Parks.[8] In an article in the November 1982 issue of Ebony magazine, it was reported that this was his favorite role.[9]
He has guest-starred on shows such as Night Court,[10] Starsky and Hutch, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son; he also had a role in Roots: The Next Generations. He made a memorable appearance in the 1973 film The Mack,[11] as the militant brother of the main character Goldie.[12] He appeared in other blaxploitation films including Hit Man (1972), Sweet Jesus, Preacherman (1973), Darktown Strutters (1975) and The River Niger (1976). His other film credits include McQ (1974) with John Wayne,[13] The Greatest (1977, as Sonny Liston), Semi-Tough (1977), Heart Condition (1990) and Pentathlon (1994).[14] He also starred in Hangin' With Mr. Cooper (1992-1993) as Coach Ricketts in a recurring role with comedian/actor Mark Curry,[15] and in A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (1996) with Martin Lawrence, Bobby Brown, and Lynn Whitfield.[16]
He appeared in Magnum, P.I. as Tom Selleck's friend and a helicopter pilot who operates his own tourist charter Island Hoppers [17] from 1980-1988. He appeared in season five of Las Vegas as the billionaire friend of Montecito owner A.J. Cooper (Tom Selleck).[18]
Filmography
- The New Centurions (1972)
- Hit Man (1972)
- The Mack (1973)
- Sweet Jesus, Preacherman (1973)
- Terminal Island (1973)
- McQ (1974)
- Darktown Strutters (1975)
- The River Niger (1976)
- Stay Hungry (1976)
- Leadbelly (1976)
- The Greatest (1977)
- Big Time (1977)
- Semi-Tough (1977)
- Cruise Into Terror (1978)
- The Jericho Mile (1979)
- Steel (1979)
- Attica (1980)
- Pray TV (1980)
- The White Lions (1981)
- Heart Condition (1990)
- Unlawful Entry (1992)
- Pentathlon (1994)
- A Thin Line Between Love and Hate (1996)
- Letters from a Killer (1998)
- Hammerlock (2000)
References
- ↑ http://www.tomselleck.de Roger E. Mosley Biographie
- ↑ Loki Radoslav Pon Press, 1 Apr 2012 - Performing Arts Roger E. Mosley Pon Press, 2012 ISBN 6137817423, 9786137817421
- ↑ articles.latimes.com Helicopters Keep His Life in a Whirl : 'It's Like Flying a Plane, Except You . . . Go Sideways' by Lynn Simross June 07, 1985
- ↑ Police Helicopter Pilot Helicopter Aviation & Beyond Magnum PI Helicopter Flies Again In Hawaii
- ↑ PR.com Upscale Concierge Service Brings Elegance Back to Las Vegas
- ↑ New York Times Movies Terminal Island (1973)
- ↑ New York Times Movies & TV Tom Selleck
- ↑ Bastrop Visitor Center Leadbelly 1976, starring Roger E. Mosley and Paul Benjamin, directed by Gordon Parks.
- ↑ Ebony Magazine November 1982 Page 85 Roger Mosley Continued
- ↑ TV Guide Episode Detail: Puppy Love - Night Court
- ↑ http://www.tomselleck.de Roger E. Mosley - Biographie
- ↑ cinephilia The Mack USA 1973
- ↑ John Wayne: Actor, Artist, Hero By Richard D. McGhee Filmography Page 365
- ↑ Jet Magazine Page 62 Movies to see
- ↑ Who was who on TV, Volume 2 by Norman Chance Page 29 Hangin' With Mr. Cooper: Sitcom: 1992 - 1997
- ↑ Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema by Torriano S. Berry, Venise T. Berry Page 335 Thin Line Between Love And Hate
- ↑ Huffington Post TV 'Magnum P.I.' Cast: Where Are They Now? by Kim Potts
- ↑ Celebrity Networth Roger E. Mosley Net Worth