Bill Nunn
William Goldwyn Nunn III (October 20, 1953 – September 24, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his collaborations with director Spike Lee, notably as Radio Raheem in Do the Right Thing (1989). He also portrayed Daily Bugle editor Robbie Robertson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man film trilogy (2002–07), and co-starred in the sitcoms The Job (2001–02) and Sirens (2014–15).
Also recorded as William Goldwyn Nunn III
Bill Nunn

Gregory Scott Williams, Jr. · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Bill Nunn
- Birth Name
- William Goldwyn Nunn III
- Born
- 20 October 1953
- Birthplace
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Died
- 24 September 2016
- Education
- Morehouse College
- Occupation
- Actor
- Spouse
- Donna Nunn
- Full name
- William Goldwyn Nunn III.
- Nationality
- United States.
- Languages
- English.
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Documentary summary
William Goldwyn Nunn III (October 20, 1953 – September 24, 2016) was an American actor. He was known for his collaborations with director Spike Lee, notably as Radio Raheem in Do the Right Thing (1989). He also portrayed Daily Bugle editor Robbie Robertson in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man film trilogy (2002–07), and co-starred in the sitcoms The Job (2001–02) and Sirens (2014–15).
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wikidata · Q279834 · wikipedia · Bill Nunn
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Bill Nunn • Birth Name — William Goldwyn Nunn III • Born — 20 October 1953 • Birthplace — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Died — 24 September 2016 • Place of death — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S. • Education — Morehouse College • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1980–2016 • Spouse — Donna Nunn • Children — 2 • Father — Bill Nunn
Early life
Early life
Bill Nunn III was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of Frances Nunn and William G. Nunn, Jr., a journalist and editor at the Pittsburgh Courier and a National Football League scout. His paternal grandfather was the first African American football player at George Westinghouse High School. While ball boys for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bill Nunn and current Steelers president Art Rooney II stole "Mean" Joe Greene's car during training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. "Joe Greene showed up in a beautiful green Lincoln Continental, and me and Bill Nunn, Jr. were ball boys. Somehow Bill got the keys one night and we decided to take it for a ride. We only told Joe that story about 10 years ago. We figured that enough time had passed that we could disclose our little joy ride." Nunn was a 1970 graduate of Schenley High School and a 1976 graduate of Morehouse College. He attended college with Spike Lee and appeared in several of Lee's early feature films.
Career
Career
Nunn made his credited film debut in the 1988 Spike Lee film School Daze, and is best known for his roles as Radio Raheem in Lee's Do the Right Thing, and as Nino Brown's bodyguard Duh Duh Duh Man in New Jack City. Some of his other film credits include Lee's Mo' Better Blues and He Got Game, as well as Regarding Henry, Sister Act, Canadian Bacon, The Last Seduction, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Runaway Jury, Spider-Man trilogy (as Joseph "Robbie" Robertson), Firehouse Dog, the television series The Job, Randy and The Mob, and the 2016 televised adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun. Nunn also performed on stage, including August Wilson's Fences, a Pittsburgh-based play in which Nunn performed with Anthony Mackie, who played Nunn's character's son. He was also very involved in community outreach, and he formed his own Pittsburgh-area outreach project in 2008.
Personal life
Personal life
Nunn was married to Donna Watts, and they had 2 children Sydney and Jessica.
Death
Death
Nunn died of leukemia on September 24, 2016, at his home in Pittsburgh's Hill District; he was 62 years old.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1987 — Vietnam War Story — MP #1 — Episode: "The Pass" • 1993 — Bakersfield P.D. — Troy Davies — Episode: "The Ex-Partner" • 1994 — Traps — Cloud — 5 episodes • 1995 — Chicago Hope — Tony Maxwell — Episode: "A Coupla Stiffs" • Fallen Angels — Fearless Jones — Episode: "Fearless" • The Affair — Sergeant Rivers — TV movie • New York Undercover — Lieutenant Carver — Episode: "Internal Affairs" • 1996 — Touched by an Angel — Frank Champness — Episode: "Lost and Found" • Mr. and Mrs. Loving — Leonard — TV movie • 1997 — Millennium — Lt. McCormick — Episode: "Maranatha" • Ellen Foster — Mr. Douglas — TV movie • 1998 — Early Edition — Detective Barns — Episode: "A Minor Miracle" • Always Outnumbered — Howard M'Shalla — TV movie • 1999 — Passing Glory — Howard Porter • 2001–02 — The Job — Terrence "Pip" Phillips — Main cast • 2001 — The Substitute 4: Failure Is Not An Option — Luther — TV movie • 2003 — The District — Grant Singer — Episode: "Free Byrd" • 2007 — October Road — Leslie Etwood — Pilot • 2008 — A Raisin in the Sun — "Bobo" — TV movie • 2014–15 — Sirens — "Cash" — Recurring role; Season 1 Main cast; Season 2
Theatre
Theatre
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2004 — A Raisin in the Sun — Bobo — Royal Theatre, New York • 2009 — Fences — Gabriel — Huntington Theatre Company
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1953–2016
The full dated record · 3 entries
1953
Bill Nunn born at Pittsburgh.
1984
Bill Nunn's Column Book is dated 1984.
2016
Bill Nunn died at Pittsburgh.
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes — Ref • 1981 — Sharky's Machine — Kitten's Bouncer — Uncredited • 1988 — School Daze — Grady • 1989 — Do the Right Thing — Radio Raheem • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court — School Teacher • Glory — 54th Massachusetts Soldier — Uncredited • 1990 — Def by Temptation — Dougy • Cadillac Man — Grave Digger • Mo' Better Blues — Bottom Hammer (Bass) • 1991 — New Jack City — "Duh Duh Man" • Regarding Henry — Bradley • White Lie — Chief Adams • 1992 — Sister Act — Lt. Eddie Souther • 1993 — Loaded Weapon 1 — Police Photographer • Blood Brothers — William Crawford • 1994 — The Last Seduction — Harlan • Save Me — Detective Vincent • 1995 — Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh — Reverend Ellis • Canadian Bacon — Kabral • Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead — "Easy Wind" • True Crime — Detective Jerry Guinn • Money Train — Crash Train Motorman • 1996 — Bulletproof — DEA Agent Finch • Extreme Measures — Detective Bob Burke • 1997 — Quicksilver Highway — Len • Kiss the Girls — Detective John Sampson • Mad City — Cliff Williams — Uncredited • 1998 — He Got Game — Uncle Bubba • Ambushed — Watts Fatboy • 1999 — The Legend of 1900 — Danny Boodman • The Tic Code — Kingston • Foolish — Jimmy Beck • The Hungry Bachelors Club — Moses Grady • 2000 — Lockdown — Charles • 2002 — Spider-Man — Joe "Robbie" Robertson • People I Know — Reverend Lyle Blunt • 2003 — Runaway Jury — Lonnie Shaver • 2004 — Spider-Man 2 — Joe "Robbie" Robertson • 2006 — Out There — Desmond • Idlewild — G.W. • 2007 — Firehouse Dog — Joe Musto • Spider-Man 3 — Joe "Robbie" Robertson • Randy and the Mob — Wardlowe Gone • 2008 — Little Bear and the Master — The Warden • 2009 — Help Me, Help You — Detective • 2012 — Won't Back Down — Principal Holland
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Gilbey, Ryan. Bill Nunn obituary. The Guardian. 2016-09-26. 0261-3077.
- 2.Goldstein, Andrew. Actor Bill Nunn dies. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 25, 2016.
- 3.Varley, Teresa. Long-time scout Bill Nunn is a man who made a difference. steelers.com. Pittsburgh Steelers. February 27, 2007.
- 4.Finder, Chuck. Q&A. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2006-07-24.
- 5.Prisuta, Mike. 2015 Training Camp is underway. 2015-07-26.
- 6.Morehouse College. Morehouse Celebrates 143 Years.
- 7.Penrice, Ronda Racha. Spike Lee to appear at 30th anniversary 'School Daze' screening at Fox. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Cox Media Group. 13 February 2018.
- 8.Laws, Zach. Spike Lee movies: 15 greatest films, ranked worst to best, include 'Do the Right Thing,' 'Malcolm X,' 'BlacKkKlansman'. Gold Derby. Penske Business Media, LLC. 10 August 2018.
- 9.Advance Local Media LLC. 'Do the Right Thing,' 'New Jack City' actor Bill Nunn dies at 62. Al.com. 25 September 2016.
- 10.Mcshane, Larry. Bill Nunn, Radio Raheem in 'Do the Right Thing,' dies at 63. Daily News.
- 11.Gajanan, Mahita. Celebrities Mourn the Death of Do the Right Thing Actor Bill Nunn. Time. September 25, 2016.
- 12.Stack, Liam. Bill Nunn, Who Played Radio Raheem in 'Do the Right Thing,' Dies at 63. The New York Times. September 24, 2016.
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Bill Nunn was recorded at birth as William Goldwyn Nunn III. The authorities additionally record the heading William Goldwyn Nunn III. His recorded language was English.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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