Roger E. Mosley

Roger E. Mosley

Mosley in 1980
Born Roger Earl Mosley
December 18, 1938
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1963-present
Spouse(s) Saundra Locke (1960-?; divorced)
Partner(s) Toni Laudermick (1976-present)
Children 3 children: 2 with Locke, 1 with Laudermick

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 on 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 wasn't 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]

He was married in 1960 to Saundra Locke and had 2 children with her.[5]

His daughter is Ch-a Mosley. She co-founded the Las Vegas based organization with Nana Rush, daughter of veteran NBA Referee Eddie F. Rush.[6]

Career

Mosley appeared as Monk in Terminal Island. Other actors in the feature were Phyllis Davis, Don Marshall, Ena Hartman and Tom Selleck.[7] Selleck would later become Magnum P.I..[8] His most prominent film role to date was his 1976 starring turn as the title character in Leadbelly, directed by Gordon Parks.[9] In an article in the November 1982 issue of Ebony Magazine, it was reported that this was his favourite role.[10]

He has guest starred on shows such as Night Court,[11] Starsky and Hutch, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Baretta, and Sanford and Son; he also had a role in Roots: The Next Generation. He also made a memorable appearance in the 1973 film The Mack,[12] as the militant brother of the main character Goldie.[13] He also appeared in other blaxploitation films including Hit Man (1972) and Sweet Jesus, Preacher Man (1973). Additionally, the 1974 film McQ with John Wayne as a police informer Rosey [14] and played officer Roy Cole alongside Kurt Russell and Ray Liotta in Unlawful Entry (1992).[15] He also starred in Hangin' With Mr. Cooper as Coach Ricketts in a recurring role with comedian/actor Mark Curry [16] and in A Thin Line Between Love & Hate with Martin Lawrence, Bobby Brown, and Lynn Whitfield.[17]

He appeared in season five of Las Vegas as the billionaire friend of Montecito owner A.J. Cooper (Tom Selleck).[18] He appeared in Magnum, P.I. as Tom Selleck's friend and a helicopter pilot who operates his own tourist charter Island Hoppers [19] from 1980-1988.

References

  1. ↑ www.tomselleck.de Roger E. Mosley Biographie
  2. ↑ Loki Radoslav Pon Press, 1 Apr 2012 - Performing Arts Roger E. Mosley Pon Press, 2012 ISBN 6137817423, 9786137817421
  3. ↑ 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
  4. ↑ Police Helicopter Pilot Helicopter Aviation & Beyond Magnum PI Helicopter Flies Again In Hawaii
  5. ↑ movie-stars.us Personal Details
  6. ↑ PR.com Upscale Concierge Service Brings Elegance Back to Las Vegas
  7. ↑ New York Times Movies Terminal Island (1973)
  8. ↑ New York Times Movies & TV Tom Selleck
  9. ↑ Bastrop Visitor Center Leadbelly 1976, starring Roger E. Mosley and Paul Benjamin, directed by Gordon Parks.
  10. ↑ Ebony Magazine November 1982 Page 85 Roger Mosley Continued
  11. ↑ TV Guide Episode Detail: Puppy Love - Night Court
  12. ↑ www.tomselleck.de Roger E. Mosley - Biographie
  13. ↑ cinephilia The Mack USA 1973
  14. ↑ John Wayne: Actor, Artist, Hero By Richard D. McGhee Filmography Page 365
  15. ↑ Jet Magazine Page 62 Movies to see
  16. ↑ Who was who on TV, Volume 2 by Norman Chance Page 29 Hangin' With Mr. Cooper: Sitcom: 1992 - 1997
  17. ↑ Historical Dictionary of African American Cinema by Torriano S. Berry, Venise T. Berry Page 335 Thin Line Between Love And Hate
  18. ↑ Celebrity NetworthRoger E. Mosley Net Worth
  19. ↑ Huffington Post TV 'Magnum P.I.' Cast: Where Are They Now? by Kim Potts

External links