--- name: "Bill Nunn" canonical: "https://film.one/person/bill-nunn" fi1m_id: "bill-nunn" imdb_id: "nm0638056" tmdb_id: 5502 wikidata_id: "Q279834" roles: ["Actor"] born: "20 October 1953" died: "24 September 2016" reviewed_on_fi1m: 7 average_fi1m_score: 79 average_as: "actor" average_over: 7 updated: "2026-10-05T03:20:05.940609+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Bill Nunn ## Identity Bill Nunn - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/bill-nunn - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** bill-nunn - **IMDb ID:** nm0638056 - **TMDB ID:** 5502 - **Wikidata ID:** Q279834 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Nunn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q279834, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0638056/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5502 Actor. Born 20 October 1953 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 24 September 2016. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 20 October 1953, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA - **Died:** 24 September 2016 - **Active:** 1989–2007 - **Frequently works with:** [James Franco](https://film.one/person/james-franco.md), [Kirsten Dunst](https://film.one/person/kirsten-dunst.md), [Laura Ziskin](https://film.one/person/laura-ziskin.md), [Sam Raimi](https://film.one/person/sam-raimi.md), [Tobey Maguire](https://film.one/person/tobey-maguire.md) - **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 7 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 88 (2), 1990s 80 (2), 2000s 73 (3) - **Fi1m against the critics:** 79 to 74 across 7 titles - **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 6 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Action 3, Drama 3, Science Fiction 3, Adventure 2, Comedy 1, Crime 1 - **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $2,807m across 7 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Nunn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q279834, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0638056/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5502 ## Streaming the US now - **Disney+:** [*Spider-Man 2*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2.md) (85), [*Spider-Man*](https://film.one/film/spider-man.md) (78), [*Sister Act*](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md) (78), [*Spider-Man 3*](https://film.one/film/spider-man-3.md) (55) - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Do the Right Thing*](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) (93), [*The Last Seduction*](https://film.one/film/the-last-seduction.md) (81) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Bill Nunn > Bill Nunn gives supporting characters weight without trying to outtalk everyone around him. We rate his Radio Raheem highest, and wish more of the later parts had given him as much to do. Radio Raheem carries a boombox playing Public Enemy, but Bill Nunn does not have to compete with it. In *Do the Right Thing* (1989), he holds our attention without trying to outtalk the rest of Spike Lee's emphatic ensemble. We were unsettled by Raheem, because Nunn gives him a weight that the noisy boombox alone could not supply. Giancarlo Esposito makes Buggin Out's insistence funny; Lee's Mookie is less outwardly forceful. Nunn finds his own place among them, and the film gives us time to notice what he brings. *School Daze* (1988) was his film debut and his first collaboration with Lee; Raheem was the breakthrough the following year. He returned as jazz musician Bottom Hammer in *Mo' Better Blues* (1990), another of their four films together. The subsequent work took him into smaller supporting parts and a recurring line in authority figures. In *Sister Act* (1992), he played Lieutenant Eddie Souther; Sam Raimi would later cast him as a newspaper editor. His Robbie Robertson in *Spider-Man* (2002) is the voice of reason at the Daily Bugle, a sensible use of an actor whose authority does not feel laboured. He stayed with the role across Raimi's trilogy, from 2002 to 2007. We recommend the first film for its warmth, humour and Tobey Maguire's uncertainty, with a caveat about digital action that makes the danger feel remote. It is a good film with Nunn in it, though it gives us less reason than Lee's film to watch specifically for him. We would not choose every film in his credits just for him. The reservation about the later parts is their size, not some need for Nunn to act more insistently. Even *Do the Right Thing* lets a few conversations run long, but its actors make their neighbours worth spending time with. Start there for Nunn; Robbie Robertson can wait. ## Biography Bill Nunn (1953–2016) was an American actor. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he graduated from Morehouse College in 1976. He made his credited film debut in Spike Lee's School Daze (1988). Nunn appeared in several of Lee's films, including as Radio Raheem in Do the Right Thing (1989). He played Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson in the Spider-Man trilogy (2002–2007). Other film credits include Sister Act (1992), The Legend of 1900 (1998), Runaway Jury (2003) and Glory (1989). He also worked in television and on stage, including a production of August Wilson's Fences. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (7) - *Spider-Man 3* (2007), Fi1m 55, as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-3.md) - *Spider-Man 2* (2004), Fi1m 85, as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2.md) - *Spider-Man* (2002), Fi1m 78, as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson — [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man.md) - *The Last Seduction* (1994), Fi1m 81, as Harlan — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-seduction.md) - *Sister Act* (1992), Fi1m 78, as Lt. Eddie Souther — [page](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md) - *Do the Right Thing* (1989), Fi1m 93, as Radio Raheem — [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) - *Glory* (1989), Fi1m 82, Actor — [page](https://film.one/film/glory.md) ## Complete filmography (71) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *3 Brothers: Radio Raheem, Eric Garner and George Floyd* (2020), as Radio Raheem (archival footage) - *Sirens* (2014), series, as Cash - *Won't Back Down* (2012), as Principal Holland - *Help Me, Help You* (2009), as Detective - *A Raisin in the Sun* (2008), as Bobo - *Randy & the Mob* (2007), as Wardlowe Gone - *Spider-Man 3* (2007), as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-3.md) - *Firehouse Dog* (2007), as Joe Musto - *October Road* (2007), series, Actor - *Idlewild* (2006), as GW - *Out There* (2006), as Desmond - *Spider-Man 2* (2004), as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man-2.md) - *Runaway Jury* (2003), as Lonnie Shaver - *Groupies* (2003), as Derrick Lassten - *People I Know* (2002), as The Reverend Lyle Blunt - *The Kudzu Christmas* (2002), as Dr. Horace Luke - *Spider-Man* (2002), as Joseph 'Robbie' Robertson — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/spider-man.md) - *The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option* (2001), as Luther - *The Job* (2001), series, as Terrence "Pip" Phillips - *Lockdown* (2000), as Charles - *Stolen from the Heart* (2000), as FBI Special Agent Malcolm Russ - *The Hungry Bachelors Club* (1999), as Moses Grady - *The Price of a Broken Heart* (1999), Actor - *Foolish* (1999), as Jimmy Beck - *Passing Glory* (1999), as Howard Porter - *The Legend of 1900* (1998), as Danny Boodmann - *Carriers* (1998), as Capt. David Arends - *Ambushed* (1998), as Watts Fatboy - *The Tic Code* (1998), as Kingston - *He Got Game* (1998), as Uncle Bubba - *Always Outnumbered* (1998), as Howard M'Shalla - *Ellen Foster* (1997), as Mr. Douglas - *Mad City* (1997), as Cliff Williams - *Kiss the Girls* (1997), as Det. John Sampson, LAPD - *Quicksilver Highway* (1997), as Len - *Millennium* (1996), series, as Lt. McCormick - *Early Edition* (1996), series, as Detective Barns - *Extreme Measures* (1996), as Burke - *Bulletproof* (1996), as Finch - *Mr. and Mrs. Loving* (1996), as Leonard - *Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead* (1995), as Easy Wind - *True Crime* (1995), as Detective Jerry Guinn - *Money Train* (1995), as Crash Train Motorman - *The Affair* (1995), as Sgt. Rivers - *Canadian Bacon* (1995), as Kabral Jabar - *Candyman: Farewell to the Flesh* (1995), as Reverend Ellis - *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Frank Champness - *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Tony Maxwell - *New York Undercover* (1994), series, Actor - *Blood Brothers* (1994), as William Crawford - *The Last Seduction* (1994), as Harlan — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-seduction.md) - *Traps* (1994), series, as Jack Cloud - *Save Me* (1994), as Detective Vincent - *Dangerous Heart* (1994), as Mulkey - *Bakersfield P.D.* (1993), series, as Troy Davis - *Fallen Angels* (1993), series, as Fearless Jones — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/fallen-angels-1993.md) - *National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1* (1993), as Police Photographer - *Sister Act* (1992), as Lt. Eddie Souther — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/sister-act.md) - *White Lie* (1991), as Chief Adams - *Regarding Henry* (1991), as Bradley, Physical Therapist - *New Jack City* (1991), as Duh Duh Duh Man - *Demon Cop* (1990), as Reporter - *Mo' Better Blues* (1990), as Bottom Hammer - *Cadillac Man* (1990), as Grave Digger - *Def by Temptation* (1990), as Dougy - *A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court* (1989), as School Teacher - *Glory* (1989), Actor — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/glory.md) - *Do the Right Thing* (1989), as Radio Raheem — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/do-the-right-thing.md) - *The Littlest Victims* (1989), as Orderly - *School Daze* (1988), as Grady - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Starletta's dad ## Gallery - ![Bill Nunn](https://film.one/media/person/97732/gallery-85933fabb5dd.jpg) Bill Nunn — Gregory Scott Williams, Jr., CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Bill_Nunn_2013_Introducing_August_Wilson_%2869991098%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Bill Nunn](https://film.one/media/person/97732/gallery-dfd2c8359c4f.jpg) Bill Nunn — Image via TMDB - ![Bill Nunn](https://film.one/media/person/97732/gallery-44a3c2f48cf1.jpg) Bill Nunn — Image via TMDB --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/bill-nunn