INQUISITR.COM / Entertainment

Bill Nunn Dead: Cause Of Death Not Known

By Ven Lanyon
Published on: 12:00 PST, Sep 24, 2016

Bill Nunn died today, September 24, from “undisclosed causes.” No one expected Nunn’s death at the relatively early age of 62, and the actor’s many, many fans are in shock. To those who knew and loved Bill’s work, the fact that Bill is dead is almost as much of a shock as Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt divorcing.

The bare-bones death announcement came on Saturday morning, with no additional information about what happened, and according to Hollywood Life, “details of his death beyond that are unknown.” It is confirmed that Bill was found dead in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Celebrities and others are taking to Twitter to express their sadness at the news of Bill’s death. Audra McDonald said she was heartbroken to hear of Nunn’s passing.

One tweeter wrote “Rest in Power” instead of “Rest in Peace” and reminded fans to choose love.

Rest in Power to the wonderful Bill Nunn. We choose love. pic.twitter.com/6BtpifVxyt

— ebroji app is Lit! (@ebrojiapp) September 24, 2016

“Legendary filmmaker” Spike Lee was the person who gave Nunn his start when he cast him in 1988’s School Daze, and Lee was also there to mark the end of Bill’s life with a “heartfelt” post to Instagram. Rolling Stone explained that Spike has been Bill’s close friend and colleague for many years and was the one who broke the news of Nunn’s death.

“My Dear Friend, My Dear Morehouse Brother- Da Great Actor Bill Nunn As Most Of You Know Him As Radio Raheem Passed Away This Morning In His Hometown Of Pittsburgh. Long Live Bill NUNN. RADIO RAHEEM Is Now RESTING IN POWER. RADIO RAHEEM WILL ALWAYS BE FIGHTING DA POWERS DAT BE. MAY GOD WATCH OVER BILL NUNN.”

Nunn’s family were contacted to confirm the sad news of his death. Lee followed up the announcement of Nunn’s death with several more moving posts celebrating and honoring the actor’s life and career.

Nunn, whose net worth according to Celebrity Net Worth is around $1.5 million, was best known for his role as the “boombox-toting, Public Enemy-blasting Radio Raheem” in Lee’s 1989 breakout Do the Right Thing.

The actor also appeared in Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues and He Got Game. and the Duh Duh Duh Man in New Jack City. Last spring, only a few months before his unexpected death, Bill told Eurweb that his fans still remember Duh Duh Duh Man.

“I still get Duh Duh Duh Man in the grocery store and all that. To this day, 25 years later. Once a week, if not more. I get a lot of Duh man love. I don’t think it’s taken over Radio Raheem, but it’s become really memorable though to people.”

Nunn acted in many other shows along with his best-known roles, and over his career, he starred in more than 40 movies and television shows.

Bill had a “physically imposing figure” that really looked the part and was a dead ringer for the “tough guy roles” like Do the Right Thing, but he got a chance to show his softer side too. Regarding Henry, Legend of 1900, and the Spider-Man trilogy (the one with Tobey Maguire), where he played Daily Bugle editor Robbie Robertson, all let him show off how sympathetic he could be.

Nunn fell in love with acting at an early age, and knew that’s all he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He’d searched through many career possibilities by the time he discovered acting, including things as different as political science or taking English and hoping to become a teacher of some sort.

“When I got that theater bug that was my heart. That’s what I found I had a passion for.”

At his death, Bill leaves to mourn him his wife, Donna Nunn, and their two daughters, Cydney Nunn and Jessica Nunn. As the world says rest in peace to Bill, let us all take some time to think about what Bill Nunn role we loved the most. R.I.P. Bill Nunn.