William Moseley (born November 11, 1951) is an American actor, primarily known for his performances in horror films. His best-known roles include
Chop Top
Robert Sawyer, better known as "Chop-Top" is a fictional character from '' The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' franchise; created by Tobe Hooper and L. M. Kit Carson, Chop-Top makes his first appearance (portrayed by Bill Moseley) in the film '' The ...
in ''
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'' (also known as ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2'') is a 1986 American black comedy slasher film directed by Tobe Hooper. It is a sequel to ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'', also directed and co-written by Ho ...
'' (1986), Otis B. Driftwood in
Rob Zombie's
''Firefly'' trilogy, Luigi Largo in ''
Repo! The Genetic Opera
''Repo! The Genetic Opera'' is a 2008 American rock opera horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Based on the 2002 musical of the same name, written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich, the film stars Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvin ...
'' (2008), and The Magician in ''
Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival'' (2015). He had a recurring role as camp cook Possum on the
HBO
Home Box Office (HBO) is an American premium television network, which is the flagship property of namesake parent subsidiary Home Box Office, Inc., itself a unit owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. The overall Home Box Office business unit is ba ...
TV series ''
Carnivàle
''Carnivàle'' () is an American television series set in the United States Dust Bowl during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The series, created by Daniel Knauf, ran for two seasons between 2003 and 2005. In tracing the lives of disparate ...
'' (2003-05). He has also released records with guitarist
Buckethead
Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1969), known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has received critical acclaim for his innovative electric guitar playing. His music spans severa ...
in the band
Cornbugs
Cornbugs was an American avant-garde metal band formed in 1995. Comprising vocalist Bill "Choptop" Moseley, guitarist Buckethead, drummer Pinchface and keyboardist Travis Dickerson, the band released five albums, two DVDs, and three compilation ...
, as well as featuring on the guitarist's solo work.
Early life
Moseley was born in Stamford, Connecticut, and grew up in
Barrington Hills, Illinois. He is the son of Virginia Gillette (Kleitz), a journalist, and S. D. Moseley (Spencer Dumaresq Moseley), who was a member of the
Yale Corporation
The Yale Corporation, officially The President and Fellows of Yale College, is the governing body of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Assembly of corporation
The Corporation comprises 19 members:
* Three ex officio
An ''ex officio'' m ...
, All-American captain and center of the 1942 Yale football team, and chairman and chief executive of the
Railway Express Agency
Railway Express Agency (REA), founded as the American Railway Express Agency and later renamed the American Railway Express Inc., was a national package delivery service that operated in the United States from 1918 to 1975. REA arranged trans ...
. His grandfather,
George Moseley
George Clark Moseley was an American football player. He played at the end position for Yale University and was chosen as a first-team All-American in 1916 by Collier's Weekly, as selected by Walter Camp. During World War I, Moseley served wit ...
, also played football at Yale and was an All-American. He is a graduate of
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wo ...
.
For a period of time, Moseley operated as a journalist, writing for such magazines as ''
Omni'',
''
National Lampoon'' and ''
Psychology Today
''Psychology Today'' is an American media organization with a focus on psychology and human behavior. It began as a bimonthly magazine, which first appeared in 1967. The ''Psychology Today'' website features therapy and health professionals direct ...
''.
Acting career
At the age of 29, Moseley got his first film role in Alan Rudolph's ''Endangered Species'' as a
cab driver. In 1985's ''Osa'' he played a character named "Quilt Face." His third role has become one of his most well known; he appeared as
Chop Top
Robert Sawyer, better known as "Chop-Top" is a fictional character from '' The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'' franchise; created by Tobe Hooper and L. M. Kit Carson, Chop-Top makes his first appearance (portrayed by Bill Moseley) in the film '' The ...
in
Tobe Hooper
Willard Tobe Hooper (; January 25, 1943 – August 26, 2017) was an American director, screenwriter, and producer best known for his work in the horror genre. The British Film Institute cited Hooper as one of the most influential horror fi ...
's ''
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'' (also known as ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2'') is a 1986 American black comedy slasher film directed by Tobe Hooper. It is a sequel to ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'', also directed and co-written by Ho ...
'', after Tobe Hooper saw him in the independent short, ''The Texas Chainsaw Manicure''.
In 2000 he reprised his role as Chop Top in ''
All American Massacre'', which was directed by Tobe Hooper's son William, but the film was never released to the public.
Two years after ''TCM 2'', he played Frank in 1988's ''Mamba''. Also in 1988 appeared as a soldier in the remake of the
Steve McQueen
Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...
film ''
The Blob
''The Blob'' is a 1958 American science fiction horror film directed by Irvin Yeaworth, and written by Kay Linaker and Theodore Simonson. It stars Steve McQueen (in his first feature film leading role) and Aneta Corsaut and co-stars Earl Rowe ...
''. He next played Darrell in the film ''
Pink Cadillac'' starring
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...
. He then played the lead role of Ricky Caldwell in ''
Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!''.
In 1990, Moseley appeared in four films: ''Crash and Burn'', ''
The First Power
''The First Power'' is a 1990 American neo-noir horror film written and directed by Robert Resnikoff, and starring Lou Diamond Phillips, Tracy Griffith, Jeff Kober and Mykelti Williamson.
The film received mostly negative reviews, but was a ...
'', ''
The End of Innocence'', and, playing Johnny, in
Tom Savini
Thomas Vincent Savini (born November 3, 1946) is an American prosthetic makeup artist, actor, stunt performer and film director. He is known for his makeup and special effects work on many films directed by George A. Romero, including ''Martin'' ...
's
remake
A remake is a film, television series, video game, song or similar form of entertainment that is based upon and retells the story of an earlier production in the same medium—e.g., a "new version of an existing film". A remake tells the same ...
of
George A. Romero
George Andrew Romero (; February 4, 1940 – July 16, 2017) was an American-Canadian filmmaker, writer, editor and actor. His ''Night of the Living Dead'' series of films about an imagined zombie apocalypse began with the 1968 film of the ...
's 1968 zombie film, ''
Night of the Living Dead
''Night of the Living Dead'' is a 1968 American independent horror film directed, photographed, and edited by George A. Romero, with a screenplay by John Russo and Romero, and starring Duane Jones and Judith O'Dea. The story follows seven peop ...
''.
In 1993, he had a small role in the cult hit ''
Army of Darkness'' as the Deadite Captain.
A year later, he was featured in the video game ''
Corpse Killer''. In 1995, he did voiceover work for Anders Jacobsson's horror comedy film ''
Evil Ed
''Evil Ed'' is a 1995 Swedish horror comedy film directed by Anders Jacobsson and starring Johan Rudebeck, Per Löfberg and Olof Rhodin. The film's plot follows film editor Edward Tor Swenson, who begins to go insane and embark on a murder spree ...
''.
He would not, however, have another role as popular as Chop Top until 2003, when he starred as the maniacal
Otis B. Driftwood (named after
Groucho Marx
Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...
's character from ''
A Night at the Opera'') in
Rob Zombie's directorial debut ''
House of 1000 Corpses
''House of 1000 Corpses'' is a 2003 American black comedy horror film written, co-scored, and directed by Rob Zombie in his directorial debut, and the first film in the ''Firefly'' film series. It stars Sid Haig, Bill Moseley, Sheri Moon, K ...
''. As Otis, he again became an icon in the horror community. In 2005, he reprised the role of Otis in the sequel ''
The Devil's Rejects
''The Devil's Rejects'' is a 2005 black comedy horror film written, produced and directed by Rob Zombie, and is the second film in the ''Firefly'' film series, serving as a sequel to his 2003 film ''House of 1000 Corpses''. The film is center ...
'' and in 2009 he played Otis in a voice cameo in Rob Zombie's animated film
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto
''The Haunted World of El Superbeasto'' is a 2009 American adult animated superhero film directed, co-written and co-produced by Rob Zombie. The film was written by Zombie and Tom Papa from Zombie's comic book series of the same name. The film wa ...
.
Moseley's performance in ''Rejects'' inspired an independent campaign for a
Best Supporting Actor Oscar
Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to:
People
* Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms.
* Oscar (Irish mythology) ...
nomination, which failed. He played in other Rob Zombie films such as ''
Halloween
Halloween or Hallowe'en (less commonly known as Allhalloween, All Hallows' Eve, or All Saints' Eve) is a celebration observed in many countries on 31 October, the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Saints' Day. It begins the observanc ...
'' and the ''
Grindhouse
A grindhouse or action house is an American term for a theatre that mainly shows low-budget horror, splatter and exploitation films for adults. According to historian David Church, this theater type was named after the "grind policy", a fil ...
'' fake trailer segment ''
Werewolf Women of the SS''.
![Moseley, Bill (2007)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1b/Moseley%2C_Bill_%282007%29.jpg)
In 2008, Moseley played the role of Luigi Largo in ''
Repo! The Genetic Opera
''Repo! The Genetic Opera'' is a 2008 American rock opera horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. Based on the 2002 musical of the same name, written and composed by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich, the film stars Alexa Vega, Paul Sorvin ...
''.
In this futuristic, genetic opera, he was able to network with
Nivek Ogre
Kevin Graham Ogilvie (born December 5, 1962), known professionally as Nivek Ogre, is a Canadian musician, performance artist and actor, best known for his work with the industrial music group Skinny Puppy, which he co-founded with cEvin Key. Sin ...
of
Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is a Canadian industrial music group formed in Vancouver in 1982. The group is among the founders of the industrial rock and electro-industrial genres. Initially envisioned as an experimental side-project by cEvin Key (Kevin Crompton ...
and
ohGr
ohGr is an American industrial band formed by Nivek Ogre and Mark Walk of Skinny Puppy. Early ohGr releases incorporated hip hop and synth-pop influences, and in contrast to Skinny Puppy, utilized conventional structures and a lighter tone. Og ...
, subsequently appearing on
ohGr
ohGr is an American industrial band formed by Nivek Ogre and Mark Walk of Skinny Puppy. Early ohGr releases incorporated hip hop and synth-pop influences, and in contrast to Skinny Puppy, utilized conventional structures and a lighter tone. Og ...
's new album ''
Devils in my Details
''Devils in my Details'' is the third studio album by the electro-industrial band ohGr. It was released in the U.K. and Europe on November 4, 2008, and in the United States on November 5, 2008. It was the only ohGr release through the German lab ...
''. He mainly speaks at the beginning or ending of the songs in vivid, poetic rants. He appears on ''Eyecandy'', ''Feelin' Chicken'', ''Psychoreal'', ''Timebomb'', ''Smogharp'', and ''Witness''. Additionally, in 2008, Moseley appeared as a telemarketer in the music video for
Combichrist's Sent to Destroy".
Moseley contributed songs to the 2008 soundtrack of ''Vampira: The Movie'', a documentary by
Kevin Sean Michaels on
Maila Nurmi
Maila Elizabeth Syrjäniemi (December 11, 1922 – January 10, 2008), known professionally as Maila Nurmi, was an American actress who created the campy 1950s character Vampira.
She was raised in Astoria, Oregon, where she worked in tuna and s ...
, in which he also stars. It was released on Collectables Records, a division of Alpha Video.
He appears as Kozlowski in
Robert Lieberman
Robert Lieberman (born July 16, 1947) is an American motion picture and television director.
Personal life
Lieberman was married from June 27, 1990 to June 7, 2001 to actress Marilu Henner; the divorced couple has two children, Nicholas Morga ...
's 2009 thriller film ''
The Tortured
''The Tortured'' is a 2010 Canadian-American horror-thriller film directed by Robert Lieberman, written by Marek Posival, and starring Erika Christensen, Jesse Metcalfe, Fulvio Cecere, and Bill Moseley.
Plot
The film tells the story of a cou ...
'', and in 2012 played as The Magician in ''
The Devil's Carnival
''The Devil's Carnival'' is a 2012 American musical horror film directed by Darren Lynn Bousman and starring Sean Patrick Flanery, Briana Evigan, Jessica Lowndes, Paul Sorvino, Emilie Autumn and Terrance Zdunich. The film marks the second collab ...
''.
Moseley has also provided voice-over recordings for the Florida-based heavy metal band – Generichrist and also British goth-metal band
Sinnergod
Sinnergod are a four-piece English alternative rock band from Wigan. Their sound is recognisable as an atmospheric, layered wall of sound consisting of guitar driven riffs and symphonic keyboards. The band, previously working under the title ...
on the track "Overture" which features on their 2013 debut album ''Seven Deadly Sinphonies''.
He later made appearances in ''
Texas Chainsaw 3D
''Texas Chainsaw 3D'' (stylized on-screen simply as ''Texas Chainsaw'') is a 2013 American slasher film directed by John Luessenhop, with a screenplay by Adam Marcus, Debra Sullivan and Kirsten Elms.
It is the seventh installment in ''The T ...
'' and ''
American Exorcist
''American Exorcist'' is a 2018 independent horror film directed by Tony Trov and Johnny Zito and starring Bill Moseley and Falon Joslyn. It was released in October 2018.
Premise
''American Exorcist'' is about a paranormal investigator, trapped i ...
''.
In 2019, Moseley appeared in ''
Gothic Harvest
''Gothic Harvest'' is a 2019 erotic horror film shot in the French Quarter of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. It was directed by Ashley Hamilton, who also starred alongside Lin Shaye and Bill Moseley, Bill Mosley.
Synopsis
The film follows ...
'' with
Lin Shaye
Linda Shaye (born October 12, 1943) is an American film, television, and theater actress. In a career spanning over forty years, she has appeared in more than a hundred feature films. She is perhaps best known for her starring role as Elise Rain ...
and
Sofia Mattsson
Sofia Magdalena Mattsson (born 11 November 1989) is a Swedish wrestler, who has won a World Championship, four European championships and an Olympic bronze medal.
Profile
Born in Gällivare, she is one of the highest-ranking female wrestler ...
, directed by
Ashley Hamilton. He also reprised his role as Otis B. Driftwood in ''
3 From Hell''. ''Horror Fuel'' magazine reports that Moseley will star in the horror film ''Jasper'' alongside
Michael Berryman
Michael John Berryman (born September 4, 1948) is an American character actor. Berryman was born with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, a rare condition characterized by the absence of sweat glands, hair, and fingernails; his unusual physical ...
,
Kane Hodder
Kane Warren Hodder (born April 8, 1955)According to the State of California. ''California Birth Index, 1905–1995''. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento, California. At Ancestry.com is an Americ ...
and
Bill Oberst in 2022.
He recorded voiceovers for
Ice Nine Kills
Ice Nine Kills (sometimes stylized in all capital letters or abbreviated to INK, and formerly known as Ice Nine) is an American heavy metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, who are signed to Fearless Records. Best known for its horror-inspire ...
' 2021 horror film-themed album ''
The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood''.
Music career
Moseley (as Chop Top) was the lead singer of
Cornbugs
Cornbugs was an American avant-garde metal band formed in 1995. Comprising vocalist Bill "Choptop" Moseley, guitarist Buckethead, drummer Pinchface and keyboardist Travis Dickerson, the band released five albums, two DVDs, and three compilation ...
, a three-man band he had between 1999 and 2007 with avant-garde rock/metal guitarist
Buckethead
Brian Patrick Carroll (born May 13, 1969), known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has received critical acclaim for his innovative electric guitar playing. His music spans severa ...
and
Deli Creeps
The Deli Creeps were an avant-garde band consisting of singer Maximum Bob, guitarist Buckethead, drummer Pinchface and various bass players, most recently Daniel Monti. Though Buckethead is the only member who makes a consistent effort to hide ...
' drummer,
Pinchface
Michael Andrew Hakopian, better known as Pinchface is the drummer of the Deli Creeps, Giant Robot II, and the Cornbugs. He has also appeared on numerous Buckethead albums, such as '' Population Override'' and '' Giant Robot'' (tracks "I Come ...
. He also contributed vocal parts to the songs ''I Come in Peace'' (as a news reporter) and ''Onions Unleashed'' (as Onions) from Buckethead's album ''
Giant Robot'' (1994) and ''Jowls'' from Buckethead's album ''
Monsters and Robots
''Monsters and Robots'' is Buckethead's fifth studio album, released April 20, 1999, by Higher Octave records. A large part of the album was co-written with Les Claypool, who also plays bass on several tracks and lends his vocals to the track "Th ...
'' (1999), also as Chop Top.
Moseley, along with
Rani Sharone
Rani Sharone (born 1978) is the bassist/guitarist for the band Stolen Babies. He is the twin brother of drummer Gil Sharone.
In 2010, Sharone and actor Bill Moseley
William Moseley (born November 11, 1951) is an American actor, primarily known ...
, released the album ''No Way Down'', calling themselves Spider Mountain.
Personal life
Moseley is married to actress
Lucinda Jenney
Lucinda Jenney (born April 23, 1954) is an American actress.
Early life
Jenney was born in Long Island City in 1954.
Career
She began her acting career in 1979 with the film ''Impostors''. Several roles followed throughout the 1980s, with ap ...
. He previously dated model Lisa Lindsay-Hogg. Moseley and Lindsay-Hogg have two daughters: Marion Moseley, an actress, and Jane Moseley, a model, painter and sculptor based in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
.
In popular culture
A sample of Moseley shouting "dog will hunt!" in ''
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2
''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2'' (also known as ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 2'') is a 1986 American black comedy slasher film directed by Tobe Hooper. It is a sequel to ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'', also directed and co-written by Ho ...
'' is used in the hit
Primus song "
Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
"Jerry Was a Race Car Driver" is a song by the American funk metal band Primus (band), Primus. It was released as the first single from their 1991 album ''Sailing the Seas of Cheese'' and reached number 23 on the U.S. Alternative Songs chart. The ...
".
Filmography
Film
Television
Music videos
References
External links
Chop Top's BBQ, Bill Moseley's official site*
* Interview with Bill Moseley a
Eye for Film
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moseley, Bill
1951 births
Living people
Male actors from Illinois
American male film actors
American male television actors
Male actors from Stamford, Connecticut
Yale University alumni
People from Barrington Hills, Illinois
Cornbugs members