Roger Mosley

Roger Earl Mosley (; December 18, 1938 – August 7, 2022) was an American actor, director, and writer best known for his role as the helicopter pilot Theodore "T.C." Calvin in the CBS television series ''Magnum, P.I.'', which originally aired from 1980 until 1988.

Biography

Early life and education

Born on December 18, 1938, in Los Angeles, California, and raised by his mother, Eloise, Mosley grew up in the Imperial Courts public housing in the Watts neighborhood. For high school, Mosley attended Jordan High School.

Career

Mosley appeared as Monk in ''Terminal Island'' (1973). Other actors in the feature were Phyllis Davis, Don Marshall, Ena Hartman, and Tom Selleck, who would later star in the television series ''Magnum, P.I.'' which would also feature Mosley. In 1974, Mosley founded the Watts Repertory Company.

Mosley's most prominent film role was his 1976 starring turn as the title character in ''Leadbelly'', a biography of the musician directed by Gordon Parks. In an article in the November 1982 issue of ''Ebony'' magazine, Mosley said that this was his favorite role.

Mosley appeared in ''Magnum, P.I.'' from 1980 to 1988. He had a role as Tom Selleck's friend, helicopter pilot Theodore "T.C." Calvin, who operates his own tourist charter, ''Island Hoppers''. He appeared in season five of ''Las Vegas'' as the billionaire friend of Montecito owner A.J. Cooper (Tom Selleck).

Mosley came out of retirement to appear on the ''Magnum, P.I.'' reboot episode "A Kiss Before Dying" as Booky, T.C.'s barber, on March 11, 2019. Stephen Hill, who played T.C. in the new series, said, "It is truly an honor for us to welcome an original cast member of ''Magnum, P.I.''; one who embodied the role of T.C. with such thoughtful and dignified talent."

Mosley also guest-starred on such shows as ''Night Court'', ''Kung Fu'', ''Starsky & Hutch'', ''Kojak'', ''The Rockford Files'', ''Baretta'', and ''Sanford and Son''. He also played a role in '' Roots: The Next Generations''. Mosley made a memorable appearance in the 1973 film ''The Mack'' as the militant brother of the main character Goldie. He appeared in other blaxploitation films of the period, including ''Hit Man'' (1972); ''Sweet Jesus, Preacherman'' (1973); ''Darktown Strutters'' (1975); and ''The River Niger'' (1976).

Mosley's other film credits include ''McQ'' (1974) with John Wayne, '' The Greatest'' (1977, as Sonny Liston), '' Semi-Tough'' (1977), '' Heart Condition'' (1990), and ''Pentathlon'' (1994). He also starred in the television series '' Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'' (1992–1993) as Coach Ricketts in a recurring role with comedian/actor Mark Curry, and in the film ''A Thin Line Between Love and Hate'' (1996) with Martin Lawrence, Lynn Whitfield, and Bobby Brown.

He also appeared as a celebrity guest on ''The $25,000 Pyramid'' for a week's worth of shows in July 1983, July 1984, and June 1985.

Personal life

Mosley was married to Antoinette Laudermilk; they were together for nearly sixty years.

Mosley became a certified private helicopter pilot. When making ''Magnum, P.I.'', he was not allowed to do his own stunts. A pilot wearing a body stocking with false muscles was used instead. Mosley did not smoke, use drugs or drink alcohol, and insisted that his ''Magnum, P.I.'' character also did not.

At the 2013 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.

Car crash and death

On August 4, 2022, Mosley was involved in a major car crash in Lynwood, California, leaving him in critical condition, paralyzed from the shoulders down. He later died from his injuries on August 7, 2022 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center at the age of 83.

Filmography

Film

Partial Television Credits

References

External links

''Roger E. Mosley Honored @ Crenshaw LIVE! 5/30/2018''
(Video)#

Interview with Roger E. Mosley
KUT's In Black America series, on the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, May 1, 1984
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mosley, Roger E.
1938 births
2022 deaths
Road incident deaths in California
American male film actors
American male television actors
African-American male actors
Male actors from Los Angeles
American television directors
21st-century African-American people
20th-century African-American people
20th-century American male actors