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Bill Moseley

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For the South African lawn bowler, see Bill Moseley (bowls). For other people with similar names, see William Moseley.

Bill Moseley
Moseley in 2023
Born
William Moseley

(1951-11-11) November 11, 1951 (age 73)
Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.
Alma materYale University
Occupation(s)Actor, musician
Years active1980–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2017)​
Children2

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 in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986), Otis B. Driftwood in Rob Zombie's Firefly trilogy, Luigi Largo in Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008), and The Magician in Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival (2015). He had a recurring role as camp cook Possum on the HBO TV series Carnivàle (2003–05). He has also released records with guitarist Buckethead in the band Cornbugs, 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.[1] 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, All-American captain and center of the 1942 Yale football team, and chairman and chief executive of the Railway Express Agency.[2][3][4] His grandfather, George Moseley, also played football at Yale and was an All-American. He is a graduate of Yale University.

For a period of time, Moseley operated as a journalist, writing for such magazines as Omni,[5] National Lampoon and Psychology Today.

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 in Tobe Hooper's The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, after Tobe Hooper saw him in the independent short, The Texas Chainsaw Manicure.[5] 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.[6]

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 film The Blob. He next played Darrell in the film Pink Cadillac starring Clint Eastwood.[7] He then played the lead role of Ricky Caldwell in Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out!.[8]

In 1990, Moseley appeared in four films: Crash and Burn, The First Power, The End of Innocence, and, playing Johnny, in Tom Savini's remake of George A. Romero's 1968 zombie film, Night of the Living Dead.[8] In 1993, he had a small role in the cult hit Army of Darkness as the Deadite Captain.[8] 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.

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's character from A Night at the Opera) in Rob Zombie's directorial debut House of 1000 Corpses. 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 and in 2009 he played Otis in a voice cameo in Rob Zombie's animated film The Haunted World of El Superbeasto.[9] Moseley's performance in Rejects inspired an independent campaign for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination, which failed. He played in other Rob Zombie films such as Halloween and the Grindhouse fake trailer segment Werewolf Women of the SS.

Moseley at the 2007 Scream Awards for his work on Repo! The Genetic Opera

In 2008, Moseley played the role of Luigi Largo in Repo! The Genetic Opera.[9] In this futuristic, genetic opera, he was able to network with Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy and ohGr, subsequently appearing on ohGr's new album Devils in my Details. 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, in which he also stars. It was released on Collectables Records, a division of Alpha Video.

He appears as Kozlowski in Robert Lieberman's 2009 thriller film The Tortured,[10] and in 2012 played as The Magician in The Devil's Carnival.[11]

Moseley has also provided voice-over recordings for the Florida-based heavy metal band – Generichrist and also British goth-metal band Sinnergod on the track "Overture" which features on their 2013 debut album Seven Deadly Sinphonies.

He later made appearances in Texas Chainsaw 3D and American Exorcist.[9]

In 2019, Moseley appeared in Gothic Harvest with Lin Shaye and Sofia Mattsson, 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, Kane Hodder and Bill Oberst in 2022.

He recorded voiceovers for Ice Nine Kills' 2021 horror film-themed album The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood.

Music career

Moseley (as Chop Top) was the lead singer of Cornbugs, a three-man band he had between 1999 and 2007 with avant-garde rock/metal guitarist Buckethead and Deli Creeps' drummer, Pinchface. 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 (1999), also as Chop Top.

Moseley, along with Rani Sharone, released albums No Way Down and The Devil Rides West, calling themselves Spider Mountain.[12]

In 2017, Moseley released the album Bill & Phil: Songs of Darkness and Despair with Pantera frontman Philip Anselmo.[13]

Personal life

Moseley is married to actress Lucinda Jenney, with whom he has a daughter.[14][15] He previously dated model Lisa Lindsay-Hogg. Moseley and Lindsay-Hogg's daughter, Jane Moseley, is a model, painter and sculptor based in Los Angeles.[16][17]

A sample of Moseley shouting "dog will hunt!" in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 is used in the hit Primus song "Jerry Was a Race Car Driver".

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Endangered Species Cab Driver
1986 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 Chop Top
1986 Osa Quilt Face
1987 Nightmare Angel Dr. William de Freis Short Film
1988 The Blob Soldier in Sewer
1988 Fair Game Frank
1989 Pink Cadillac Darrell
1989 Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! Ricky Direct-to-video
1990 The First Power Bartender
1990 Crash and Burn Quinn Direct-to-video
1990 The End of Innocence Man on the Hill
1990 Night of the Living Dead Johnny
1991 White Fang Luke
1992 Inside Out 2 Dave Segment: "I've Got a Crush on You"
1992 Honey, I Blew Up the Kid Federal Marshal
1992 Army of Darkness Deadite Captain
1993 Mr. Jones Worker
1995 Prehysteria 3! Director Direct-to-video
1995 Evil Ed "Loose Limbs" Killer Voice
2000 The Convent Officer Ray
2000 All American Massacre Bloody Bobby Unreleased
2002 Essence of Echoes Dr. Hilcott
2003 House of 1000 Corpses Otis B. Driftwood
2003 Vicious Walace Direct-to-video
2005 The Devil's Rejects Otis B. Driftwood
2006 Evil Bong Bong World Patron
2006 Fallen Angels Westin
2006 Thr3e Slater
2006 A Dead Calling Chief Murken Direct-to-video
2007 Grindhouse Dr. Heinrich Von Strasser Segment: "Werewolf Women of the SS"
2007 Home Sick Mr. Suitcase
2007 Halloween Zach 'Z-Man' Garrett
2008 A Perfect Place Eddie Short film
2008 Babysitter Wanted Chief Dinneli
2008 Repo! The Genetic Opera Luigi Largo
2008 Alone in the Dark II Dexter Direct-to-video
2008 The Alphabet Killer Carl Tanner
2008 House Stewart
2009 The Devil's Tomb Professor Duncan Direct-to-Video
2009 The Haunted World of El Superbeasto Otis Driftwood Voice
2009 Blood Night: The Legend of Mary Hatchet Graveyard Gus
2009 Dead Air Logan
2009 The Graves Caleb 'Cookie' Atwood
2010 2001 Maniacs: Field of Screams Mayor George W. Buckman
2010 Anderson's Cross Mr. Daniels
2010 Godkiller: Walk Among Us Dr. West Voice
2010 The Tortured John Kozlowski
2011 Spider Mountain: No Way Down Ranger Bill Short, direct-to-video
2011 Exit Humanity General Williams
2011 Night of the Little Dead Kickstand Short film
2012 Rogue River Jon
2012 Highway to Hell Lemmas Direct-to-video
2012 The Devil's Carnival The Magician
2012 The Inflicted Mr. O'Hara
2012 Dead Souls Sheriff Depford
2013 House of the Witchdoctor Peter Van Hooten
2013 Texas Chainsaw 3D Drayton Sawyer
2014 Disciples Dread
2014 Charlie's Farm John Wilson
2015 Almost Mercy Pastor Johnson
2015 Old 37 Darryl
2015 The Art of Villainy M?ster Nobody Short film
2015 Night of the Living Dead: Origins 3D Johnny Voice
2016 Smothered Soggy Christian
2016 The Devil's Carnival: Alleluia! The Magician
2016 Alcoholist Grey Speckled Man
2016 The Horde Jacob Sutter Direct-to-video
2016 The Possession Experiment Father Mark Campbell
2016 Slayer: Pride in Prejudice Nazi Father Short, direct-to-video
2017 Death House Giger
2017 Boar Bruce
2018 Minutes to Midnight Gimple
2018 Cynthia Buttercup
2018 The Church Pastor James
2018 Crepitus Crepitus
2018 American Exorcist Mr. Snowfeather
2019 Shed of the Dead Doc
2019 Exorcism at 60,000 Feet Garvan
2019 To Your Last Death Pavel
2019 3 from Hell Otis B. Driftwood
2019 In Search of Darkness Himself Documentary
2019 Gothic Harvest Detective Hollis
2019 Big Top Evil Mr. Kharver
2019 Slayer: The Repentless Killogy Nazi Dad
2020 I Am Fear Steve Mcreedy
2020 In Search of Darkness: Part II Himself Documentary
2021 Prisoners of the Ghostland The Governor
2022 Sin Eater Father Dunn
2022 Dead by Midnight (Y2Kill) Jasper
2022 Nite Flirt The Caller Short Film
2023 Hayride to Hell Farmer Sam
2023 The Fetus Maddox/Father of Alessa
2023 Natty Knocks Abner Honeywell
2024 They Turned Us Into Killers TBA [18]
2024 Stream Jimmy [19]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Freddy's Nightmares Buzz Episode: "Black Tickets"
1989 Tour of Duty Sgt. Jones Episode: "Terms of Enlistment"
1991 Father Dowling Mysteries Kane / Larry Webster Episode: "The Priest Killer Mystery"
1993 Up All Night Himself Episode: "Vice Academy"; uncredited
1994 Blood Run Hank Television film
1995 Fallen Angels Customer #1 Episode: "A Dime a Dance"
1996 Unsolved Mysteries David Young Episode: #9.9
2002 Point of Origin Task Force Officer Television film
2002 Live from Baghdad Rex Television film
2003 The Practice Jake Spooner Episode: "Victims' Rights"
2004 ER Charlie Episode: "Forgive and Forget"
2003–2005 Carnivàle Possum 8 episodes
2007 Days of Our Lives Joel 3 episodes
2010–2019 Without Your Head Himself 4 episodes
2012–2013 Holliston Crazy Max 5 episodes
2014 Z Nation General McCandles Episode: "Full Metal Zombie"
2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Bernie Episode: "In Dreams"
2015–2017 Adam Green's Scary Sleepover Himself 3 episodes
2017 Uncle Grandpa Additional Voices Episode: "Uncle Grandpa's Odd-yssey"
2019 Slasher Homeless Guy 2 episodes

Music videos

Year Title Role Artist
2021 "Hip to Be Scared" Captain Harris Ice Nine Kills
"Assault & Batteries"
"Rainy Day"
"Funeral Derangements"
2022 "The Shower Scene"
2023 "Welcome to Horrorwood"
"Meat & Greet"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2024 The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Bones Voice[20][21]

References

  1. ^ "Horror Month: Interview with Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2)". June 20, 2015.
  2. ^ "Bill Moseley on Instagram: "A salute to my father, Spencer D Moseley, who loved skiing and first brought the family to @vailmtn in 1962. This run's for you, pop!"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Cook, Joan (May 24, 1991). "S. D. Moseley, 72, Football Star at Yale And Executive, Dies (Published 1991)". The New York Times.
  4. ^ "VIRGINIA MOSELEY – Obituary". www.legacy.com.
  5. ^ a b Jaworzyn, Stefan (2012). The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Companion. Titan Books. pp. 131–132. ISBN 978-1-78116-497-6.
  6. ^ Squires, John (August 29, 2017). "Bill Moseley Played Chop Top in a 'Chainsaw 2' Sequel We May Never See". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  7. ^ McIntyre, Gina (January 4, 2013). "'Texas Chainsaw 3D': Bill Moseley reflects on a monster career". Hero Complex. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c Squires, John (November 4, 2016). "Bill Moseley Clears Up Confusion About 'Army of Darkness' Role". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c "Bill Moseley Is an American Exorcist". FEARnet. January 31, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
  10. ^ "AFM '09: Promo Trailer for Twisted Pictures' 'The Tortured'!". BloodyDisgusting. November 8, 2009.
  11. ^ "Two Tickets To 'The Devil's Carnival' Please | News Article". FEARnet. March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  12. ^ "Chop Top's BBQ Home Page". Choptopsbbq.com. Retrieved March 19, 2013.
  13. ^ "Full Stream: Bill & Phil - 'Songs Of Darkness And Despair'". Decibel Magazine. January 18, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
  14. ^ Ortiz Garcia, Eric (September 27, 2021). "PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND Interview: Bill Moseley on Crafting Another Memorable Antagonist". Screen Anarchy. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  15. ^ Tinnin, Drew (February 1, 2021). "Sundance 2021: Interview – Bill Moseley Talks Working With Nicolas Cage in Sion Sono's PRISONERS OF THE GHOSTLAND". Dread Central. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  16. ^ Blasberg, Derek (November 11, 2016). "Meet Jane Moseley, an "It Girl" Straddling the Art and Fashion Worlds". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  17. ^ Ongley, Hannah (August 29, 2018). "Jane Moseley and her identical twins star in Nike's new sport campaign". i-D. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  18. ^ "They Turned Us Into Killers - Swank.com". www.swank.com. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  19. ^ Earl, William (July 16, 2024). "Horror Legend Bill Moseley Joins Cast of 'Terrifier' Team's Upcoming Slasher 'Stream' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  20. ^ Squires, John (December 6, 2024). "Bill Moseley and Skeet Ulrich Joining 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre' Game! [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  21. ^ Cooper, Dalton (December 7, 2024). "December 12 Will Be a Big Day for Texas Chain Saw Massacre Fans". GameRant. Archived from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
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