The Only Main Actors Still Alive From 1984’s Night Court

This text is about three actors who appeared on the 1980s television show “Night Court” and have gone on to have notable careers. The first actor mentioned is John Kapelke, who played Utay and had a recurring role as Dr. Wilhelm Rolf on the daytime drama “The Days of our Lives.” The second actor is Ellen Foley, who portrayed Billie Young on “Night Court” during its second season. Foley was also a successful singer before joining the show and collaborated with Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman on several hits, including the duet “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” The third actor is Denice Kumagai, who played Quon Le Duc/Quon Le Robinson on “Night Court” for 17 episodes. In addition to her work on the show, Kumagay co-founded Cold Tofu, the first Asian-American improvisation group in the U.S., and has acted in various other TV and movie projects.

As a huge fan of “Night Court,” I’d describe its unique charm as a boisterous, quirky, and unapologetically zany sitcom that delves into the world of criminal cases with a twist. Rather than focusing on heavy, gritty themes, this show embraces the absurdity of petty and bizarre cases. And surprisingly, it strikes the perfect balance, earning an impressive eight Primetime Emmy awards.

The show, which is gaining popularity in the 2020s, isn’t just riding on nostalgia. In the 2023 “Night Court” revival, they effectively carry on the tradition and remain faithful to the original by preserving its unique atmosphere and smartly incorporating actors from the past reprising their roles.

Despite the enduring popularity of “Night Court,” it’s been quite some time since the original show wrapped up. Sadly, not every cast member from the series is still with us. Here’s a rundown of the major actors from “Night Court” who are still alive.

John Larroquette (Dan Fielding)

I’m a huge fan of John Larroquette’s acting abilities, and his transformation from the obnoxious and sarcastic prosecutor Dan Fielding on “Night Court” to the older and slightly more mellow public defender version of the character in the 2023 series is truly remarkable. His dominance in award seasons is undeniable – he single-handedly earned all four acting Emmy wins for the show, an impressive feat that led him to voluntarily withdraw his name from the Emmy pool during the fifth season. In an interview with Gold Derby, Larroquette expressed his belief that Dan Fielding had received sufficient recognition and didn’t want someone else to win instead. However, despite his intentions, he ended up winning a fifth Emmy, this time for his guest star role as Joey Heric on “The Practice.”

Larroquette’s Emmy win serves as a testament to his remarkable career. Following the conclusion of “Night Court,” he went on to lead “The John Larroquette Show” for four seasons and continued working in various films and television productions. His versatility is evident as he has incorporated Dan Fielding’s quirks into several projects. Some of his most memorable roles include portraying Mike McBride in the McBride TV movie series and Carl Sack, the adversary of Denny Crane (William Shatner), on “Boston Legal.”

Marsha Warfield (Roz Russell)

Bailiff Roz Russell, portrayed brilliantly by Marsha Warfield on “Night Court,” is a complex character known for her tough exterior and sensitive side. In the 2023 revival, she reappears frequently due to her new occupation as a private investigator. Notably, Roz’s character undergoes a significant development in this version – she comes out as gay, a representation Marsha Warfield believes would have been unlikely on the original series.

Roz likely wasn’t openly gay during that time. The concept hadn’t crossed our minds back then. The actress, who publicly came out in 2017, shared this with UPI. I might have portrayed her, but I’m unsure if I could have come out then. My mother had requested me not to do so while she was alive, and she was still alive at the time.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: Following the completion of “Night Court,” I briefly hosted my talk show named “The Marsha Warfield Show” before moving on to portray Dr. Maxine Douglas in “Empty Nest.” My career took a turn with numerous guest appearances on various shows, and then I took an extended hiatus from acting around the year 2000. However, in 2021, I made my comeback to acting and have since secured several TV roles, including the recurring character Toni Wilson on “9-1-1.”

Joleen Lutz (Lisette Hocheiser)

Joleen Lutz joined the “Night Court” cast relatively late in its run, portraying the stenographer Lisette Hocheiser during its last two seasons. Post-“Night Court,” Lutz’s acting journey took an unconventional turn. Although she has remained active in her craft, appearing in guest spots and smaller recurring roles, her deepest enthusiasm lies elsewhere.

Lutz shared in an interview with Lancer Radio, “I’ve had a long-standing fascination with animals. As a child, my siblings and I would rescue injured wildlife – a baby bunny with an injured hind leg or a bird with a fractured wing. We’d nurse them back to health and release them back into their urban habitats. At some point, our home became overrun with animals, prompting my husband to suggest that I find another outlet for my passion. So, I turned to the zoo and began volunteering.”

Lutz has served as a volunteer guide at the Los Angeles Zoo, earning her the title of “interpretive naturalist of zoology” from the zoo. Notably, she was the host for the 2013 Valentine’s Day fundraising event, where she enlightened attendees about the mating rituals of various zoo animals.

William Utay (Phil Sanders and Dr. Rolf)

William Utay’s role in “Night Court” stood out from other actors due to its unique complexity. Instead of playing a single character consistently, he brought three distinct figures to life. In the second season, Utay introduced Ivan Brewster, an attacking mime defendant who crossed paths with Dan Fielding (John Larroquette). Later, Utay became renowned for his portrayal of Dan’s secretly wealthy and homeless accomplice, Phil Sanders. As Phil exited the scene in a dark musical instrument gag, Utay returned to portray Will, a more refined yet significantly more malevolent twin character.

Following his departure from Night Court, Utay gained recognition through brief appearances on well-known TV programs and minor roles in films such as the 1995 sci-fi horror production “Species.” Nevertheless, his most notable part was portraying Dr. Wilhelm Rolf in the daytime soap opera “The Days of our Lives,” which lasted from 1995 to 2021 across 495 episodes.

Ellen Foley (Billie Young)

As a devoted fan, I’d express it this way: Ellen Foley is an exceptional entertainer with the unique ability to captivate audiences as a sitcom actress and a successful singer. During her one-season stint on “Night Court,” she breathed life into the character of public defender Billie Young, who forms a strong bond with Judge Harry T. Stone (Harry Anderson) in Season 2. When Ellen joined the show, she was already a renowned musical performer and singer, adding depth to her character. Working alongside Selma Diamond, who brilliantly portrayed Selma Hacker, was an enjoyable experience for Ellen that further enriched her time on the show.

“Selma Diamond was remarkable!,” the Bay Area Reporter was informed by her. Her wit and biting humor left a lasting impression on me. In a past instance, when I was dealing with relationship issues in Los Angeles while living in New York, Selma encouraged me. She exclaimed, “What are you doing? You’re Ellen Foley!” I responded, “Yes, Selma Diamond, I am Ellen Foley!”

Outside of her role in “Night Court,” Foley is renowned for her partnership with rock artist Meat Loaf and his musical collaborator Jim Steinman. They became acquainted in the mid-1970s, leading to their joint work on numerous Meat Loaf hits – such as the well-known duet “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” In an interview with Variety, she shared her enthusiasm about this experience, stating, “I was absolutely thrilled because I hadn’t recorded before, and I adored [Meat Loaf and Steinman]. I simply thought it was amazing and wonderful, and it filled me up to sing those songs.”

Denice Kumagai (Quon Le Duc)

Quon Le Duc, portrayed by Denice Kumagai, is a recurring character in “Night Court” who later marries Charles Robinson’s Mac Robinson for the sake of obtaining a visa. Their union initially serves this purpose, but it evolves into something more profound over time. Quon makes her first appearance in Season 2 and continues to appear in a total of 17 episodes up until Season 9.

In addition to her recognition from “Night Court,” Kumagai is notable for being a co-founder of the first Asian-American improv group in the US, Cold Tofu. Established in 1981, this group aimed to provide Asian Americans with an opportunity to showcase their comedic talents, delve into their cultural heritage through humor, and offer a fresh perspective on American life. Kumagai shared the story of Cold Tofu’s inception in an interview with Discover Nikkei. She has also appeared in various TV shows and films beyond “Night Court,” such as Aunt June on “Gilmore Girls” and Kim in the Hulk Hogan action comedy “Suburban Commando.”

2024-07-14 05:00