body
WHEREAS, on October 20th, 1952, William Goldwyn “Bill” Nunn III was born in Pittsburgh’s Hill District to Frances Nunn and Bill Nunn, the well-known editor of the Pittsburgh Courier and Pittsburgh Steelers scout who focused on historically black colleges and universities for over 40 years; and,
WHEREAS, Bill Nunn spent his childhood as a ballboy during Steelers training camp with Art Rooney II and later graduated from Schenley High School in 1970; and,
WHEREAS, Nunn attended Morehouse College in Atlanta where he met and became close friends with Spike Lee and began acting after being asked by a friend to audition for a play; and,
WHEREAS, his decision to audition would later pay off as he began his illustrious acting career in Atlanta and starred in Director Spike Lee’s 1988 film “School Daze;” and,
WHEREAS, one year later, Nunn earned his most prominent role in Spike Lee’s critically acclaimed “Do the Right Thing” as Radio Raheem, a boombox-toting Brooklyn resident who represented the endless battle between love and hate and the importance of community during a polarizing time, a message that still resonates today; and,
WHEREAS, throughout his career, Nunn developed a reputation of versatility both on screen and in theatre, starring in films such as “He Got Game,” “Regarding Henry,” “Sister Act,” and the “Spiderman” trilogy, and in the Broadway revival of “A Raisin in the Sun” among countless other plays; and,
WHEREAS, in 2008, he founded the Bill Nunn Theatre Outreach Project (BNTOP) to connect underserved young Pittsburghers with theatre professionals in an effort to promote appreciation for the arts, boost self-esteem, and build communication skills; and,
WHEREAS, a major component of the BNTOP is the annual August Wilson Monologue Competition, during which students are exposed to the works of legendary Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson and are given the opportunity to compete for scholarships to Point Park University for $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby honor the legacy and life of actor and philanthropist Bill Nunn and celebrate his commitment to his beloved hometown of Pittsburgh that still lives on today; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare October 20, 2016 to be “Bill Nunn Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.