Gilbert Moses (August 20 1942 - April 15 1995) was an American stage, screen, and television director.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Moses was the co-founder of the Free Southern Theater company, an important pioneer of African-American theatre. His 1971 Broadway debut, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death, won him a Tony Award nomination and the Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Director. In 1976, he and George Faison teamed to co-direct and choreograph the ill-fated Alan Jay Lerner-Leonard Bernstein musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which closed after seven performances.
Moses' off-Broadway work as a director won him an Obie Award for Amiri Baraka's Slave Ship (1969) and the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award for The Taking of Miss Janie (1975). Among Moses' television credits are Benson, The Paper Chase, Law & Order, several episodes of the mini-series Roots, and a number of television movies. His only feature films were Willie Dynamite (1974) and The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh (1979).
Moses was married twice, to actresses Denise Nicholas and Dee Dee Bridgewater, and had two daughters, Tsia and China. He died of multiple myeloma in New York City.
Father of Tsia Moses (associate producer, The Chappelle Show) and China Moses (recording artist).
Was nominated for Broadway's 1972 Tony Award as Best Director (Musical) for "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death."
