Victor Moore

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Victor Moore in Nutty Knitters (1917)

Victor Frederick Moore (born February 24, 1876 in Hammonton , New Jersey , † July 23, 1962 in East Islip , New York ) was an American actor, comedian, director and writer.

Career

Victor Moore began his acting career in adolescence as a vaudeville actor, albeit with little success in the first few years. In January 1906 he made his debut on Broadway in the musical comedy Forty-five Minutes from Broadway , where he then played in other comedies. The trademark of the small, plump comedy actor was a mixture of tenacity and melancholy. In 1915 he made his film debut in the silent film Snobs and in the same year played the leading role in the comedy Chimmie Fadden, directed by Cecil B. DeMille . Perhaps the greatest success of his early film career was the drama The Clown (1916), this time directed by Cecil B. DeMille's older brother William . In the same year Moore tried his hand at directing In Society and Out , but it would be his only directorial work. After making numerous short films in 1917 and 1918, Moore returned to the theater. He appeared again on Broadway in the 1920s, starring in hit plays like Oh, Kay! (1927), Of Three I Sing (1931) and Let 'Em Eat Cake (1933). These pieces made Moore a theater star at the age of 50.

With the start of the sound film , Moore also continued his film career from 1930. He played mainly in comedies and musical films, especially often in the role of the comic old man. In 1936 he had a major supporting role at the side of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in their dance film Swing Time , directed by George Stevens . Mostly used in comedic roles, Moore's leading role in Leo McCarey's highly acclaimed film drama No Place for Parents (1937) was an exception: Here he played a strange but kind-hearted accountant who, because of his age, cannot find a new job and is now due to financial problems Woman has to live in painful separation. In 1952, Moore starred as a Justice of the Peace in the star-studded comedy We're Not Married at All . His last of over 70 film appearances was in Billy Wilder's comedy The Itchy 7th Year (1955) as a plumber who frees the stuck Marilyn Monroe from her bathtub.

In addition to his film and theater work, Moore was also regularly heard with Jimmy Durante on his radio show. After his last Broadway appearance in 1957, Moore increasingly withdrew into private life.

Personal life and honors

Victor Moore married the actress Emma Littlefield in 1902, with whom he formed a duo in show business for many years. Moore and Littlefield had three children: Victor Jr. (* 1910), Ora (* 1919) and Robert (* 1921). After Emma's death in 1934 Moore remarried, namely in 1942 at the age of 66, Shirley Paige, who was then only 22 years old. The marriage caused some excitement because of the age difference, but they remained married until Moore's death. He died of a heart attack in 1962 at the age of 86 and was buried in Cypress Hills Cemetery, Brooklyn .

The popular comedian was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame while he was still alive . Today a small street in Queens with a bus station and several shops is named after Moore, the The Victor Moore Arcade .

Filmography (selection)

Web links

Commons : Victor Moore  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Victor Moore | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos | AllMovie. Retrieved August 23, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Moore, Victor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Moore, Victor Frederick
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American actor, comedian, director, and writer
DATE OF BIRTH February 24, 1876
PLACE OF BIRTH Hammonton , New Jersey , USA
DATE OF DEATH July 23, 1962
Place of death East Islip , New York