Cleo Moore
- This article is about a Movie Star
| Cleo Moore | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Birth name | Cleouna Moore | |
| Born | Oct 31, 1924 Baton Rouge, LA USA | |
| Died | Oct 28, 1973 - age 48 Inglewood, CA USA | |
| Years active | 1948-1957 | |
| Spouse(s) | Palmer Long (1944, six weeks) Herbert Heftler (1961-1973) | |
Cleouna "Cleo" Moore (October 31, 1924 - October 28, 1973) was an American actress, usually seen in the role of a blonde bombshell, in 1950s Hollywood films.
Early life
Cleouna Moore was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and raised in nearby Gonzales, Louisiana.
Career
She made her film debut in the 1948 movie serial Congo Bill, and worked for Warner Bros. in 1950 and for RKO Pictures in 1950-52 before signing with Columbia Pictures in 1952. She first gained attention as a doomed gun moll on Nicholas Ray's film noir On Dangerous Ground in 1951.
Moore began starring in films in 1952. Her films include One Girl's Confession (1953), Women's Prison (1955), Hold Back Tomorrow (1955), Over-Exposed (1956) and Hit and Run (1957). She was often starred in films directed by actor/director Hugo Haas and appeared opposite John Agar, Richard Crenna, Vince Edwards, and Robert Ryan among other actors.
During this period Moore was one of several buxom blondes to achieve notability following Marilyn Monroe's major breakthrough, the others including Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Diana Dors, Sheree North, and Barbara Nichols. In the mid-1950s Columbia considered starring Moore in a film biography on Jean Harlow's life but the project did not eventuate.
Moore made headlines with several publicity stunts, notably a five-minute kiss on live Chicago television in 1954 and her tongue-in-cheek pledge to one day run for Governor of Louisiana, having once been married to the youngest son of Huey Long, Palmer.
Moore began attracting a cult following in the 1980s with the airings of her bad girl movies on television and particularly in movie collectors circles via vintage posters and memorabilia issued for her films. Sony Pictures released three Moore titles Over-Exposed, One Girl's Confession, and Women's Prison in a DVD set entitled Bad Girls of Film Noir Volume II. The set also included as a bonus feature a 1954 television drama starring Moore.
Personal life
Moore found success as a businesswoman as a real estate developer after her screen career ended in the late 1950s. She had been out of the limelight for many years when she died in her sleep at home. Moore had three sisters Mari, Voni, and Jonnie. She is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.
References
- Cleo Moore: B Movie Queen
- Cleo Moore at All Music Guide
- Cleo Moore at the Internet Movie Database
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