Cleo Moore
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| Cleo Moore | |
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 Moore at the peak of her career (circa 1953) |
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| Born | Cleouna Moore October 31, 1924 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Died | October 28, 1973 (aged 48) Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Years active | 1948–1957 |
| Spouse | 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. She was known as Columbia Pictures's clone of 20th Century Fox's, Marilyn Monroe. Moore was a serious actress, sharing the title "Hollywood's Bad Girl" with another blonde actress, Mamie Van Doren.
Moore starred in movies such as One Girl's Confession (1953); The Other Woman (1954); Hold Back Tomorrow (1955); Over-Exposed (1956); and Hit and Run (1957) all of which showcased Moore as a serious, dedicated actress. These B-movie film noirs, earned Moore the nickname "Queen of the B-movie Film Noir". Moore retired from acting in 1957.
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[edit] Early life
Cleouna Moore was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and raised in nearby Gonzales, Louisiana.
[edit] Career
She made her film debut in 1948, playing a small role in Embraceable You. She also played a supporting role in Congo Bill and worked for Warner Brothers briefly in 1950. She worked for RKO Radio Pictures from 1950–52, making such films as Hunt the Man Down and Gambling House. She signed with Columbia Pictures in 1952. She first gained attention as a doomed gun moll in Nicholas Ray's film noir On Dangerous Ground in 1952.
Moore began starring in films in 1952. In 1953, she made one of her most remembered movies, One Girl's Confession, opposite Hugo Haas, who would direct and appear opposite her in several other films. She went on to complete Thy Neighbor's Wife (1953), and Bait (1954). After the completion of these films, Moore was dubbed: "Queen of the B-movie Film Noir".
In 1954, she starred in The Other Woman, playing a B-movie bit player, who strikes at her movie director for revenge, when he declines the offer for her to be in his picture. Upon completing a supporting role in Women's Prison, in 1955, Moore signed a brief deal with Universal Pictures, to play opposite John Agar once more in, Hold Back Tomorrow, also in 1955.
In 1956, she played in one of her final film appearances; the movie was called Over-Exposed, with Richard Crenna. The following year of 1957, Moore made her final film appearance in Hit and Run. The movie was as other Moore movies dark and mysterious. After the release of Hit and Run, Moore retired from acting, never to return.
During this period of 1950s Hollywood Moore was one of several buxom blondes to achieve notability following to 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 come to pass. She 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 been very briefly married in 1944 to Palmer Long, the youngest son of Louisiana kingmaker Huey Long.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
[edit] 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, three days before her 49th birthday. She had three sisters: Mari, Voni, and Jonnie. Moore is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.
[edit] Filmography
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