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Tag: african american actress

  • Juanita Moore, Academy Nominee, Deceased at 99

    One of Hollywood’s most renowned actresses has passed away.

    Juanita Moore, an Academy Award Nominee, collapsed and died Wednesday January 1 at her home in Los Angeles. According to her grandson, Kirk Kelleykahn, she was 99 years of age.

    Moore first got her foot in the door in the 1949 film, “Pinky.”

    Some of her other respected career achievements include:

    • 1950s- Stardom at black-owned Los Angeles’ Ebony Showcase Theatre.
    • 1965- Broadway appearances in the play production of “The Amen Corner.”
    • 1973- A Motherly role in “The Mack.”
    • 2000- Her grandmother role in “The Kid.”
    • Most currently- TV appearances on “Judging Amy” and  “ER.”

    However, Moore was better known for her groundbreaking performance in the 1959 film, “Imitation of Life,” making her the fifth African-American entertainer to be nominated for an Oscar.

    Unlike her other films where she played a typical nurse or housemaid, Moore’s character finally opened the door for better roles in her acting career.  She has said that her role in the heartfelt film touched her more than any other character she has portrayed.

    “I cried a lot in the making of this movie because it was real easy for me to cry,” she said. “I had a lot to cry about. Conditions for black actors were unbelievable back then. Very few actors got the opportunity to hone their craft in the same way white actors did.”

    Yet, Moore said her recognition for the award was a little off considering the fact that she previously landed numerous roles before the nomination.

    “The Oscar prestige was fine, but I worked more before I was nominated. Casting directors think an Oscar nominee is suddenly in another category. They couldn’t possibly ask you to do one or two days’ work. You wouldn’t accept it. And I’m sure I would,” Moore said.

    Her legacy continues to live on through Kelleykahn, who is also an actor and the CEO of the Cambridge group.

    Moore leaves behind her grandson and two nephews.

    Images via Youtube, Brave T.V 

  • Juanita Moore, Oscar Nominated Actress, Dies At Age 99

    Juanita Moore may not have gained the fame that other actresses of her time did, but she was an actress that appeared in several films, and even earned an Oscar nomination.

    She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Imitation of Life.

    She died in her home in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The news was reported by actor Kirk Kellykahn, saying that she collapsed and died at the age of 99, although accounts of her age have varied over the years.

    Kirk Kellykahn is Moore’s grandson, and she is survived by him in addition to her two nephews. She was the widow of Charles Buris.

    The veteran actress was born in Los Angeles, and got her start in show business as a chorus girl at New York’s Cotton Club, before joining the Ebony theater.

    Imitation Of Life, released in 1959, allowed her to become the fifth black performer to be nominated for an Oscar, a film that became a big hit, and later gained a cult following. The film tells the story of a struggling white actress’ rise to stardom, her friendship with a black woman and how they team up to raise their daughters as single mothers.

    In addition to Imitation Of Life, Juanita Moore appeared in several films and television shows. Her first film appearance was as a nurse in the 1949 film Pinky.

    As with other African American actresses at the time, Juanita Moore was forced to play maids in several of her early films. She also appeared in The Girl Can’t Help It, The Singing Nun, Paternity and The Kid. Her television credits included The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Adam-12, Judging Amy, and ER.

    Juanita Moore’s last acting credit came in 2000 with the film The Kid. Although she will always be remembered for her role as a housekeeper in Imitation Of Life, she appeared in over 30 films throughout her career, and was often seen in strong supporting roles.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons