Juanita Moore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Juanita Moore
1950s studio publicity shot
Born	(1914-10-19)October 19, 1914 Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	January 1, 2014 (aged 99) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Inglewood Park Cemetery
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1942–2001
Notable work	Imitation of Life (1959)

Juanita Moore (born October 19, 1914 – died January 1, 2014) was an American actress. She worked in movies, on TV, and on stage.

She made history as one of the first Black actors to be nominated for an Academy Award. She was the fifth Black actor ever nominated for any Oscar. She was also the third Black actor nominated for the Best Supporting Actress award. At that time, only one Black actor, Hattie McDaniel, had won an Oscar. Hattie McDaniel won for her role in Gone with the Wind (1939).

Juanita Moore's most famous role was Annie Johnson in the movie Imitation of Life (1959).

Juanita Moore's Early Life and Career

Moore as Annie Johnson in Imitation of Life (1959)

Juanita Moore was born in Greenwood, Mississippi. Her parents were Ella and Harrison Moore. She had seven brothers and sisters. Her family moved to Los Angeles as part of the Great Migration. This was a time when many African Americans moved from the Southern U.S. to other parts of the country.

Moore started her career as a dancer. She performed in a chorus line at the famous Cotton Club. Later, she became a film extra while also working in theater plays. An extra is someone who appears in a movie but doesn't have a speaking role.

Juanita Moore was also important in theater. She was the vice president of a group called the Original Cambridge Players. This group brought their play The Amen Corner to Broadway in New York City in 1965. She was good friends with famous people like Marlon Brando and James Baldwin. Moore even asked Brando to lend money to Baldwin so he could write the play.

Moore's first movie role was in Double Deal (1939). After that, she had many small parts and supporting roles in movies throughout the 1930s and 1950s.

Her Famous Role in Imitation of Life

Juanita Moore's performance in the 1959 movie Imitation of Life was very important. She played Annie Johnson, a Black housekeeper. Annie's daughter, Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner), tries to pass as white.

For this role, Moore was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award. These nominations showed how talented she was. When both versions of Imitation of Life (the 1934 and 1959 films) were released on DVD, a new interview with Juanita Moore was included.

Moore continued acting in movies and on TV. She appeared in Disney's The Kid (2000). She also had guest roles on popular TV shows like Dragnet, Adam-12, Marcus Welby, M.D., ER, and Judging Amy.

In 2010, a special screening of Imitation of Life (1959) was held in Los Angeles. Both Juanita Moore and her co-star Susan Kohner attended. They answered questions from the audience and received standing ovations.

Juanita Moore's Personal Life

Juanita Moore was married for 50 years to Charles Burris. He passed away in 2001. Charles was a bus driver in Los Angeles. They met when Juanita stepped in front of his bus! They got married just a few weeks later.

Her grandson is Kirk E. Kelleykahn. He is an actor and producer. Kirk is also the head of "Cambridge Players – Next Generation." This is a theater group that Juanita Moore helped to start.

Her Passing

Juanita Moore died at her home in Los Angeles on January 1, 2014. She was 99 years old. She passed away from natural causes. She is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

Partial Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Juanita Moore para niños