Rudy Ray Moore facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rudy Ray Moore
Moore in 2007
Born	Rudolph Frank Moore (1927-03-17)March 17, 1927 Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
Died	October 19, 2008(2008-10-19) (aged 81) Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian singer film producer
Years active	1948–2008

Rudolph Frank Moore (born March 17, 1927 – died October 19, 2008), known as Rudy Ray Moore, was an American comedian, singer, actor, and film producer. He became famous for his funny and often outrageous comedy routines. He was also well-known for creating the character "Dolemite."

Early Life and Beginnings

Rudy Ray Moore was born and grew up in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He later moved to Akron, Ohio, and then to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In Milwaukee, he worked as a preacher in churches and also as a dancer in nightclubs.

He returned to Akron and performed in clubs as a singer, dancer, and comedian. He often used the stage name Prince DuMarr. He joined the United States Army and served in an entertainment group in Germany. There, he was called the "Harlem Hillbilly" because he sang country songs in an R&B style. He found his love for comedy in the Army when he made his singing performances funnier for other soldiers.

After leaving the Army, he lived in Seattle, Washington, and then in Los Angeles. He kept working in clubs and was discovered by a music producer named Dootsie Williams. Between 1955 and 1962, he recorded rhythm and blues songs for several record labels. He also released his first comedy albums, including Below the Belt (1961) and The Beatnik Scene (1962).

Becoming Dolemite

The Rise of Dolemite Records

In 1970, Rudy Ray Moore was working at a record store in Los Angeles. He started hearing funny stories about a character named "Dolemite" from a local man. Moore began recording these stories. He then started performing as "Dolemite" in his club acts and on his records.

In 1970 and 1971, he recorded three albums using the Dolemite character. Moore was inspired by other famous comedians like Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor. His recordings were often made in his apartment with friends around, which made them sound like a fun party. These records became very popular among Black American communities through word of mouth.

Dolemite Movies and More Success

Moore in 2008

Moore used most of the money he earned from his records to make the movie Dolemite. Filming began in January 1974, and the movie was released across the country in April 1975. It became one of the most famous action-comedy movies of the 1970s.

The film was a big hit, and Moore made more movies afterward. These included The Human Tornado, The Monkey Hustle, and Petey Wheatstraw: The Devil's Son-in-Law. Moore continued to release comedy albums that were popular with his fans throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

Later Career Highlights

In the 1990s, Rudy Ray Moore appeared on albums by famous rappers like Big Daddy Kane and Method Man. He also showed up in a 1995 episode of the TV show Martin. He brought back his Dolemite character for the beginning of Busta Rhymes' album When Disaster Strikes....

In 2000, he played Dolemite again in the movie Big Money Hustlas. This film was made by the rap-rock group Insane Clown Posse. In 2006, Moore lent his voice to the TV show Sons of Butcher. His last recording was in 2008 for the song "I Live for the Funk." This song also featured Blowfly and was released 30 years after his movie Petey Wheatstraw.

Personal Life

Rudy Ray Moore never married.

Death

Rudy Ray Moore passed away on October 19, 2008, in Akron, Ohio. He died from problems related to diabetes. He was survived by his mother, two brothers, a sister, a daughter, and his grandchildren.

Legacy and Influence

Rudy Ray Moore is seen as a major influence by many later rap stars. For example, Snoop Dogg has said that Rudy Ray Moore was very important to his own career.

In 2018, a movie called Dolemite Is My Name was made about Rudy Ray Moore's life. Eddie Murphy starred as Moore in the film. It was released in 2019 and helped introduce Moore's story to a new generation. In 2022, a detailed book about his life, Thank You For Letting Me Be Myself: The Authorized Biography of Rudy Ray Moore aka Dolemite, was published.

Filmography

Images for kids

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  Moore in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Rudy Ray Moore para niños