Background
Juanita Moore was born in Greenwood, Mississippi, the daughter of Ella (née Dunn) and Harrison Moore.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Juanita Moore
Edit ProfileCareer
Her most famous role was as Annie Johnson in the movie Imitation of Life (1959). Her family moved in the Great Migration to Los Angeles, where she was raised. Moore first performed as a dancer, part of a chorus girl at the Cotton Club before becoming a film extra while working in theater.
After making her film debut in Pinky (1949), Moore had a number of bit parts and supporting roles in motion pictures through the 1950s and 1960s.
When the two versions of Imitation of Life were released together on Digital Video Disc (the earlier film was released in 1934), one of the bonus features was a new interview with Juanita Moore. She played the nanny Mercé in the 1970 remake of the 1948 Mexican film Little Black Angels.
Moore continued to act for film and television, with a role in the movie Disney"s The Kid (2000), and guest-starring roles on television shows Dragnet, Adam-12, Marcus Welby, Doctor of Medicine, Emergency and Judging Amy. On April 23, 2010, a new print of Imitation of Life (1959) was screened at the Turner Classic Movies Film Festival in Los Angeles, an event to which both Moore and co-star Kohner were invited.
After the screening, the two women appeared on stage for a question-and-answer session hosted by TCM"s Robert Osborne.
Moore and Kohner received standing ovations.
Achievements
-
She was the fifth African American to be nominated for an Academy Award in any category, and the third in the Supporting Actress category at a time when only a single African American had won an Oscar. Her role in the remake of Imitation of Life (1959) as African-American housekeeper Annie Johnson, whose daughter Sarah Jane (Susan Kohner) passes for white, won her a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture for the role.
-
Born
-
Died
January 1, 2014 (aged 91) -
Nationality
United States