Dickie Moore

Dickie Moore was born John Richard Moore, Jr. was born on September 12^th, 1925 in Los Angeles California and one of the original child stars of the big screen. Moore made his acting debut before reaching toddlerhood, appearing in the 1927 John Barrymore film The Beloved Rogue at the age of eighteen months. He quickly became a common face on the big screen of the next few years, appearing on average over 6 short films a year. He joined the 1932/33 cast of the popular Our Gang series and then went on to the graduate to the feature film world.

In 1933 he appeared in what is probably considered his most remembered work, staring as the titular character in the big screen adaption of Oliver Twist. He continued to act all of his childhood, appearing in films such as The Life of Emile Zola, Madame, and Sergeant York. In 1942 he shared his first onscreen kiss with the most famed of all child stars, Shirley Temple, in the film Miss Annie Roonie. The year he would appear as the teenaged Henry Van Cleve in Heaven Can Wait. During this time, Moore enlist as a private in the U.S Army and then went to major in journal at college.  In 1949 he produced, starred, and co-directed the Oscar nominated short film Boy and the Eagle.

The transition between child star to teenaged actor would prove to be difficult. As Moore entered adulthood, his on screen appeal began to wane and by the 1950's he retired from the silver screen. Although quit acting, Moore remained busy organizing behind the screen. He became the editor of the Actors Equity and served as part of the public relations counsel. Moore published the book Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (But Don't Have Sex in the Car in 1984. In the book Moore interviews 31 child stars about the difficulties with transition from child star to adulthood with many speaking of their struggles with addiction, relationships, and their fragile mental states. In 1988 he married fellow child star, Jane Powell. Today he remains with Powell, who states Moore lapses into moments of dementia.