Author of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star (But Don't Have Sex or Take the Car)" in which he interviewed 31 ex-child actors, more than half of whom fund their adult lives beset by alcoholism, nervous breakdowns, or failed first marriages. [1984]
Born at 3:15am-PDT
Co-produced and co-directed and acted in a two-reel short subject called Boy and the Eagle (1949) that earned an Oscar nomination.
Did not meet Jane Powell, his future wife, until 1981 when he was researching his book on child stars, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
He recalled that the much-publicized scene in Miss Annie Rooney (1942) in which he kisses Shirley Temple was extremely embarrassing for him, inasmuch as it was the first time he had ever kissed any girl; conversely, in her autobiography, Temple cheekily pointed out that it most certainly wasn't her first time, and that she breezed through the scene with her customary professional aplomb.
In 1957 he accepted the newly designed post of public relations director of Actors Equity. In 1964 he left to form his own public relations firm, Dick Moore Associates.
One of the Little Rascals for just a year (1932-1933), his closest friend on the set was Stymie. He left the Rascals at age 8 to seek greener pastures--feature films.
Quit acting at the age of 29 after making over 100 movies. He became involved with Actors Equity and became editor of their magazine and eventually became a part of the public relations counsel. In later years he formed his own public relations office and edited the journal of AFTRA, producing industrial shows and supervising other accounts.
Served in World War II and attended college majoring in journalism.