Juanita Moore
About
Biography
Filmography
Notes
"The Apollo Theater [in Harlem] marquee had on it: "Imitation of Life" starring Juanita Moore. I thought Lana [Turner] would have a fit if she saw that." --Juanita Moore to Los Angeles Times, July 9, 2000
Biography
A former Cotton Club chorus girl. Los Angeles native Juanita Moore began her career as a film extra, later honing her craft in local stage productions at the Ebony Showcase, Theater. In 1949, she made her feature film debut in "Pinky," playing a nurse. She spent the better part of the next decade trapped in mostly stereotypical roles as domestics until landing the breakthrough part of Annie Johnson, the hard-working housekeeper to actress Lora Meredith in the glossy Douglas Sirk-directed remake of "Imitation of Life" (1959). Moore excelled as Annie, whose light-skinned daughter attempted to deny her roots by passing for Caucasian, and the actress received a well-deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. After a late-career resurgence as a character actress on television, Juanita Moore died at the age of 99 in 2013.
As with any so-called "minority" performer, though, Moore initially found finding suitable follow-up roles difficult. She landed supporting turns in "Tammy, Tell Me True" (1961) and "Papa's Delicate Condition" (1963). In 1966, she was one of the titular character's fellow religious in "The Singing Nun." With the advent of the black-themed films in the late 60s and early 70s, Moore saw some improvement in the types of parts in which she was cast. Mostly, she undertook matriarchal roles in movies like "Uptight" (1968), a loose remake of 1935's "The Informer," "The Mack" (1973) and "Abby" (1974). Her appearances tapered off in the 1980s as she cared for her ill spouse, Charles Burris. At a time when many in her profession might consider retirement, Moore renewed her career returning to movies after a dozen years in the small role of a wise and warm, advice-dispensing grandmother in "Disney's The Kid" (2000). Following Burris's death in 2001, Moore went on to land guest parts on such high profile TV shows like "ER" and "Judging Amy." Juanita Moore died at her home in Los Angeles on December 31, 2013 at the age of 99.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1949
Film debut as a nurse in "Pinky"
1952
Acted in "Lydia Bailey", a drama set in 19th-century Haiti
1959
Breakthrough screen role as Annie Johnson, the hard-working, widowed housekeeper to actress Lora Meredith (Lana Turner) in "Imitation of Life"; received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination
1965
Was one of the title character's fellow sisters in "The Singing Nun"
1969
Appeared in the TV movie "The Whole World Is Watching" (NBC)
1971
Cast in a supporting role in the underrated "Skin Game"
1973
Acted in "The Mack"
1973
Co-starred in "A Dream for Christmas", an unsold ABC pilot for a series about a black family; created by Earl Hamner
1977
Appeared in "Joey"
1981
Had featured role in "Paternity"
1988
Last film for 12 years, "Two Moon Junction"
2000
Resumed acting career with small role in "Disney's The Kid"
Videos
Movie Clip
Trailer
Bibliography
Notes
"The Apollo Theater [in Harlem] marquee had on it: "Imitation of Life" starring Juanita Moore. I thought Lana [Turner] would have a fit if she saw that." --Juanita Moore to Los Angeles Times, July 9, 2000
