Robert Moore (February 1, 1927 – May 10, 1984) was an American stage, film and television director and actor.

Biography

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Moore studied at the Catholic University of America Drama Department under Gilbert V. Hartke. He is best known for his direction of the ground-breaking play '' The Boys in the Band'', his Broadway productions (which garnered him five

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

nominations), and his collaborations - three plays and three films - with

Neil Simon Marvin Neil Simon (July 4, 1927 – August 26, 2018) was an American playwright, screenwriter and author. He wrote more than 30 plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly film adaptations of his plays. He has received mo ...

, including the detective spoofs ''

Murder By Death ''Murder by Death'' is a 1976 American comedy mystery film directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon. The film stars Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, M ...

'' and ''

The Cheap Detective ''The Cheap Detective'' is a 1978 American mystery comedy film written by Neil Simon and directed by Robert Moore. It stars Peter Falk as Lou Peckinpaugh, a parody of Humphrey Bogart. The film is a parody of Bogart films such as '' Casablan ...

''. As an actor, he played a disabled gay man opposite

Liza Minnelli Liza May Minnelli ( ; born March 12, 1946) is an American actress, singer, dancer, and choreographer. Known for her commanding stage presence and powerful alto singing voice, Minnelli is among a rare group of performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy ...

in the 1970 drama '' Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon'', appeared in two episodes of Valerie Harper's sitcom ''

Rhoda ''Rhoda'' is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns starring Valerie Harper that originally aired on CBS for five seasons from September 9, 1974, to December 9, 1978. It was the first spin-off of ''The Mary Tyl ...

'' (for which he also directed 26 episodes), in one episode of ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Moo ...

'' (as Phyllis' gay brother) and was a regular on

Diana Rigg Dame Enid Diana Elizabeth Rigg (20 July 193810 September 2020) was an English actress of stage and screen. Her roles include Emma Peel in the TV series '' The Avengers'' (1965–1968); Countess Teresa di Vicenzo, wife of James Bond, in ''On H ...

's short-lived 1973 sitcom ''Diana''. His other television directing credits include ''

The Bob Newhart Show ''The Bob Newhart Show'' is an American sitcom television series produced by MTM Enterprises that aired on CBS from September 16, 1972, to April 1, 1978, with a total of 142 half-hour episodes over six seasons. Comedian Bob Newhart portrays a p ...

'' and the 1976 production of ''

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' is a three-act play written by Tennessee Williams. An adaptation of his 1952 short story "Three Players of a Summer Game", the play was written by him between 1953 and 1955. One of Williams's more famous works and his p ...

'' with

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood ( Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles. Wood started acting at age four and was given a co-starring r ...

Robert Wagner Robert John Wagner Jr. (born February 10, 1930) is an American actor of stage, screen, and television. He is known for starring in the television shows '' It Takes a Thief'' (1968–1970), ''Switch'' (1975–1978), and '' Hart to Hart'' (1979� ...

Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the British stage ...

, and Maureen Stapleton. Moore died of AIDS-related pneumonia in New York City on May 10, 1984.

Work

;Theatre *'' Promises, Promises'' (1968) *''

The Last of the Red Hot Lovers ''Last of the Red Hot Lovers'' is a comedy by Neil Simon. It premiered on Broadway in 1969. Production The play opened on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on December 28, 1969, and closed on September 4, 1971, after 706 performances and si ...

'' (1969) *'' The Gingerbread Lady'' (1970) *''

Lorelei The Lorelei ( ; ), spelled Loreley in German, is a , steep slate rock on the right bank of the River Rhine in the Rhine Gorge (or Middle Rhine) at Sankt Goarshausen in Germany, part of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley UNESCO World Heritage Site. Th ...

'' (1974) *''

My Fat Friend ''My Fat Friend'' is a play by Charles Laurence. Plot The comedy is an ugly duckling tale about an overweight young woman who attracts the attention of a potential suitor. With the help of her friends/roommates, she undergoes a diet and exercise ...

'' (1974) *'' Deathtrap'' (1978) *'' They're Playing Our Song'' (1979) *'' Woman of the Year'' (1981)

Filmography

;Film *''

Murder by Death ''Murder by Death'' is a 1976 American comedy mystery film directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon. The film stars Eileen Brennan, Truman Capote, James Coco, Peter Falk, Alec Guinness, Elsa Lanchester, David Niven, Peter Sellers, M ...

'' (1976) *''

'' (1978) *'' Chapter Two'' (1979) ;Television * '' Diana'' (1973) – TV series *''

Thursday's Game ''Thursday's Game'' (also known as ''The Berk'') is a 1974 American made-for-television comedy film starring Gene Wilder and Bob Newhart, written by James L. Brooks and directed by Robert Moore. Though filmed in 1971, it was originally broadc ...

'' (1974) – TV movie * ''

'' (1974) – TV series * ''

'' (1974–1975) – TV series * ''Don't Call Us'' (1976) – TV movie * ''

'' (1976) – TV movie * ''There's Always Room'' (1977) – TV movie * ''

The Sunshine Boys ''The Sunshine Boys'' is an original two-act play written by Neil Simon that premiered December 20, 1972 on Broadway starring Jack Albertson as Willie Clark and Sam Levene as Al Lewis and later adapted for film and television. Plot The pla ...

'' (1977) – TV movie * ''The Natural Look'' (1977) – TV movie * ''Annie Flynn'' (1978) – TV movie * '' It's Not Easy'' (1983) – TV series ;Actor * '' Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon'' (1970) – Warren * ''

'' (1973) – Ben Sutherland (1 episode) * '' Diana'' (1973) – Marshall Tyler (7 episodes) * ''

'' (1974–1976) – Lowell Snyder; Mr. Graham (2 episodes)

Awards and nominations

;Awards * 1968 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play – ''The Boys in the Band'' ;Nominations * 1969 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – ''Promises, Promises'' * 1970 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – ''Last of the Red Hot Lovers'' * 1978 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Play – ''Deathtrap'' * 1979 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – ''They're Playing Our Song'' * 1981 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – ''Woman of the Year''

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Robert 1927 births 1984 deaths American film directors LGBT film directors LGBT television directors LGBT theatre directors American television directors American theatre directors AIDS-related deaths in New York (state) American gay actors 20th-century LGBT people