Constance Moore (January 18, 1920 or January 18, 1921Additional on April 23, 2017. – September 16, 2005) was an American singer and actress. Her most noted work was in wartime musicals such as ''

Show Business Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz or showbiz (since 1945), is a vernacular term for all aspects of the entertainment industry.''Oxford English Dictionary'' 2nd Ed. (1989) From the business side (including managers, agents, produce ...

'' and '' Atlantic City'' and the classic 1939 movie serial ''

Buck Rogers Buck Rogers is a science fiction adventure hero and feature comic strip created by Philip Francis Nowlan first appearing in daily US newspapers on January 7, 1929, and subsequently appearing in Sunday newspapers, international newspapers, books ...

'', in which she played Wilma Deering, the only female character in the serial.

Life and career

Moore was born in

Sioux City, Iowa Sioux City () is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County, ...

, but her family moved away when she was aged six months and spent most of her formative years in

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. She had at least two siblings, both sisters. She got a job as a singer in the 1930s with CBS radio. Her work impressed a scout from

Universal Studios Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Americ ...

and she signed a contract with the company. Among the stars she worked with was W. C. Fields in ''

You Can't Cheat an Honest Man ''You Can't Cheat an Honest Man'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by George Marshall and Edward F. Cline and starring W. C. Fields. Fields also wrote the story on which the film is based under the name Charles Bogle. Plot Circus propr ...

'' (1939). She appeared on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in the musical ''

By Jupiter ''By Jupiter'' is a musical with a book by Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers, music by Rodgers, and lyrics by Hart. The musical is based on the play ''The Warrior's Husband'' by Julian F. Thompson, set in the land of the Amazons. ''By Jupiter'' prem ...

''. Beginning in mid-1945, Moore starred with

Dennis O'Keefe Dennis O'Keefe (born Edward Vanes Flanagan, Jr., March 29, 1908 – August 31, 1968) was an American actor and writer. Early years Born in Fort Madison, Iowa, O'Keefe was the son of Edward Flanagan and Charlotte Flanagan, Irish vaudevill ...

on ''Hollywood Mystery Time'' on ABC radio. She retired from films in 1947 but made sporadic appearances over the next few decades. She appeared on a

USO The United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment, such as comedians, actors and musicians, social facilities, and other programs to members of the United States Armed F ...

tour with

Bob Hope Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was a British-American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer and dancer. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in Bob Hope filmography, more than 70 short and ...

and the Nicholas Brothers in 1951. She painted still lifes and in 1976 was the chairwoman for the Braille Institute Auxiliary in

Beverly Hills, California Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. A notable and historic suburb of Greater Los Angeles, it is in a wealthy area immediately southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. ...

. Moore guest starred as Doris in the episode "Just a Housewife" (1960) on the ABC sitcom, ''

The Donna Reed Show ''The Donna Reed Show'' is an American sitcom starring Donna Reed as the middle-class housewife Donna Stone. Carl Betz co-stars as her pediatrician husband Dr. Alex Stone, and Shelley Fabares and Paul Petersen as their teenage children, Mary ...

''. In the 1961–1962 season, Moore co-starred in ten episodes on CBS as

Robert Young Robert, Rob, Robbie, Bob, or Bobby Young may refer to: Academics * R. A. Young (Robert Arthur Young, 1871–1959), British physician * Robert J. C. Young (born 1950), British cultural critic and historian * Robert J. Young (born 1942), Canadian h ...

's romantic interest in his short-lived nostalgia series, ''

Window on Main Street ''Window on Main Street'' is an American comedy-drama television series starring Robert Young about an author who returns to his home town after an absence of many years to write about the people and events there. Original episodes aired from Oct ...

''.Terrace, Vincent (2011). ''Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010''. McFarland & Company, Inc. . P. 1182.

Personal life

At age 18, Moore married her agent, John Maschio, who died in 1998. The couple had two children, son Michael and daughter Gina. Moore was a Republican who campaigned for

Thomas Dewey Thomas Edmund Dewey (March 24, 1902 – March 16, 1971) was an American lawyer, prosecutor, and politician who served as the 47th governor of New York from 1943 to 1954. He was the Republican candidate for president in 1944 and 1948: althou ...

1944 Events Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix. January * January 2 – WWII: ** Free French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny is appointed to command French Army B, part of the Sixth United States Army Group in No ...

. Moore died September 16, 2005, of

heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome, a group of signs and symptoms caused by an impairment of the heart's blood pumping function. Symptoms typically include shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, ...

following a long illness. She was interred at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery,

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...

Filmography

* '' Prescription for Romance'' (1937) - Girl (uncredited) * '' You're a Sweetheart'' (1937) - (uncredited) * '' Border Wolves'' (1938) - Mary Jo Benton * '' Reckless Living'' (1938) - Girl Singer (uncredited) * '' The Crime of Doctor Hallet'' (1938) - Susan * ''

State Police State police, provincial police or regional police are a type of sub-national territorial police force found in nations organized as federations, typically in North America, South Asia, and Oceania. These forces typically have jurisdiction ...

'' (1938) - Helen Evans * ''

The Last Stand Last stand is a position against overwhelming odds. Last Stand or The Last Stand may also stand for: Film and TV Film * ''The Last Stand'' (1938 film), an American film directed by Joseph H. Lewis * ''The Last Stand'' (1984 film), a film about ...

'' (1938) - Nancy Drake * ''

Wives Under Suspicion ''Wives Under Suspicion'' is a 1938 American crime film based on a 1932 Ladislas Fodor play that was previously adapted into the film, '' The Kiss Before the Mirror''. This version was directed by James Whale and stars Warren William, Gail Pa ...

'' (1938) - Elizabeth * ''

Prison Break ''Prison Break'' is an American serial drama television series created by Paul Scheuring for Fox. The series revolves around two brothers, Lincoln Burrows ( Dominic Purcell) and Michael Scofield ( Wentworth Miller); Burrows has been sentenc ...

'' (1938) - Maria Shannon * ''

Letter of Introduction ''Letter of Introduction'' is a 1938 American comedy-drama film directed by John M. Stahl. In 1966, the film entered the public domain in the United States because the claimants did not renew its copyright registration in the 28th year after p ...

'' (1938) - Autograph Seeker (uncredited) * '' The Missing Guest'' (1938) - Stephanie Kirkland * ''

Freshman Year A freshman, fresher, first year, or frosh, is a person in the first year at an educational institution, usually a secondary school or at the college and university level, but also in other forms of post-secondary educational institutions. Ara ...

'' (1938) - Marian Stuart * ''

Swing That Cheer ''Swing That Cheer'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Harold D. Schuster and written by Charles Grayson and Lee Loeb. The film stars Tom Brown, Robert Wilcox, Constance Moore, Andy Devine, Samuel S. Hinds and Ernest Truex. The film ...

'' (1938) - Marian Stuart * ''

'' (1939) - Victoria Whipsnade * ''

'' (1939, Serial) - Wilma Deering * ''

Ex-Champ ''Ex-Champ'' is a 1939 American drama film, directed by Phil Rosen. It stars Victor McLaglen, Tom Brown, and Nan Grey, and was released on June 16, 1939. Cast list * Victor McLaglen as Tom Grey * Tom Brown as Bob Hill * Nan Grey as Joan Grey * ...

'' (1939) - Doris Courtney * ''

Mutiny on the Blackhawk ''Mutiny on the Blackhawk'' is a 1939 American adventure film, directed by Christy Cabanne. It stars Richard Arlen, Andy Devine, and Constance Moore, and was released on September 1, 1939. Cast list *Richard Arlen as Captain Robert Lawrence *A ...

'' (1939) - Helen Bailey * '' When Tomorrow Comes'' (1939) - Bride (uncredited) * ''

Hawaiian Nights ''Hawaiian Nights'' is a 1939 American romantic comedy film directed by Albert S. Rogell. Produced by Universal Pictures, the film was written by Charles Grayson and Lee Loeb. It stars Johnny Downs, Constance Moore, and Mary Carlisle. A snea ...

'' (1939) - Lonnie Lane * '' Laugh It Off'' (1939) - Ruth Spencer * '' Charlie McCarthy, Detective'' (1939) - Sheila Stuart * '' Framed'' (1940) - Phyllis Sanderson * ''

Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me "Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me", alternatively sung as "Ma, She's Making Eyes At Me", is a song published in 1921. The lyrics were by the American composer and comedian Sidney Clare, and the music was by the American songwriter and producer Con ...

'' (1940) - Connie Curtiss * ''

La Conga Nights ''La Conga Nights'' is a 1940 American comedy film directed by Lew Landers and written by Jay Dratler, Harry Clork and Paul Gerard Smith. The film stars Hugh Herbert, Dennis O'Keefe, Constance Moore, Ferike Boros, Eddie Quillan and Armida. ...

'' (1940) - Helen Curtiss * '' Argentine Nights'' (1940) - Bonnie Brooks * ''

I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now ''I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now'' is a 1940 American romantic comedy directed by Arthur Lubin and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Constance Moore and Helen Parrish. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Plot Football player Tod Lowell is ...

'' (1940) - Betty Gilbert * ''

Las Vegas Nights ''Las Vegas Nights'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Ernest Pagano, Harry Clork and Eddie Welch. The film stars Phil Regan, Bert Wheeler, Constance Moore, Virginia Dale, Lillian Cornell, Betty Brewer ...

'' (1941) - Norma Jennings * ''

I Wanted Wings ''I Wanted Wings'' is a 1941 American drama film directed by Mitchell Leisen and based on a book by Lieutenant Beirne Lay Jr. The film stars Ray Milland and William Holden. The supporting cast includes Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris ...

'' (1941) - Carolyn Bartlett * '' Buy Me That Town'' (1941) - Virginia Paradise * '' Take a Letter, Darling'' (1942) - Ethel Caldwell * ''

'' (1944) - Constance Ford * '' Atlantic City'' (1944) - Marilyn Whitaker * ''

Delightfully Dangerous ''Delightfully Dangerous'' is a 1945 American musical film directed by Arthur Lubin showcasing teenage singer Jane Powell—in her second film on loan out to United Artists from MGM—and orchestra leader Morton Gould. The working titles of this ...

'' (1945) - Josephine 'Jo' Williams / Bubbles Barton * '' Earl Carroll Vanities'' (1945) - Drina * '' Mexicana'' (1945) - Alison Calvert * ''

In Old Sacramento ''In Old Sacramento'' is a 1946 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and written by Frances Hyland and Frank Gruber. The film stars Wild Bill Elliott, Constance Moore, Henry H. Daniels Jr., Ruth Donnelly, Eugene Pallette and Jack ...

'' (1946) - Belle Malone * '' Earl Carroll Sketchbook'' (1946) - Pamela Thayer * '' Hit Parade of 1947'' (1947) - Ellen Baker

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Constance Actresses from Iowa Actresses from Texas American film actresses American television actresses Burials at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery Actors from Sioux City, Iowa People from Dallas 20th-century American singers 1920s births 2005 deaths California Republicans 20th-century American women singers 20th-century American actresses Universal Pictures contract players 21st-century American women