Thomas J. Moore (May 1, 1883 – February 12, 1955) was an Irish-American actor and director. He appeared in at least 186

motion pictures A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

from 1908 to 1954. Frequently cast as the romantic lead, he starred in

silent movies A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

as well as in some of the first

talkies A sound film is a motion picture with synchronization, synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decad ...

. Born in Fordstown Crossroads in May 1883 ,

County Meath County Meath (; gle, Contae na Mí or simply ) is a county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Ireland, within the province of Leinster. It is bordered by Dublin to the southeast, Louth to the northeast, Kildare to the south, Offaly to the ...

, Moore, along with his brothers, Owen, Matt, and Joe, and their sister Mary (1890–1919), he emigrated to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

as a steerage passenger on board the S.S. ''Anchoria'' and was inspected on

Ellis Island Ellis Island is a federally owned island in New York Harbor, situated within the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, that was the busiest immigrant inspection and processing station in the United States. From 1892 to 1954, nearly 12 m ...

in May 1896 . Owen and Matt also had successful movie careers. Tom Moore appeared in his first silent motion picture in 1908. He also directed 17 motion pictures in 1914 and 1915, including ''The Secret Room'' (1915).

Personal life

In 1914, he married silent

star A star is an astronomical object comprising a luminous spheroid of plasma held together by its gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun. Many other stars are visible to the naked eye at night, but their immense distances from Earth make ...

Alice Joyce Alice Joyce Brown ( Joyce; October 1, 1890 – October 9, 1955) was an American actress who appeared in more than 200 films during the 1910s and 1920s. She is known for her roles in the 1923 film '' The Green Goddess'' and its 1930 remake of ...

, with whom he had a daughter, Alice Moore (1916–1960), who acted in six films with her father from 1934 to 1937. While in New York City on New Year's Eve 1920, Moore met the young French actress

Renée Adorée Renée Adorée (born Jeanne de la Fonte; 30 September 1898 – 5 October 1933) was a French stage and film actress who appeared in Hollywood silent movies during the 1920s. She is best known for portraying the role of Melisande, the love intere ...

. A whirlwind romance ensued and six weeks after their meeting, they were married, on February 12, 1921, in his home in

Beverly Hills 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. ...

. The marriage lasted only a few years. In 1931, Moore was married a third time, to actress Eleanor Merry. His brother,

Owen Moore Owen Moore (12 December 1886 – 9 June 1939) was an Irish-born American actor, appearing in more than 279 movies spanning from 1908 to 1937. Early life and career Moore was born in Fordstown Crossroads, County Meath, Ireland. Along with his ...

, was also an actor, and was married to

Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...

. The Great Depression saw many studios close and much consolidation as the motion picture industry went through tough times. Moore retired from the screen in the mid-1930s. Ten years later, he returned to act in minor supporting roles. Tom Moore died of cancer at age 71 in

Santa Monica, California Santa Monica (; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Santa Mónica'') is a city in Los Angeles County, California, Los Angeles County, situated along Santa Monica Bay on California's South Coast (California), South Coast. Santa Monica's 2020 United Sta ...

. He has a star on the

Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...

at 1640 Vine Street.

Selected filmography

*'' The Christmas Burglars'' (1908, Short) - Customer *'' The Helping Hand'' (1908, Short) - Man in Office / Wedding Guest *'' The Criminal Hypnotist'' (1909, Short) - Party Guest *''

The Vampire's Trail The Vampire's Trail is a 1914 American silent drama film directed by T. Hayes Hunter and Robert G. Vignola and written by Benjamin Barondess, T. Hayes Hunter Thomas Hayes Hunter (December 1, 1884 – April 14, 1944) was an American film d ...

'' (1914, Short) - Horace Payne - a Wealthy Broker *''The Judge's Wife'' (1914) - Mr. Johnson *''Dollars and the Woman'' (1916) - Dan Hilyer *''

The Primrose Ring ''The Primrose Ring'' is a novel by Ruth Sawyer, published first in 1915 and illustrated by Fanny Munsell. This was Sawyer's first published novel. She later wrote the 1937 Newbery Medal winner ''Roller Skates''. Film adaptation The novel was a ...

'' (1917) - Bob MacLean *''

The Jaguar's Claws ''The Jaguar's Claws'' is a 1917 American Western silent film directed by Marshall Neilan and written by William M. McCoy, Beatrice DeMille and Leighton Osmun. The film stars Sessue Hayakawa, Fritzi Brunette, Tom Moore, Marjorie Daw, Tom For ...

'' (1917) - Phil Jordan *'' The Lesson'' (1917) - Chet Vernon *''

Little Miss Optimist ''Little Miss Optimist'' is a 1917 American silent film, silent drama film directed by Robert Thornby and written by Gardner Hunting. The film stars Vivian Martin, Tom Moore (actor), Tom Moore, Charles West (actor), Charles West, Ernest Joy, Char ...

'' (1917) - Deal Hendrie *'' The Wild Girl'' (1917) - Donald MacDonald *''

The Cinderella Man James Walter Braddock (June 7, 1905 – November 29, 1974) was an American boxer who was the world heavyweight champion from 1935 to 1937. Fighting under the name James J. Braddock (ostensibly to follow the pattern set by two prior world boxing ...

'' (1917) - Anthony Quintard *''

Dodging a Million ''Dodging a Million'' is a 1918 American comedy film starring Mabel Normand and Tom Moore, directed by George Loane Tucker, written by A. M. Kennedy, Edgar Selwyn, and Loane, and photographed by Oliver T. Marsh. The black and white silent film wa ...

'' (1918) - Jack Forsythe *'' Go West, Young Man'' (1918) - Dick Latham *''

The Floor Below ''The Floor Below'' is an American silent film starring Mabel Normand, Tom Moore and Helen Dahl. It was long thought lost, until a print was found "in the estate of a Dutch collector" by the Nederlands Filmmuseum.The Danger Game'' (1918) - Jimmy Gilpin *'' The Fair Pretender'' (1918) - Don Meredith *'' Just for Tonight'' (1918) - Theodore Whitney Jr. *''

The Kingdom of Youth ''The Kingdom of Youth'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Clarence G. Badger and starring Madge Kennedy, Tom Moore and Marie De Wolfe.McCaffrey & Jacobs p.124 The film's sets were designed by the art director Hugo Ballin. Ca ...

'' (1918) - Jimmy Betts *'' Thirty a Week'' (1918) - Dan Murray *'' Brown of Harvard'' (1918) - Tom Brown *'' A Man and His Money'' (1919) - Harry Lathrop * ''

One of the Finest ''One of the Finest'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore, Seena Owen and Peaches Jackson.Langman p.396 Cast * Tom Moore as Larry Hayes * Seena Owen as Frances Hudson * Peaches Jackson as ...

'' (1919) - Larry Hayes *'' The City of Comrades'' (1919) - Frank Melbury * '' Heartsease'' (1919) - Eric Temple *'' Lord and Lady Algy'' (1919) - Lord Algy *''

Toby's Bow ''Toby's Bow'' is a 1919 American silent drama film directed by Harry Beaumont and starring Tom Moore, Doris Pawn, Macey Harlam, Arthur Housman, Colin Kenny, and Augustus Phillips. It is based on the 1919 play of the same name by John Taintor ...

'' (1919) - Tom Blake *'' The Gay Lord Quex'' (1919) - The Marquis of Quex *'' Duds'' (1920) - Phoebe Plunkett * '' The Great Accident'' (1920) - Wint Chase *'' Stop Thief!'' (1920) - Jack Dougan *'' Officer 666'' (1920) - Travers Gladwyn *''

Hold Your Horses "Hold your horses", sometimes said as "Hold the horses", is an English-language idiom meaning " wait, slow down". The phrase is historically related to horse riding or travelling by horse, or driving a horse-drawn vehicle. A number of explanatio ...

'' (1921) - Daniel Canavan *''

Made in Heaven ''Made in Heaven'' is the fifteenth studio album by the British rock band Queen, released on 6 November 1995 by Parlophone Records in the United Kingdom and by Hollywood Records in the United States. It was the band's first and only release s ...

'' (1921) - William Lowry *'' Beating the Game'' (1921) - 'Fancy Charlie' *'' From the Ground Up'' (1921) - Terence Giluley *'' Mr. Barnes of New York'' (1922) - Mr. Barnes *'' Over the Border'' (1922) - Sgt. Flaherty *'' The Cowboy and the Lady'' (1922) - Teddy North *''

Pawned A pawnbroker is an individual or business (pawnshop or pawn shop) that offers secured loans to people, with items of personal property used as collateral. The items having been ''pawned'' to the broker are themselves called ''pledges'' or ...

'' (1922) - John Bruce *'' The Harbour Lights'' (1923) - Lieutenant David Kingsley *''

Mary of the Movies ''Mary of the Movies'' is a 1923 American silent semi-autobiographical comedy film based on the career of Marion Mack. It was written by Mack and her husband Louis Lewyn, and stars Mack and Creighton Hale. Hale and director John McDermott pl ...

'' (1923) - Himself (uncredited) *''

Marriage Morals ''Marriage Morals'' is a 1923 American silent romantic drama film directed by William Nigh and starring Tom Moore, Ann Forrest and Harry T. Morey.Munden p.494 Cast * Tom Moore as Young Harry Ryan * Ann Forrest as Mary Gardner * Russell Gr ...

'' (1923) - Young Harry Ryan *''

Rouged Lips ''Rouged Lips'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Harold M. Shaw and starring Viola Dana, Tom Moore, and Nola Luxford. It is based in the story ''Upstage'' by Rita Weiman which appeared in ''Cosmopolitan Magazine ''Cosmopol ...

'' (1923) - James Patterson III *'' Big Brother'' (1923) - Jimmy Donovan *'' Manhandled'' (1924) - Jim Hogan *''

One Night in Rome ''One Night in Rome'' is a 1924 American silent drama film starring Laurette Taylor. The film was directed by Clarence G. Badger and written by J. Hartley Manners, Ms. Taylor's husband, based upon his play of the same name. Laurette Taylor was ...

'' (1924) - Richard Oak *'' Dangerous Money'' (1924) - Tim Sullivan *''

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extr ...

'' (1925) - David Sheldon *'' On Thin Ice'' (1925) - Charles White *'' Pretty Ladies'' (1925) - Al Cassidy *'' Under the Rouge'' (1925) - Whitey *'' The Trouble with Wives'' (1925) - William Hyatt *'' A Kiss for Cinderella'' (1925) - Policeman *''

The Song and Dance Man ''The Song and Dance Man'' is a 1926 American silent comedy drama film produced by Famous Players-Lasky and released through Paramount Pictures. It is based on a play by George M. Cohan and was directed by Herbert Brenon. A copy of the film is ...

'' (1926) - Happy Farrell *'' Good and Naughty'' (1926) - Gerald Gray *'' The Clinging Vine'' (1926) - Jimmie Bancroft *''

Syncopating Sue ''Syncopating Sue'' is a 1926 American silent romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace and starring Corinne Griffith and Tom Moore. It is based on a 1924 Broadway play, ''Ashes'' by Regianld Goode. Cast Preservation With no copies o ...

'' (1926) - Eddie Murphy *''

Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dinin ...

'' (1927) - Tom Westcott *'' The Love Thrill'' (1927) - Jack Sturdevant *'' The Wise Wife'' (1927) - John Blaisdell *'' The Siren'' (1927) - Peter Dane *'' Anybody Here Seen Kelly?'' (1928) - Pat Kelly *'' His Last Haul'' (1928) - Joe Hammond *'' The Yellowback'' (1929) - O'Mara *'' Side Street'' (1929) - Jimmy O'Farrell *''

The Woman Racket ''The Woman Racket'' is an extant 1930 Pre-Code talking film produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Tom Moore and Blanche Sweet. It is based on a 1928 Broadway play, ''Night Hostess'' by Philip Dunning. In January 2012 the ...

'' (1930) - Tom *'' The Costello Case'' (1930) - Mahoney *'' The Last Parade'' (1931) - Mike O'Dowd *'' Stout Hearts and Willing Hands'' (1931, Short) - Lookalike Bartender 2 *'' Cannonball Express'' (1932) - John Logan *'' Men Are Such Fools'' (1932) - Tom Hyland * '' Neighbors' Wives'' (1933) - John McGrath *'' Bombay Mail'' (1934) - Civil Surgeon *'' The Dark Angel'' (1935) - Hunt Guest (uncredited) *'' Robin Hood of El Dorado'' (1936) - Sheriff Hannan (uncredited) *'' Trouble for Two'' (1936) - Major O'Rook *'' Parole!'' (1936) - Carmody (uncredited) *'' The Girl on the Front Page'' (1936) - Brace (uncredited) *'' Reunion'' (1936) - Dr. Richard Sheridan *''

Ten Laps to Go ''Ten Laps to Go'' (''King of the Speedway'') is a 1938 American action/drama film directed by Elmer Clifton. The film stars Rex Lease as a champion race car driver, Duncan Renaldo as his rival, and Muriel Evans as the romantic interest. Former s ...

'' (1936) - Mr. Corbett - Norma's Father *''

Behind Green Lights ''Behind Green Lights'' is a 1946 American crime film directed by Otto Brower. Plot Police Lieutenant Sam Carson spots Walter Bard's bullet-ridden corpse in a car brazenly left in front of the police station. Carson questions Janet Bradley aft ...

'' (1946) - Metcalfe (uncredited) *''

The Shocking Miss Pilgrim ''The Shocking Miss Pilgrim'' is a 1947 American musical comedy film in Technicolor written and directed by George Seaton and starring Betty Grable and Dick Haymes. The screenplay, based on a story by Ernest Maas and Frederica Maas, focuses o ...

'' (1947) - Office Clerk (uncredited) *''

Moss Rose Moss Rose, known as The Leasing.com Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, which is the home ground of Macclesfield F.C., and the former home of Macclesfield Town, a club wound up in September ...

'' (1947) - Coroner's Foreman (uncredited) *''

Mother Wore Tights ''Mother Wore Tights'' is a 1947 Technicolor musical film starring Betty Grable and Dan Dailey as married vaudeville performers, directed by Walter Lang. This was Grable and Dailey's first film together, based on a book of the same name by Miri ...

'' (1947) - Man (uncredited) *'' Forever Amber'' (1947) - Killigrew (uncredited) *'' Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!'' (1948) - Judge Stillwell (uncredited) *'' The Walls of Jericho'' (1948) - Minor Role (uncredited) *''

Cry of the City ''Cry of the City'' is a 1948 American film noir starring Victor Mature, Richard Conte, and Shelley Winters. Directed by Robert Siodmak, it is based on the novel by Henry Edward Helseth, ''The Chair for Martin Rome''. The screenwriter Ben Hecht ...

'' (1948) - Doctor (uncredited) *'' Road House'' (1948) - Foreman (uncredited) *'' The Fighting O'Flynn'' (1949) - Tavernkeeper *'' The Redhead and the Cowboy'' (1951) - Gus *'' The Turning Point'' (1952) - Drugstore Owner (uncredited) *'' The Great Diamond Robbery'' (1954) - Seedy Man (uncredited) *'' Return from the Sea'' (1954) - Minor Role (uncredited) *'' The Human Jungle'' (1954) - Witness at Murder Scene (uncredited)

References

External links

* * *
Tom Moore
at Virtual History {{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Tom 1883 births 1955 deaths 20th-century American male actors 20th-century Irish male actors Irish people of New Zealand descent Actors from County Meath American male film actors American male silent film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Deaths from cancer in California Irish male film actors Irish male silent film actors Irish emigrants to the United States (before 1923)