Rudy Ray Moore

Rudy Ray Moore
Moore in 2007
Born
Rudolph Frank Moore

(1927-03-17)March 17, 1927
Fort Smith, Arkansas, U.S.
DiedOctober 19, 2008(2008-10-19) (aged 81)
Toledo, Ohio, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • singer
  • film producer
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active1948–2008
Websitewww.rudyraymoore.com

Rudolph Frank Moore (March 17, 1927 – October 19, 2008), known as Rudy Ray Moore, was an American comedian, singer, actor, and film producer.[1] He created the character Dolemite, the pimp from the 1975 film Dolemite and its sequels, The Human Tornado and The Dolemite Explosion (aka The Return of Dolemite).[2] The persona was developed during his early comedy records.[3][4] The recordings often featured Moore delivering profanity-filled rhyming poetry, which later earned Moore the nickname "the Godfather of Rap."[4] Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy portrayed Moore in the 2019 film Dolemite Is My Name.

  1. ^ Douglas Martin, "Rudy Ray Moore, 81, a Precursor of Rap, Dies", NY Times, 22 October 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2014
  2. ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Dolemite Tells Dirty Jokes, Warns Snoop Of His Mic Supremacy". MTV News. Archived from the original on January 17, 2015.
  3. ^ Allmusic Biography by Cub Koda. Retrieved February 23, 2014
  4. ^ a b Soren Baker, "`Dolemite' star explores music", The Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2002. Retrieved February 23, 2014