Cleo Moore (born Cleouna Moore; October 31, 1924 – October 25, 1973) was an American actress, usually seen in the role of a blonde bombshell in Hollywood films of the 1950s.After being raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and moving to Hollywood in the late 1940s, Moore became a well-known pin-up girl. After breaking into minor films, Moore signed a brief contract with Warner Brothers in 1950. She then signed a two-year deal with RKO Radio Pictures (1950–52), before signing a longer contract with Columbia Pictures in 1952.At Columbia, Moore was molded as the studio's next resident film star, with the studio hoping to make her "their Marilyn Monroe" or the "new Rita Hayworth". During her time at Columbia, Moore starred in One Girl's Confession (1953), The Other Woman (1954), and Women's Prison (1955). However, Moore's career began to decline when the studio signed Kim Novak to a contract and started focusing on capitalizing her instead of Moore. Moore retired from acting in 1957 after starring in Hit and Run.Moore died in her sleep at the age of 48 in 1973. Despite the fact she never obtained true film stardom, Moore has become a cult fan favorite, with several of her films being considered cult classics.
My biggest publicity stunt was that famous five-minute television kiss I engaged in with disk jockey Jack Eigen. Our lips met for all of five minutes on the television screen, and that cost poor Jack his job. The station was flooded with protesting phone calls and telegrams.
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You know, just because you're a blonde type doesn't mean you can't suddenly do serious parts. I mean, Jane Wyman did a lot of silly parts for years and then all of a sudden went serious and was tremendous. I'm just hoping I don't get typed for those creature movies - you know, "The Thing from Outer Sputnik" and so on.
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Fact
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Cleo Moore died on October 25, 1973, less than a week from what would have been her 49th birthday on October 31.
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Following her untimely death, she was interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, California.
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Found success as a real estate businesswoman after her screen career ended with Hit and Run (1957).
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Was considered for the role of Miss Caswell in All About Eve (1950), which ultimately went to Marilyn Monroe.
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Made headlines in the 1950s when she announced her future candidacy for Governor of Louisiana. She never did run for Governor yet many reference books and sources claim she did.
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Was engaged in a long-running personal feud with fellow starlet Anita Ekberg.
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