Alvy Moore
The delightfully flustered actor who turned a supporting role as the forgetful Hank Kimball on 'Green Acres' into a timeless comedy archetype.
1921–1997 (age 76)·American actor·Birthday: December 5·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Alvy Moore was a character actor whose face and flustered delivery became ingrained in American pop culture. Before finding his signature role, the Oklahoma native served in the Marine Corps during World War II and worked in radio. His break came in television's golden age, with guest spots on everything from 'The Twilight Zone' to 'The Andy Griffith Show.' But it was as Hank Kimball, the hopelessly confused county agent on the surreal sitcom 'Green Acres,' that Moore achieved something special. With a masterful blend of earnestness and bewilderment, he would deliver lines that immediately contradicted themselves, leaving co-star Eddie Albert in exasperated silence. Moore appeared in the vast majority of the show's episodes, his character becoming a beloved symbol of bureaucratic absurdity. After the series ended, he continued acting and also found success as a producer and in real estate, leaving behind a legacy defined by one perfectly pitched comic creation.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Alvy was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alvy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Alvy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 70
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1997Died at 76
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
Key Achievements
- Portrayed County Agricultural Agent Hank Kimball in 142 episodes of the CBS television series 'Green Acres' from 1965 to 1971.
- Produced the 1974 film 'The Teacher,' starring Angel Tompkins and Jay North.
- Had recurring guest roles on popular series such as 'The Andy Griffith Show' and 'The Lucy Show.'
- Served as a producer for the 1975 film 'The Wild Party,' starring James Coco and Raquel Welch.
Did You Know?
He was a decorated U.S. Marine who served in the Pacific Theater during World War II.
He and his wife Carolyn were successful real estate investors in the San Fernando Valley.
He made a memorable pre-'Green Acres' appearance in the 'The Twilight Zone' episode 'The Fugitive.'
The character name 'Hank Kimball' was reportedly a nod to a real USDA official Moore had met.
“My face was my fortune; I made a career out of looking confused.”
