Dudley Moore
A diminutive musical genius who became a global comedy star, his blend of slapstick vulnerability and piano virtuosity was entirely his own.
1935–2002 (age 67)·English actor, comedian and musician·Birthday: April 19·The Silent Generation
Biography
Dudley Moore earned an Oscar nomination for his leading role in 'Arthur,' where his Chaplinesque charm and vulnerability made him a box-office sensation. He first emerged from Oxford as a jazz pianist and composer. In the 1960s, he ignited the British satire revolution as part of 'Beyond the Fringe,' then formed a partnership with Peter Cook, creating sketches like 'Derek and Clive.' Hollywood transformed him into an unlikely leading man in films like '10.' Born in 1935 and dying in 2002, the English actor, comedian, and musician's musicality informed every perfectly timed stumble and wistful glance.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Dudley was born in 1935, placing them squarely in The Silent 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 Dudley Was Born
The biggest hits of 1935
#1 Movie
Mutiny on the Bounty
Best Picture
Mutiny on the Bounty
Dudley's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1935Born
Social Security Act signed into law
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,450President: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Cheek to Cheek" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: Mutiny on the Bounty
1940Started school
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1948Became a teenager
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1951Could drive
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
1953Could vote
DNA structure discovered by Watson and Crick
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,750Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Song from Moulin Rouge" — Percy FaithBest Picture: From Here to Eternity
1956Turned 21
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1965Turned 30
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1975Turned 40
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1985Turned 50
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 60
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2002Died at 67
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his role in the 1981 film 'Arthur.'
- Was a key member of the groundbreaking satirical stage show 'Beyond the Fringe' alongside Peter Cook, Jonathan Miller, and Alan Bennett.
- Co-created and starred in the influential BBC comedy series 'Not Only... But Also' with Peter Cook.
Did You Know?
He was an accomplished concert pianist who studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Oxford.
Moore had a condition called club foot, which gave him a distinctive walk that he incorporated into his comedy.
He composed the soundtracks for several films, including 'Bedazzled' and 'Six Weeks.'
“The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it.”
