Remembering Juanita Moore

Hollywood has lost another legend and Black Hollywood has lost another trailblazer I'm referring to Juanita Moore. She starred in many films yet she is most known her role in the 1959 film Imitation of Life which was a remake. In this film she played a Black maid that gave birth to a daughter that was so fair skinned she began to pass for white and denied her Black heritage as well as her mother. Juanita Moore received critical acclaim for her role in this film she was nominated for an Academy Award; she was the fifth African American to be nominated in any category and the third African American to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress.




She was born on October 19, 1914 and she grew in up in Los Angeles, California. Moore began her career as a chorus girl at the famous Cotton Club before she became an extra on the theater scene. Her film debut in 1949's Pinky. Her career became successful following that film The Imitation of Life, The Girl Can't Help It,  The Mack, just to name a few.



Juanita Moore was married to Charles Burris for 50 years he died in 2001. She is the grandmother of actor/producer Kirk Kelley-Kahn, the CEO-President of "Cambridge Players-Next Generation" which is a theatre troupe. She left behind a wonderful legacy she passed on New Year's day 2014 of natural causes she was 99. We salute you and thank for your contributions.