Terry Moore
ActingAbout Terry Moore
Born Helen Luella Koford on January 7, 1929, the Los Angeles, California native worked as a model before she made her film debut at age 11 in 20th Century Fox's Maryland (1940). Throughout the 1940s, she worked under a variety of names (her own, Judy Ford and January Ford) before settling on Terry Moore in 1948. Placed under contract by Columbia, Moore was loaned out to RKO for one of her most famous films, RKO's Mighty Joe Young (1949); she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Paramount's Come Back, Little Sheba (1952). In the 1970s, she was in the news more than she was in motion pictures, asserting that she was the secret wife of the late billionaire Howard Hughes. She has starred in 77 feature films and listed among her leading men are Hollywood's leading legends; including Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, Glenn Ford, Mickey Rooney and Robert Wagner. Since she was a pilot herself, Terry played a major role in preparing Leonardo DiCaprio for his portrayal of Howard Hughes in The Aviator (2004).
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Terry Moore reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Terry Moore's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 36% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Terry Moore remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in City of Fear, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Terry Moore Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Terry Moore's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Terry Moore.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Kill Your Darlings | Ella Toscana | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Rita | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Stageghost | Olive | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Mighty Joe Young | Elegant Woman at Party | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Second Chances | Dallas Judd | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Marilyn and Me | Woman at Hyde's Funeral | Average | Similar → |
| 1989 | Hoodwinked | Sally | Average | Similar → |
| 1976 | Smash-Up on Interstate 5 | Trudy | Flop | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Daredevil | Julie Thompson | Average | Similar → |
| 1971 | Mean Justice | Connie Garrett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Weird World of Weird | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | A Man Called Dagger | Harper Davis | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Waco | Dolly | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | City of Fear | Suzan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | Susan Tavenner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Black Spurs | Anna Elkins | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Why Must I Die | Lois King | Flop | Similar → |
| 1960 | Platinum High School | Jennifer Evans | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | Cast a Long Shadow | Janet Calvert | Average | Similar → |
| 1957 | Peyton Place | Betty Anderson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Bernardine | Jean Cantrick | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Between Heaven and Hell | Jenny Gifford | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Shack Out on 101 | Kotty | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Portrait of Alison | Alison Ford | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Daddy Long Legs | Linda Pendleton | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | King of the Khyber Rifles | Susan Maitland | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Beneath the 12-Mile Reef | Gwyneth Rhys | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Man on a Tightrope | Tereza Cernik | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Marie Buckholder | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Sunny Side of the Street | Betty Holloway | Average | Similar → |
| 1951 | Two of a Kind | Kathy McIntyre | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Gambling House | Lynn Warren | Average | Similar → |
| 1950 | The Great Rupert | Rosalinda Amendola | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Jill Young | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Return of October | Terry Ramsey | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Shadowed | Virginia 'Ginny' Johnson (as Helen Koford) | Average | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Clock | Girl at Museum (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Son of Lassie | Thea (as Helen Koford) | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Sweet and Low-Down | Snub-Nosed Girl on Dance Floor (uncredited) | Flop | Similar → |
| 1944 | Since You Went Away | Refugee Child on Train (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Gaslight | Paula Alquist, Age 14 (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | True to Life | Little Girl (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | A-Haunting We Will Go | Dante's Young Admirer (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | My Gal Sal | Carrie Dreiser (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | On the Sunny Side | Schoolgirl (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1941 | One Foot in Heaven | Choir Member (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Howards of Virginia | Neighbor Girl (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Maryland | Linda - Age 10 (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
Terry Moore - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Terry Moore?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Terry Moore is "City of Fear" with a rating of 8.5/10.
How many movies has Terry Moore acted in?
Terry Moore has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Terry Moore?
Other notable films include "Rita", "Second Chances", and "Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film".