Oscar-Nominated Actress Juanita Moore Dies at 99

Credit: Variety

Actress Juanita Moore has passed away at age 99 in her home in Los Angeles.

Moore broke down barriers for African-American actors with her Oscar-nominated turn in 1959's Imitation of Life, playing a housekeeper whose daughter passes for white.

Her grandson, actor Kirk Kahn, who confirmed her death, said she was still running lines with him over the past several weeks. “She didn’t candy-coat it for you,” he said, “she said, ‘if you’re no good, the play’s no good.’”

Moore had planned to participate in a reading at the local Saban Theater in a few weeks. “She gave back to the community in so many ways,” said Kahn. “Wherever we went she stopped and told black boys and girls they could do anything with their lives.”

Moore, an active participant in the Cambridge Players, was honored at the Black Theater Festival in North Carolina.

After her Best Supporting Actress nomination for Imitation of Life, Moore would go on to have a career in both films and television shows, such as Disney’s The Kid, Judging Amy and Marcus Welby, M.D.

In addition to grandson Kahn, Moore is survived by two nephews.

Via: Variety