Dennis Moore, a ruggedly handsome and dependable cowboy actor, enjoyed a three-decade-long career as both hero and villain on and off camera. Born Dennis Price Meadows on January 26, 1908, in Fort Worth, Texas, Moore's initial interest in show business may have been sparked while working as an usher at a movie theater.
Moore began his film career in 1932 with uncredited appearances in various cliffhangers and westerns, eventually changing his stage name to Dennis Moore in 1936. An avid flyer, he played a pilot in the Tailspin Tommy serial and, while signed at Warner Brothers, played Humphrey Bogart's flight engineer in China Clipper.
By the 1940s, Moore was freelancing at various minor studios, occasionally given the action lead in films such as Fangs of the Wild. He also appeared opposite stalwart cowboys Gene Autry, Buster Crabbe, and Buck Jones, and was seen in both the "Three Mesquiteers" and "Rough Riders" series.
Moore hit his peak in films during World War II, co-starring with Ray Corrigan and Max Terhune in the "Range Buster" series at Monogram Pictures and then co-starring with Tex Ritter and Jimmy Wakely in some of their popular western entries. He also starred in the Raiders of Ghost City and The Purple Monster Strikes serials, among others.
In mid-career, Moore turned from granite-jawed heroes to black-hatted bad guys and henchmen in many "Poverty Row" westerns, yet still snagged a couple of leads and co-leads in serials every now and then, including Perils of the Wilderness and Blazing the Overland Trail.
Moore was a highly private man who was considered a loner by nature. He was married more than once, perhaps up to four times, and his final marriage, in 1947 to Marilyn Mason, produced one daughter, Linda, and lasted until his death. He died on March 1, 1964, at age 56 of rheumatic heart disease combined with circulatory problems.
