Kieron Moore, a dashing Irish actor, made a name for himself in post-war British films by playing both heroes and villains with his rugged good looks and brawny build. Interestingly, he is often remembered for his role as Count Vronsky opposite Vivien Leigh's Anna Karenina in 1948.
Born Kieron O'Hanrahan, he grew up in a lively, Irish-speaking-only household with a strong emphasis on the arts. His father, Peter, was an Irish Nationalist writer, poet, editor, and political activist who was imprisoned multiple times by the British for his activities. Kieron's sister Nease became an actress, brother Fachtna a music director, and sister Blaithin played harp for the National Symphony Orchestra. Kieron himself was educated in Dublin and began studying medicine at University College before abandoning his studies to pursue a career in acting.
In 1943, Kieron moved to England and made his London stage debut as Heathcliff in a production of Wuthering Heights. He gained more notice in plays such as Purple Dust and Everyman, and made an impressive film debut as an IRA killer in The Voice Within in 1946. He married actress Barbara White, who retired shortly after their wedding, and they had four children together.
Kieron was a talented actor but lacked the charisma or drive for top stardom despite his early promise. He was signed by Alexander Korda's London Films after a heralded performance in the West End version of Sean O'Casey's play Red Roses for Me in 1946. He received critical acclaim for his role in the psychological drama Mine Own Executioner in 1947, but failed to capitalize on the one role that could have made him a star.
Kieron took a chance in Hollywood, playing Uriah the Hittite in the biblical epic David and Bathsheba opposite Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward in 1951, and as a Foreign Legion corporal in Ten Tall Men starring Burt Lancaster. However, he returned to England and continued to offer fine performances, including his role as a deaf, blind, and mute murder suspect in The Green Scarf in 1954.
He received praise for his role as the bully Pony Sugrue in the Disney classic Darby O'Gill and the Little People in 1959, and for his performance as a gay former officer in the comedy The League of Gentlemen in 1960. He also starred in the sci-fi thriller The Day of the Triffids in 1963, and played second fiddle to special effects in Crack in the World in 1965.
Kieron's status began to decline with more routine films and he eventually retired from feature film work altogether in 1974. He went on to work for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, directing and narrating two film documentaries on the struggle for survival in Third World countries. He also traveled extensively and provided voice-overs for other documentary features.
Kieron retired quietly to France in 1994 and was survived by his wife, Barbara, and children at the time of his death on July 15, 2007, at the age of 82.
