R.I.P. Rudy Ray Moore 1927-2008

R.I.P. Rudy Ray Moore

All sound and fury, signifying monkey.

By Randy Harward

Today the world is down one bad motherfucker. Actor, comedian, and singer Rudy Ray Moore—more popularly known as the swashbuckling blaxploitation hero Dolemite—passed away yesterday after “a long bout with diabetes and obscurity,” according to his MySpace page.

Moore was a pioneer in the field of raunchy comedy, releasing outrageous party records in the 1960s-70s that pushed the boundaries of good taste and paved the way for countless pottymouthed comics and rappers to come. His onscreen persona, the fuckin’, fightin’ Dolemite, is an icon of American popular culture, especially the blaxploitation film genre along with Shaft, Super Fly, Blacula, Coffy, and Welcome Home Brother Charles. Stereotypical, and deliberately pandering to black audiences, these films portrayed black men as ass-kickin’ lovermen—usually with a grudge against Whitey. Moore’s films were the genre’s B- and even C-level, with Dolemite’s trademark bad acting and fighting, but regarded as classics nonetheless because few blaxploitation stars—Pam Grier, Richard Roundtree, Jim Brown, Fred Williamson—could match the verve and humor Moore displayed in Dolemite, its sequel The Human Tornado, and Petey Wheatstraw, The Devil’s Son-in-Law.

Rest in peace, Dole.

Full announcement, from the Rudy Ray Moore MySpace page:

Legendary actor, filmmaker, comedian, singer, Godfather of Rap and King of the Party Records, Rudolph Frank Moore better known as Rudy Ray Moore or Dolemite has left this earthly plane.

A 60 + year veteran of the stage, the first x rated comedian, one of the first African American filmmakers and the third most sampled man in the world, his self made comedy records and films have inspired and influenced generations from a thousand walks of life and a hundred nations.

He had recently finished work on "The Dolemite Explosion" with longtime friend and costar Jimmy Lynch (his first self-made film in 30 years), an album of soul ballads called "Let Me Sing To You Before I Drift Away" with his daughter Rusty, and had been Highlighted by Hadjii in an episode of "Somebodies" and was looking forward to a resurgence and a country album.

After a long battle with diabetes and obscurity, he passed peacefully on Sunday at the age of 81.

He was a good God fearing man who loved his friends and family.