Actor Dudley Moore dies at 66
By SHEILA HOTCHKIN
Associated Press

TRENTON, N.J. — Dudley Moore, the cuddly little Englishman who pined for Bo Derek in “10” and portrayed a lovably forlorn drunk in “Arthur,” died Wednesday of complications from a rare and incurable brain disorder. He was 66.

The comic actor died at a friend's home in Plainfield of pneumonia stemming from progressive supranuclear palsy, which is similar to Parkinson's disease and affects one of every 100,000 people. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1999.

Before breaking into the movies, the 5-foot-2 1/2 -inch classically trained pianist found success in comedy revues in London and on Broadway as part of a legendary British troupe that also included the surrealist comic talent Peter Cook.

In the 1979 hit movie “10,” he played a musician determined to marry a perfect woman, embodied by Derek. His film career peaked in 1981 with the smash “Arthur,” in which he played a rich drunk who falls for Liza Minnelli. He was nominated for a best actor Oscar. Co-star John Gielgud, who played Arthur's valet, won the supporting actor Oscar.

“He had a little-boy-lost quality about him, which women loved, and there was always something slightly forlorn about Dudley, even when he was being funny,” said Michael Parkinson, a British talk-show host. “He was a lovely man.”

Moore's other films included “Foul Play,” 1978; “Lovesick,” 1983; “Unfaithfully Yours,” 1984; and “Best Defense,” 1984.

In a statement, Minnelli said: “I am deeply saddened by the death of my dear friend, Dudley Moore. He was a unique individual that was multitalented. He could make the world laugh and brought joy to millions. I will miss him dearly.”

There was more than a touch of autobiography in “10.” But the happy ending eluded him in real life. Four marriages ended in divorce.

He confessed to being driven by feelings of inferiority because of his working-class origins in Dagenham, East London, and because of his height. He also spoke of the pain of being rejected by his mother because he was born with a deformed left foot.

Comedians, he said in an interview in 1980, are often driven by such feelings. “I guess if I'd been able to hit somebody in the nose, I wouldn't have been a comic,” he said.

While his comedy brought him the most attention, he was a talented pianist, with degrees in music and composition from Oxford. Moore married Suzy Kendall in 1958, Tuesday Weld in 1975, Brogan Lane in 1988 and Nicole Rothschild in 1994. He had a son, Patrick, by his second marriage and a son, Nicholas, by his fourth.

Moore was diagnosed with PSP after suffering balance problems and other symptoms.

Ellen Katz, executive director of the Society for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, said the disorder would have affected his movement, balance, vision, speech and swallowing, while leaving his mind clear.

Even as Moore fought the symptoms, he raised nearly $100,000 for two PSP research funds, said Katz, who met Moore several times.

“He came forward with a diagnosis right away because he wanted to help other people who have the disease and aren't diagnosed,” she said. “It's such a tragic loss for us to lose someone like him, and to such a cruel disease.”

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