
Terry Moore
ActingAbout Terry Moore
Born Helen Luella Koford on January 7, 1929, the Los Angeles, California native worked as a model before she made her film debut at age 11 in 20th Century Fox's Maryland (1940). Throughout the 1940s, she worked under a variety of names (her own, Judy Ford and January Ford) before settling on Terry Moore in 1948. Placed under contract by Columbia, Moore was loaned out to RKO for one of her most famous films, RKO's Mighty Joe Young (1949); she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in Paramount's Come Back, Little Sheba (1952). In the 1970s, she was in the news more than she was in motion pictures, asserting that she was the secret wife of the late billionaire Howard Hughes. She has starred in 77 feature films and listed among her leading men are Hollywood's leading legends; including Burt Lancaster, John Wayne, Cary Grant, Tyrone Power, Glenn Ford, Mickey Rooney and Robert Wagner. Since she was a pilot herself, Terry played a major role in preparing Leonardo DiCaprio for his portrayal of Howard Hughes in The Aviator (2004).
Terry Moore Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Terry Moore reflects a strong mix of popular and critically appreciated roles. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Terry Moore's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 64% of Terry Moore's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Do It Debbie's Way, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Terry Moore Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Terry Moore's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Terry Moore has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2006 | Kill Your Darlings | Ella Toscana | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Rita | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Stageghost | Olive | Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Mighty Joe Young | Elegant Woman at Party | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Second Chances | Dallas Judd | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Marilyn and Me | Woman at Hyde's Funeral | Hit | Similar → |
| 1989 | Hoodwinked | Sally | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Do It Debbie's Way | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1972 | The Daredevil | Julie Thompson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1971 | Mean Justice | Connie Garrett | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Quarantined | Martha Atkinson | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | The Weird World of Weird | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | A Man Called Dagger | Harper Davis | Hit | Similar → |
| 1967 | Lionpower from MGM | Self - Harper Davis (archive footage) (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1966 | Waco | Dolly | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | City of Fear | Suzan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Town Tamer | Susan Tavenner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1965 | Black Spurs | Anna Elkins | Average | Similar → |
| 1960 | Platinum High School | Jennifer Evans | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Cast a Long Shadow | Janet Calvert | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Peyton Place | Betty Anderson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1957 | Bernardine | Jean Cantrick | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Between Heaven and Hell | Jenny Gifford | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Shack Out on 101 | Kotty | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Portrait of Alison | Alison Ford | Average | Similar → |
| 1955 | Daddy Long Legs | Linda Pendleton | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | King of the Khyber Rifles | Susan Maitland | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Beneath the 12-Mile Reef | Gwyneth Rhys | Average | Similar → |
| 1953 | Man on a Tightrope | Tereza Cernik | Hit | Similar → |
| 1953 | Come Back, Little Sheba | Marie Buckholder | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | The Barefoot Mailman | Adie Titus | Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Sunny Side of the Street | Betty Holloway | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1951 | Two of a Kind | Kathy McIntyre | Hit | Similar → |
| 1950 | Gambling House | Lynn Warren | Average | Similar → |
| 1949 | Mighty Joe Young | Jill Young | Average | Similar → |
| 1948 | The Return of October | Terry Ramsey | Average | Similar → |
| 1946 | Shadowed | Virginia 'Ginny' Johnson (as Helen Koford) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Clock | Girl at Museum (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Son of Lassie | Thea (as Helen Koford) | Average | Similar → |
| 1944 | Since You Went Away | Refugee Child on Train (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1944 | Gaslight | Paula Alquist, Age 14 (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | True to Life | Little Girl (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | A-Haunting We Will Go | Dante's Young Admirer (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 1942 | On the Sunny Side | Schoolgirl (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | One Foot in Heaven | Choir Member (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | The Howards of Virginia | Neighbor Girl (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Maryland | Linda - Age 10 (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Terry Moore - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Terry Moore?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Terry Moore is "Do It Debbie's Way" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Terry Moore acted in?
Terry Moore has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Terry Moore?
Other notable films include "Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies", "City of Fear", and "Rita".




