Kieron Moore (born Ciarán Ó hAnnracháin, anglicised as Kieron O'Hanrahan) (5 October 1924 – 15 July 2007) was an Irish film and television actor whose career was at its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. He played Count Vronsky in the film adaptation of Anna Karenina (1948) with Vivien Leigh.
Early years
Moore was raised in County Cork in an Irish-speaking household. His father, Peadar Ó hAnnracháin (born 1873) (also known as Peter/Peadar Hourihane and Peadar O'Hourihane) was a writer and poet, and a staunch supporter of the Irish language. Peadar, a son of Seaghan Ó hAnnracháin (born 1834) and Máire Ní Dhonabháin (also born 1834) and who was one of the first organisers for Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League), was twice imprisoned by the British during the Irish War of Independence. Peadar lived with his parents and his sister, Áine Ní Annracháin (born 1885), and his niece, Máirín Ní Dhiomasaig (born 1903), at 14 Poundlick, Skibbereen, County Cork in 1911. He also wrote for the Southern Star newspaper for many years and had been its editor.
His mother, Máire Ní Dheasmhumhnaigh (born 1888), also known as Mary Desmond, was the daughter of Dónal Ó Deasmhumhnaigh (born 1851) and Nóra Ní Bhriain of Kinsale. Several members of Kieron's family pursued careers in the arts. His sister Neasa Ní Annracháin was a stalwart of the Raidió Éireann Players, while his brother, Fachtna, was director of music at the station, and a second sister, Bláithín Ní Annracháin, played the harp with the National Symphony Orchestra. Following his family's move to Dublin, Moore attended Coláiste Mhuire, an Irish-language school.
Moore began his acting career at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and made his British stage debut at the age of 19 as Heathcliff in a production of Wuthering Heights. He featured in the West End in the 1945 war play Desert Rats by Colin Morris.
His first film role was as an IRA man in The Voice Within (1945), where he was billed as "Keiron O'Hanrahan".
Korda announced he was likely to become a major star:
He has a brilliant acting talent. Then he has six-feet-two of brawn, a mobile photogenic face, rich expressive eyes, and ability to adapt himself to any type of role – ultra romantic or the last word in villainy. Very soon he will be one of the big names on the world's screens."[3]
Adopting the stage name Kieron Moore, he was cast in a leading role in A Man About the House (1947), directed by Leslie Arliss.[4] Arliss said Moore was "terrific. Naturally, since he's had no film experience, his work is still a bit rough, but he does the right thing by instinct. He smashes through at you from the screen."[5]
Korda then gave Moore the plum role of the suave Count Vronsky in Julien Duvivier's production of Anna Karenina (1948), which starred Vivien Leigh and Ralph Richardson. The movie was a box-office flop, and Moore received the worst notices of his career. He played Heathcliff in a BBC Television adaptation of Wuthering Heights in 1948.
Moore went to Italy to play the lead in an Italian-English comedy, Honeymoon Deferred (1951). In France, he had a small role in another film for Allegret, La demoiselle et son revenant (1952).
He supported Michael Redgrave in The Green Scarf (1954). "Thank heavens for this", Moore said. "I've had a rough time of it, especially during the last three years. Now perhaps I can re-establish myself as an actor."[9]
He gave an impressive performance in the comedy-thriller The League of Gentlemen (1960), playing a homosexual former fascist and army officer recruited to take part in a big robbery. He also played opposite Patrick McGoohan in an episode of Danger Man titled 'The Sanctuary' (1960).
Moore created a TV series, Ryan International (1970), which he also starred in and wrote some episodes. It ran for ten episodes.
His last acting appearance was in an episode of The Zoo Gang (1974).
Post-acting career
Moore quit acting in 1974, becoming a social activist on behalf of the Third World. He joined CAFOD (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), with which he worked for nine years.
During that time he made two film documentaries, Progress of Peoples (Peru) and The Parched Earth (Senegal). Later, as projects manager, he travelled to the Middle East and India. He next became associate editor of The Universe, editing its supplement New Creation, which he transformed into the magazine New Day.[11]
Moore retired in 1994 to the Charente-Maritime in France, where he joined the church choir, became a hospital visitor, and enjoyed reading French, Spanish, English and Irish literature.
He was survived by his wife, the former actress Barbara White, who played opposite him in The Voice Within and Mine Own Executioner, their daughter Theresa (Soeur Miriame-Therese) and sons Casey, Colm and Seán.
^ ab"Irish to the Backbone". The Voice. Vol. 25, no. 40. Tasmania, Australia. 4 October 1952. p. 4. Retrieved 7 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
^"THE LIFE STORY of Kieron MOORE". Picture Show. No. 52. 21 February 1948. p. 12. ProQuest1879615532.
^C.A. LEJEUNE (7 December 1947). "ONCE AROUND THE BUSTLING BRITISH STUDIOS". New York Times. ProQuest108015757.
^Hopper, H. (27 November 1950). "Irish actor Kieron Moore rival of Peck". Los Angeles Times. ProQuest166112896.
^"Mute role for actor's return". The Mail. Adelaide. 8 May 1954. p. 8 Supplement: SUNDAY MAGAZINE. Retrieved 7 July 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
