By | Published October 20, 2008

Raunchy comedian and Blaxploitation star Rudy Ray Moore passed away on Sunday evening from complications due to diabetes according to his brother Gerald Moore. Best known for his role in DOLEMITE (1975) where he played a fast-talking pimp, Moore has also been credited for influencing rappers with his colorfully profane accounts of urban subculture.

Moore starred in several more Blaxploitation films including THE HUMAN TORNADO (1976), PETEY WHEATSTRAW (1977) and DISCO GODFATHER (1979). All of them contained varying degrees of cheesy martial arts action with Moore using his mouth and fists to out-talk and out-fight his enemies.

What has forever put Moore into the martial arts “Hall of Fame,” or “Hall of Shame” depending on your tastes, was his use of footage from Hong Kong action director Robert Tai’s B-grade martial arts epic NINJA: THE FINAL DUEL that he used to create the oddity that is SHAOLIN DOLEMITE (1999). The film was largely made up of action scenes from Tai’s 1980s-era project but was interspersed with footage of Moore goofing around and making wise cracks.

Rudy Ray Moore and his brand of humor wasn’t for everybody but he definitely had a way with words and was one of a kind.

DOLEMITE (1975) – Trailer

THE HUMAN TORNADO (1976) – Trailer

DISCO GODFATHER (1979) – Trailer

SHAOLIN DOLEMITE (1999) – Trailer

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  • Mike Leeder

    And it seemed like the long gestating big budget “Dolemite” movie was finally set to move forward, and there is one last “Dolemite” movvie waiting for release…hopefully we’ll see the films given a proper dvd release before too long

  • wayne

    REST IN PEACE DOLEMITE!!!!!

  • Jerry Dean jr

    So long my favorite comedian and jokster! I will miss you much. My family and I loved watching and laughing at your movies! May God Bless Your Soul and your Family!