Steve Moore (comedian)

Steve Moore (June 15, 1954 – May 24, 2014)[1] was an American stand-up comedian. He was best known for his 1997 HBO comedy special Drop Dead Gorgeous (A Tragi-Comedy): The Power of HIV-Positive Thinking, about his experiences living with HIV/AIDS.[2]

Steve Moore
Born(1954-06-15)June 15, 1954
Danville, Virginia
DiedMay 24, 2014(2014-05-24) (aged 59)
NationalityAmerican
Years active1980s-2000s
SpouseLois Bromfield (1980-1995)
Notable works and rolesDrop Dead Gorgeous (A Tragi-Comedy): The Power of HIV-Positive Thinking

Biography

Born and raised in Danville, Virginia,[1] he attended Virginia Commonwealth University.[3]

Although gay, he was in a lavender marriage to Canadian comedian Lois Bromfield from 1980 to 1995. In 1990, Moore appeared with Chris Aable in his first television interview, along with his HBO comedy video on Aable's show, Hollywood Today where he was interviewed along with his then-wife Lois Bromfield. [4] Moore frequently performed as the warm-up comedian for tapings of Roseanne, on which Bromfield was a writer;[4] he also appeared in Roseanne Barr's 1992 comedy special Roseanne Arnold: Live From Trump Castle,[3] and was a warm-up comedian for Margaret Cho's sitcom All American Girl.[5]

Diagnosed HIV-positive in 1989,[6] he came out about both his sexuality and his HIV status in the mid-1990s,[4] developing a one-man comedy show about life with HIV which became Drop Dead Gorgeous.[6] Bromfield came out as lesbian around the same time.[7]

He also performed at the inaugural We're Funny That Way! comedy festival in 1997, and appeared in the festival's documentary film in 1998,[8] and had supporting roles in the film Love Kills and the sitcom Ellen.[3] Despite the increased profile and strong critical reviews he gained from the HBO special, however, a subsequent national comedy tour was not as successful; just nine people attended the tour's opening show in San Francisco, and several other shows had to be cancelled due to poor ticket sales.[3]

Moore continued to support himself with smaller-scale comedy touring, including performing at HIV/AIDS and LGBT conferences and events,[9] and as a speaker on AIDS and HIV issues.

He died on May 24, 2014.[1]

References

  1. "Local Comic Steve Moore Dies at 59". GayRVA, May 28, 2014.
  2. "AIDS Survivor Steve Moore: Tears of a Clown". PRX, May 27, 2013.
  3. "Drop Dead Funny: With his HBO special and live performances, comedian Steve Moore teaches audiences that living with HIV doesn't necessarily mean dying.". Style Weekly.
  4. "In profile: Steve Moore". The Advocate, June 24, 1997.
  5. Ed Karvoski, A Funny Time to Be Gay. Simon & Schuster, 2011. ISBN 0684818965. p. 120.
  6. "Moore Celebrates The Power Of Positive Thinking". Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1997.
  7. "Lois Bromfield's Empty Closet". The Advocate, March 22, 1994. pp. 54-56.
  8. "Laughing out loud: Gay and lesbian comics go the extra comedic mile on TV special". The Gazette, February 9, 1999.
  9. "HIV-positively funny". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 13, 1998.
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