Dudley Moore, the British actor and comedian known for his Oscar-nominated performance in Arthur, died in New Jersey in 2002 at age 66. Moore’s death was reported as due to pneumonia, a complication of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), the Parkinson’s-like brain disease he publicly disclosed after a 1998 diagnosis.

Career and highlights

Moore rose to prominence as both an actor and a musician. His role in the 1981 film Arthur earned him an Academy Award nomination and enduring recognition. Alongside film work, Moore was an accomplished concert pianist and appeared in later projects including the 1996 film The Disappearance of Kevin Johnson and as the voice of the title character in the 1998 animated The Mighty Kong.

In November 2001 Moore was named a Commander of the British Empire (CBE), making a final public appearance shortly before his death.

Illness, final years and death

Moore began having problems with speech, balance and memory in the mid-1990s. After testing, he was diagnosed in 1998 with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a degenerative brain condition. He publicly announced the diagnosis that year and, despite the illness, retained his sense of humour — once quipping about the rarity of the disease while announcing it.

As his condition progressed, Moore moved to New Jersey for treatment at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Doctors described him as courageous and upbeat; a Kessler neuropsychologist, Thomas Galski, said Moore’s “sense of humor makes our job a little easier.” By the time of his death in 2002, he had lost much of his mobility and ability to speak. The published account reports he died of pneumonia, a complication of PSP, at age 66.

Personal life and remembrances

Moore’s personal life included several marriages and long-term relationships; his son Patrick later spoke publicly about a strained relationship during his father’s illness. Following the diagnosis, his estranged wife Nicole Rothschild recalled Moore saying, “He said he was waiting to die.” Friends, colleagues and medical staff remembered him for both his talent and his resilience in the face of a debilitating illness.

Read the original People report for the full contemporary account of his final years.

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