Biography
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).
Acted in 89
2020s
- 2027
Merrily
Betty Clurman
- 2023
Silent Life: The Story of the Lady in Black
Lady in Black
2010s
- 2015
Aimy in a Cage
Grandma Micry
Mansion of Blood
Natalie
- 2014
- 2012
Margarine Wars
Miriam Cuningham
2000s
- 2007
The Still Life
Mrs. Stratford
- 2006
Kill Your Darlings
Ella Toscana
- 2005
Buzz
Movie
- 2000
Stageghost
Olive
1990s
- 1999
- 1998
Second Chances
Dallas Judd
- 1991
1980s
- 1989
Hoodwinked
Sally
- 1987
W.A.R.: Women Against Rape
Mrs. McCormack
Heir to Murder
Movie
- 1986
True Confessions
TV
- 1985
Hellhole
Sidnee Hammond
- 1984
- 1982
1970s
- 1978
- 1977
- 1976
Smash-Up on Interstate 5
Trudy
- 1972
The Daredevil
Julie Thompson
- 1971
Mean Justice
Connie Garrett
- 1970
Quarantined
Martha Atkinson
The Weird World of Weird
Movie
1960s
- 1968
A Man Called Dagger
Harper Davis
- 1966
- 1965
City of Fear
Suzan
Town Tamer
Susan Tavenner
Black Spurs
Anna Elkins
- 1963
- 1962
Empire
Connie Garrett, Connie · 32 episodes
- 1960
Why Must I Die
Lois King
Platinum High School
Jennifer Evans
1950s
- 1959
A Private's Affair
Louise Wright
- 1957
Bernardine
Jean Cantrick
- 1956
Between Heaven and Hell
Jenny Gifford
No Right to Kill
Lisa
- 1955
Shack Out on 101
Kotty
Portrait of Alison
Alison Ford
- 1954
- 1953
Man on a Tightrope
Tereza Cernik
General Electric Theater
Evvy Jeffers · 1 episode
- 1952
- 1951
The Barefoot Mailman
Adie Titus
Sunny Side of the Street
Betty Holloway
Two of a Kind
Kathy McIntyre
- 1950
Gambling House
Lynn Warren
He's a Cockeyed Wonder
Judy Sears
1940s
- 1949
Mighty Joe Young
Jill Young
- 1948
The Return of October
Terry Ramsey
Summer Holiday
Hatcheck Girl (uncredited)
- 1947
Heartaches
Girl in Movie with Vic (uncredited)
- 1946
Shadowed
Virginia 'Ginny' Johnson (as Helen Koford)
- 1945
Son of Lassie
Thea (as Helen Koford)
- 1944
Sweet and Low-Down
Snub-Nosed Girl on Dance Floor (uncredited)
- 1943
True to Life
Little Girl (uncredited)
- 1942
My Gal Sal
Carrie Dreiser (uncredited)
On the Sunny Side
Schoolgirl (uncredited)
- 1941
One Foot in Heaven
Choir Member (uncredited)
- 1940
The Howards of Virginia
Neighbor Girl (uncredited)
Maryland
Linda - Age 10 (uncredited)
Produced 2
Wrote 1
1980s
- 1989
Appearances17
2020s
- 2025
Sinatra! Eternity
Self
- 2021
Titans of Destruction: The Evolution of Giant Monster Movies
Self (archive footage)
2010s
- 2018
Frank and Ava
Self
- 2015
- 2014
Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film
Self
2000s
- 2003
Rita
Self
- 2000
Howard Hughes: His Women and His Movies
Self
1990s
- 1996
Burt Lancaster: Daring to Reach
Self
1980s
- 1983
Do It Debbie's Way
Self
1970s
- 1975
Paesano
Self
1960s
- 1967
Lionpower from MGM
Self - Harper Davis (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1961
1950s
- 1957
- 1950
1940s
- 1948
