AllHipHop.com has confirmed that influential comedian Rudy Ray Moore AKA Dolemite passed away on Friday (October 17) due to complications from diabetes.
Moore began his career as a stand-up comedian in the late 1960s, and first gained international notoriety after co-writing and starring in the 1975, signature blaxpoitation film Dolemite.
Through characters like Queen Bee and the fast-talking, street rapping Dolemite, the movie has gone on to achieve cult status and provided a blueprint to assist emcees like Snoop Dogg, Lil Kim, and Too $hort in the development of their stage personas.
The success of the film spawned a 1976 sequel, Human Tornado AKA Dolemite II.
Moore recently completed a third film titled The Dolemite Expression, which is slated for release this spring.
While his over the top, raunchy content prevented him from having the mainstream success of contemporaries like Richard Pryor, Moore retained a loyal fanbase throughout his near 40 year career.
Aware that Hip-Hop was an extension of his rapid-fire street punchlines (“…rappin’ and trappin’ is my game!”), Moore embraced the culture and since the late 80’s has collaborated with 2 Live Crew, Big Daddy Kane, Insane Clown Posse, and Snoop Dogg.
A prolific performer in his own right, Moore was known as “the king of party records” for his prodigious amount of comedy LPs released since the late 60’s.
To date, Moore has a resume which includes 30 albums and 18 films.
At press time, funeral arrangements for Rudy Ray Moore are being finalized in Toledo, Ohio.