Jack Alvin "Alvy" Moore (December 5, 1921 – May 4, 1997) was an American actor best known for his role as scatterbrained county agricultural agent Hank Kimball on the CBS television series Green Acres. His character would often make a statement, only to immediately negate the statement himself and then negate the corrected statement until his stream of statements was interrupted by a frustrated Oliver Wendell Douglas portrayed by Eddie Albert. One such statement was, "Good morning, Mr. Douglas! Well, it's not a good morning ... but it's not a bad morning either!" Moore appeared in 142 of the 170 total Green Acres episodes.
Early life Alvy Moore was born in Vincennes, Indiana,". . . the People of Hooterville," maggiore.net. Retrieved April 11, 2017. the son of Indiana natives Roy and Elice Moore. When Alvy was young the family moved to Terre Haute, where Roy was a grocery store manager."Sixteenth Census of the United States" (1940), Family Search; Terre Haute, Indiana, April 5, 1940; film 005459859, image 483. Retrieved April 12, 2017. Alvy was president of the senior class at Wiley High School in 1940–41. He then attended Indiana State Teachers College—now Indiana State University—both before and after service with the United States Marine Corps during World War II, in which he saw combat in the Battle of Iwo Jima.MacArthur, James. "Alvy Moore," Senior World Magazine. James MacArthur website. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
Acting career He became an actor and furthered his training at the Pasadena Playhouse, succeeding David Wayne in the role of Ensign Pulver opposite Henry Fonda's Mister Roberts on Broadway, and later toured with the play for 14 months. He made his screen debut playing the quartermaster in Okinawa (1952).
Moore appeared in guest and supporting roles in a number of movies and television shows, including My Little Margie in 1952, as Dillard Crumbly, an efficiency expert fresh out of Efficiency College, and The Mickey Mouse Club, where he hosted "What I Want to Be" segments as the Roving Reporter. He had a small role as a member of Marlon Brando's motorcycle gang in the 1953 film The Wild One, and a similar bit part the same year as one of the Linda Rosa townspeople in The War of the Worlds. Moore co-starred with Dick Powell and Debbie Reynolds in the 1954 film Susan Slept Here, in which he displayed his natural gift for physical comedy. In 1955, he co-starred with Brian Keith and Kim Novak in 5 Against the House.
In the early 1960s he was cast in the recurring role of Howie in 11 episodes of the CBS sitcom Pete and Gladys, with Harry Morgan and Cara Williams. Moore made a brief appearance as a cab driver in the 1964 Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Wednesday Woman." He also appeared in two episodes of another CBS sitcom, The Dick Van Dyke Show, "The Impractical Joke" posing, for a spoof, as an Internal Revenue Service agent and "The Case Of The Pillow" as a shifty home goods salesman named Mr. Wiley. In 1965 he appeared in an episode of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. ("Old Man Carter"). Also in 1965, he was in the Beverly Hillbillies, Season 3, Episode 1 where Jed Becomes a movie Mogol. He found his niche in television, starring as the incompetent county agent Hank Kimball in Green Acres from 1965 to 1971. He was also a guest star on The Andy Griffith Show and later on Little House on the Prairie. He was an actor, producer, and uncredited scriptwriter for A Boy and His Dog. He attended DisCon II, the 1974 World Science Fiction Convention, to help promote the film. In 1978, Moore appeared as stage coach station master Swenson in three season two episodes of How the West Was Won ("Cattle Drive," "Robbers Roost," and "Gold"). One of Moore's last television appearances was a brief guest shot on the sitcom Frasier.
In the 1980s Moore appeared in many cult horror films, including Scream (1981), Mortuary (1983), They're Playing With Fire (1984), Intruder (1989), and The Horror Show (1989).
Personal life Moore met Carolyn Mohr in 1947 while both were actors with the Pasadena Playhouse. They married in 1950 and traveled with the national touring company of Mister Roberts before settling in Los Angeles to start their family. The couple had three children: Janet, Alyson, and Barry. Carolyn continued to be involved in acting, doing dinner theater and various church productions.
In his spare time during the 1960s, he umpired Little League baseball in Lake View Terrace and Toluca Lake, California, and played in charity golf tournaments across the country. He was proud of his role of Hank Kimball in Green Acres, and drove a white Chrysler with the license plate "GRNACRS." Death Alvy and Carolyn Moore were married 47 years. Alvy died of heart failure on May 4, 1997, at their home in Palm Desert, California. Former Green Acres actor Tom Lester was with him when he died. For over 50 years Carolyn was a member of Beta Sigma Phi, a women's sorority group that raises money for charity. In 2008 she received the "International Award of Distinction," the highest honor the organization bestows on active members. She also was a member and treasurer of the "Motion Picture Mothers" for over 30 years. Carolyn Moore died at age 79 in 2009.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1952 Okinawa Sailor on bridge Uncredited1952 Talk About a Stranger Sailor on motorcycle Uncredited1952 Skirts Ahoy! French-speaking sailor Uncredited1952 You for Me Friend Scenes deleted1952 Fearless Fagan Pvt. Thomson Uncredited1952 Battle Zone Marine Uncredited1952 Flat Top Sailor Uncredited1952 Off Limits Staff Sgt. Wagner Uncredited1953 Battle Circus Runner Uncredited1953 Destination Gobi Aide, Argus HQ Uncredited1953 The Girls of Pleasure Island Marine Uncredited1953 The War of the Worlds Zippy Uncredited1953 The Glory Brigade Pvt. 'Stoney' Stone 1953 Affair with a Stranger Television announcer Scenes deleted1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Winston – Olympic team Uncredited1953 The Affairs of Dobie Gillis Interrupted registering freshman Uncredited1953 China Venture Carlson 1953 The Wild One Pigeon Uncredited1954 Riot in Cell Block 11 Gator 1954 Secret of the Incas Young man at bar Uncredited1954 Susan Slept Here Virgil 1954 Return from the Sea Smitty 1954 There's No Business Like Show Business Katy's date Uncredited1955 An Annapolis Story Willie 'Seaweed' Warren 1955 5 Against the House Roy 1956 Screaming Eagles Pvt. Grimes 1957 The Persuader Willy Williams 1957 Designing Woman Luke Coslow 1957 The Invisible Boy Scientist #4 (pranks scene) Uncredited1958 The Perfect Furlough Pvt. Marvin Brewer 1958 The Heart Is a Rebel Bill 1960 New Comedy Showcase Andy Episode "Johnny Come Lately"1960 The Wackiest Ship in the Army Seaman J. Johnson 1961 Everything's Ducky Jim Lipscott 1961 Twist Around the Clock Dizzy Bellew 1963 For Love or Money George 1963 Sunday in New York Airport ticket clerk Uncredited1963 Move Over, Darling Room service waiter 1963 The Raiders Corporal 1964 3 Nuts in Search of a Bolt Sutter T. Finley 1964 The Devil's Bedroom 1965 A Very Special Favor Ralph Uncredited1965 Love and Kisses Officer Jones 1965 One Way Wahine Maxwell 1966 Hazel - A Car Named Chrysanthemum Mr. Haverstraw 1967 The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin Mr. Brown Uncredited1967 The Gnome-Mobile Gas station mechanic Uncredited1969 The Witchmaker Dr. Ralph Hayes 1971 The Brotherhood of Satan Tobey 1971 The Late Liz Bill Morris 1973 Time to Run Officer Andy Sildania 1974 Herbie Rides Again Angry taxi driver 1975 A Boy and His Dog Dr. Moore 1975 The Specialist Bailiff Humbolt 1975 Dr. Minx Sheriff Frank 1980 Smokey and the Hotwire Gang Sheriff Flower 1981 Scream Allen 1981 Early Warning Paul Marshal 1983 Mortuary Bob Stevens 1984 They're Playing with Fire Jimbo 1985 Here Come the Littles Grandpa Little Voice1989 Intruder Officer Dalton 1989 The Horror Show Chili salesman
Television Year Title Role Notes1958 The Donna Reed Show Hank Episode: "The Male Ego"1962 Death Valley Days Grass Man, Andy Kale, David Douglas1963 The Virginian 2nd man Episode: "Run Away Home"1965 The Munsters Dr. Grant Episode: "Bats of a Feather"1965 Green Acres County Agricultural Agent Hank Kimball1978 How the West Was Won Swenson Three episodes1980 Little House on the Prairie Mr. Crowley Episode: "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (Part II)"1981 The Waltons Frank Sims Episode: "The Indiscretion"1982 Fantasy Island Mr. Stone Episode: "Daddy's Little Girl/The Whistle"1983 The Christmas Tree Train Abner, Santa Claus Voice, television special1983 The Littles Grandpa Little Voice, 29 episodes1984 Which Witch Is Which Abner Voice, television special1986 ABC Weekend Specials Grandpa Little Voice, episode: "Liberty and the Littles"1987 A Chucklewood Easter Abner Voice, television special1989 Little White Lies Mr. Jenkell Television film1989 Newhart Delivery Man Episode: "Murder at the Stratley"1990 Return to Green Acres Hank Kimball Television film1992 The Jackie Thomas Show Mayor Episode: "Aloha, Io-wahu"1993 Phenom Mr. Berger Episode: "Brian and the Tennis Star"1994 The Boys Are Back Old Man Episode: "The Fishing Trip"1994 Frasier Putnam Episode: "Flour Child"1994 Hardball Old Hardball Episode: "Lee's Bad, Bad Day"1995 Live Shot Episode: "Towering Infernos"2000 The Adventure Machine Voice, television special, posthumous role
References
External links
Interview The Roving Mooseketeer "Mr. Kimball" Tops List of TV Greats in Secondary Role