Melba Moore

Although best known as a pop/R&B singer, Melba Moore is also an accomplished actress with many screen credits to her name. Raised in New York City by parents who were professional musicians, Moore followed in their footsteps, initially appearing in stage musicals, first in the original Broadway cast of "Hair" and then in the 1970 production of "Purlie," a role that garnered her a Tony Award. Moore went on to a recording career, but also began appearing in films and on television, starring in a feature adaptation of the musical "Lost in the Stars" in 1974. During the '70s, Moore was a regular performer on the talk-show circuit and briefly co-hosted a variety show with then-boyfriend Clifton Davis.

In the following decade, she reprised her "Purlie" role for a made-for-TV version of the musical, and appeared on numerous popular series of the era, including "The Love Boat" and "Hotel." In 1986, Moore starred in her own sitcom "Melba," but the show was canceled after a handful of episodes, and she moved on to a guest stint on the popular prime-time soap "Falcon Crest." Not long after a one-off appearance on "The Cosby Show" and a voice role in the animated film "All Dogs Go to Heaven," Moore effectively retired from screen acting, but she returned briefly in a supporting part in the 2003 musical comedy "The Fighting Temptations," featuring the star vocalist of a younger generation, Beyoncé Knowles.