Steve Moore (comedian)

{{Infobox comedian

| name = Steve Moore

| image = Steve Moore (comedian).jpg

| alt =

| caption =

| pseudonym =

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| birth_name = Steven Spencer Moore

| birth_date = {{birth date|1954|6|15}}

| birth_place = Danville, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2014|5|24|1954|6|15}}

| death_place = Danville, Virginia, U.S.

| resting_place =

| resting_place_coordinates =

| medium = Stand-up comedy, television, film, writing

| nationality = American

| education =

| alma_mater = Virginia Commonwealth University

| active = 1980s–2000s

| employer =

| genre = {{hlist|Observational comedy|satire}}

| subject = {{hlist|LGBTQ culture|everyday life|human sexuality|HIV/AIDS|current events}}

| influences =

| influenced =

| spouse = {{marriage|Lois Bromfield|1980|1995|reason=div}}

| domesticpartner =

| children =

| parents =

| relatives =

| notable_works = Drop Dead Gorgeous (A Tragi-Comedy): The Power of HIV-Positive Thinking

| memorials =

| signature =

| website =

| footnotes =

| module =

}}

Steven Spencer Moore (June 15, 1954 – May 24, 2014)[http://www.gayrva.com/news-views/local-comic-steve-moore-dies-at-59/ "Local Comic Steve Moore Dies at 59"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225144829/http://www.gayrva.com/news-views/local-comic-steve-moore-dies-at-59/ |date=2014-12-25 }}. GayRVA, May 28, 2014. was an American stand-up comedian, best known for his 1997 HBO comedy special Drop Dead Gorgeous (A Tragi-Comedy): The Power of HIV-Positive Thinking, about his experiences living with HIV/AIDS.[http://www.prx.org/pieces/97547-aids-survivor-steve-moore-tears-of-a-clown "AIDS Survivor Steve Moore: Tears of a Clown"]. PRX, May 27, 2013.

Biography

Born and raised in Danville, Virginia, he attended Virginia Commonwealth University in the 1970s.{{cite web|url=http://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/with-his-hbo-special-and-live-performances-comedian-steve-moore-teaches-audiences-that-living-with-hiv-doesnt-necessarily-mean-dying/Content?oid=1389578|title=Drop Dead Funny: With his HBO special and live performances, comedian Steve Moore teaches audiences that living with HIV doesn't necessarily mean dying|work=Style Weekly}}

Although gay, he was in a lavender marriage to Canadian comedian Lois Bromfield from 1980 to 1995 which ended after they both decided to publicly come out as gay.{{cite news|title=Lois Bromfield's Empty Closet|magazine=The Advocate|date=March 22, 1994|pages=54–56}}{{cite news|title=In profile: Steve Moore|magazine=The Advocate|date=June 24, 1997}} Moore frequently performed as the warm-up comedian for tapings of Roseanne, on which Bromfield was a writer; he also appeared in Roseanne Barr's 1992 comedy special Roseanne Arnold: Live From Trump Castle, and was a warm-up comedian for Margaret Cho's sitcom All American Girl.Ed Karvoski, A Funny Time to Be Gay. Simon & Schuster, 2011. {{ISBN|0684818965}}. p. 120.

Diagnosed HIV-positive in 1989,[https://www.chicagotribune.com/1997/06/13/moore-celebrates-the-power-of-positive-thinking/ "Moore Celebrates The Power Of Positive Thinking"]. Chicago Tribune, June 13, 1997. he came out about both his sexuality and his HIV status in the mid-1990s, developing a one-man comedy show about life with HIV which became Drop Dead Gorgeous. Bromfield came out as lesbian around the same time.

He also performed at the inaugural We're Funny That Way! comedy festival in 1997, and appeared in the festival's documentary film in 1998,"Laughing out loud: Gay and lesbian comics go the extra comedic mile on TV special". The Gazette, February 9, 1999. and had supporting roles in the film Love Kills and the sitcom Ellen. Despite the increased profile and strong critical reviews he gained from the HBO special, however, a subsequent national comedy tour was not as successful; just nine people attended the tour's opening show in San Francisco, and several other shows had to be canceled due to poor ticket sales.

Moore continued to support himself with smaller-scale comedy touring, including performing at HIV/AIDS and LGBT conferences and events,"HIV-positively funny". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 13, 1998. and as a speaker on AIDS and HIV issues.

Moore died on May 24, 2014, at his residence in Danville, Virginia, aged 59.{{cite web|url=https://www.swicegood-barker.com/obituary/Steven-Moore|title=Obituary for Steven Spencer Moore|work=Swicegood-Barker Funeral Services|date=May 25, 2014|access-date=February 15, 2022}}