Tedde Moore, the Canadian actor best known for playing Ralphie Parker’s teacher in 1983’s A Christmas Story, has died at the age of 79.
Moore died Wednesday in Huntsville, Ontario, according to a statement shared on her Facebook page. No cause of death was announced.
“On Wednesday August 5th under sunny skies overlooking Fairy Lake, Tedde passed away surrounded by family physically and spiritually in her beloved Huntsville Muskoka,” the post reads.
“Her bravery in this choice was almost overwhelming, beyond beautiful and also difficult. Forever the teacher, she had a quote for every occasion and a special way of touching the lives and hearts of everyone she met. Her magic and love will be remembered by all she took under her generous and welcoming wings.”
Moore had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2009.
Moore was best known for playing Miss Shields opposite Peter Billingsley in A Christmas Story, which was directed by Bob Clark. Her character features in several of the film's most memorable scenes, including grading Ralphie’s essay explaining why he deserves a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas and overseeing the chaotic aftermath of Flick (Scott Schwartz) getting his tongue stuck to an ice-covered flagpole.
The performance earned Moore a Genie Award nomination for best supporting actress from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. The movie was named Best Iconic Film in the 2023 Family Film Awards.
She later reprised the role in 1994’s My Summer Story, another adaptation of Jean Shepherd’s semi-autobiographical stories that served as a sequel to A Christmas Story.
In a 2021 YouTube video, Moore sent a heartfelt message to fans of the beloved holiday movie.
“I just wanted to tell you how much it has meant to me to be part of the Christmas Story family,” she said the video.
“None of us would be here today if it weren’t for the gigantic heart of Bob Clark and who had the very good sense to recognize the cinematic quality of the extraordinary heartfelt writing of Jean Shepherd.
“The fact that the boys and I, and yes I still call them the boys, are still friends after nearly 40 years, still family, has everything to do with heart, because that’s how Bob chose his actors.”
Born in Toronto in 1947, Moore enjoyed a decades-long career across film, television and theatre. In addition to A Christmas Story, her screen credits included appearances in The Terry Fox Story, Avonlea, Road to Avonlea, Goosebumps, The Good Witch and Murdoch Mysteries.
Moore is survived by four children. Her late husband, Canadian film and television director Donald Shebib, died in 2023 at the age of 85.
She and Shebib shared two children, Suzanna and Noah — both of whom were child actors. Noah is now a Grammy-winning music producer, also known as “40,” who has produced a number of rapper Drake’s biggest hits. He was also diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2007, two years before his mother.
Moore is also survived by her daughter, Zoë, from her previous relationship with actor Patrick Christopher Carter, as well as her foster daughter, Chaunce Drury.
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