'Dolemite' Comedian Rudy Ray Moore Dies at 71

The death of Moore was first reported by EURweb and the site claims to have been informed of the news by comedienne Luenell, a friend of the Moore family.

Moore, whose actual name was Rudolph Frank Moore, is perhaps best known as "Dolemite," the uniquely articulate pimp from the 1975 film Dolemite, and its sequel, "The Human Tornado."

Rudy Ray Moore was also known as the "king of the party records" and released several comedy records during the 1960s and 1970s. His style is considered to be even more rude and explicit than contemporaries like Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor.

In 2008 Rudy Ray Moore reprised the character Petey Wheatstraw for the song "I live for the Funk" which featured Blowfly and Daniel Jordan.