Rudolph Frank Moore (March 17, 1927 – October 19, 2008), known as Rudy Ray Moore, was an American comedian, singer, actor, and film producer.[1] He created the character Dolemite, the pimp from the 1975 film Dolemite and its sequels, The Human Tornado and The Return of Dolemite.[2] The persona was developed during his early comedy records.[3][4] The recordings often featured Moore delivering profanity-filled rhyming poetry, which later earned Moore the nickname "the Godfather of Rap."[4] Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy portrayed Moore in the 2019 film Dolemite Is My Name.