Tedde Moore, who played Miss Shields in 'A Christmas Story,' dies at 79

Edward Segarra, USA TODAYMon, August 10, 2026 at 3:47 PM UTC

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Actress Tedde Moore, best known for her role in the holiday classic "A Christmas Story," has died. She was 79.

The Canadian-born actress, who played Miss Shields in the beloved '80s film, died on Wednesday, Aug. 5, according to a post shared on Moore's Facebook page Thursday, Aug. 6. A cause of death was not disclosed.

The emotional tribute noted that Moore died "under sunny skies overlooking Fairy Lake" and was "surrounded by family physically and spiritually in her beloved Huntsville, Muskoka [Ontario, Canada]."

"Her bravery in this choice was almost overwhelming, beyond beautiful and also difficult," the post read. "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."

USA TODAY has reached out to Moore's representatives for comment.

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Before she graced the silver screen, Moore, the daughter of actor Mavor Moore and granddaughter of Canadian theater icon Dora Mavor Moore, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She graduated in 1967 with the Principal's Medal of Honor.

Moore landed her first feature film role four years later, playing Nancy in the Donald Shebib coming-of-age drama "Rip-Off." She followed up her movie debut with a string of onscreen performances in TV and film, including "Police Surgeon," "Second Wind," "Murder by Decree," "The Littlest Hobo" and "The Amateur."

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In 1983, Moore was cast in "A Christmas Story," a retro holiday comedy set in the 1940s. The Bob Clark-directed film starred Peter Billingsley as Ralphie Parker, a headstrong boy who attempts to convince the adults in his life that a BB gun is the perfect Christmas gift.

Moore portrayed Parker's pragmatic schoolteacher Miss Shields. After a daydream sequence, in which Moore's character gives Parker an A+ for writing an essay about his desire for an air rifle, the real-life Miss Shields gives Parker a C+ instead and warns the precocious boy that he could "shoot your eye out."

The film grossed $19.2 million at the box office and over the years became a Christmas classic. In 2012, the Library of Congress inducted "A Christmas Story" into its National Film Registry.

Moore went on to reprise her "Christmas Story" role in the 1994 sequel, "My Summer Story," the only cast member from the original film to return.

The actress kept busy throughout the '90s and 2000s, appearing in several television series, TV movies and films, such as "Friday the 13th: The Series," "The Deliverance of Elaine," "Focus" and "Rolie Polie Olie." In 2011, Moore scored a recurring role on the Katie Holmes political drama "The Kennedys."

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In a return to her holiday roots, Moore's final role was an appearance in the 2017 Hallmark Christmas film "Magical Christmas Ornaments."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tedde Moore, who played Miss Shields in 'A Christmas Story,' dies at 79

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