Tedde Moore, Star of ‘A Christmas Story,’ Dies at 79

The actress's death was confirmed through a heartfelt family statement shared on social media, closing out a screen career that spanned more than four decades.

Tedde Moore, the Canadian actress known for playing the beloved and memorable Miss Shields in the 1983 classic "A Christmas Story," has died at age 79 after a battle with multiple sclerosis.

The announcement was made on her personal Facebook page on Thursday, August 6.

"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 statement read.

It continued, "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," the message concluded. Fans across the internet have flooded social media with condolences and farewells since the news broke.

"OMG NO!!!!!! I loved her! Every Christmas I watch this and I love her!!! I'm heartbroken right now I can't! This is too sad," one person mourned. "She may have left the set but Miss Shields will forever guard our holiday nostalgia. Rest in peace, Tedde," another wrote.

"That's pretty sad that she passed. A Christmas Story is my favorite Christmas movie & I loved watching it w/Dad & Mom [...] I still haven't watched the second movie cuz it wouldn't be the same w/watching it without them [...]. RIP Tedde Moore," a third shared.

"Rest in peace, Tedde Moore. Miss Shields will forever be part of Christmas for so many of us, that classroom scene is pure classic. Grateful for the warmth and humor she brought to A Christmas Story," someone else added.

Moore played the memorable role of lead character Ralphie Parker's teacher in "A Christmas Story," which also starred Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, and Darren McGavin. Her performance earned her a Genie Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role. '

Though the trophy eluded her, the cult classic comedy did take home the Genie Award for Best Screenplay, and director Bob Clark won Best Achievement in Direction. Decades later, its legacy still endures — the film was later named Best Iconic Film at the Family Film Awards.

Moore went on to reprise her role in 1994's "My Summer Story," originally released in theaters under the title "It Runs in the Family." In a 2021 video, Moore revealed she still referred to her co-stars as "boys," almost 40 years after the movie's release.

"I just wanted to tell you how much it has meant to me to be part of the 'Christmas Story' family," she said in a YouTube 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," she continued.

"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," she said.

Beyond her signature role, Moore built a broad résumé, appearing in the shows "RoboCop: Prime Directive," "The Kennedys," and "Friday the 13th: The Series," along with films like "Mistletoe over Manhattan" and "Down the Road Again."

She shared two children with Canadian film and television director Donald Shebib: daughter Suzanna, a former child actor who went on to become a teacher, and son Noah, a former child actor who later became a Grammy-winning music producer known professionally as "40."