Volume III: Biographies

MOYEA, John W. *

Actor (1911-1912)

Thanhouser Career Synopsis: John W. Moyea was an actor with Thanhouser circa 1911-1912.

Biographical Notes: The New Rochelle Evening Standard carried the following on the front page of its August 23, 1912 issue: "Actor Killed by Fall From Train.... Recently Played Character Roles for Thanhouser: Just how John W. Moyea, an actor living in North Pelham, happened to fall from the rear of a train near Pelham last night may be learned at an inquest to be held by Coroner William H. Livingston. Mr. Moyea was killed instantly. His body is in Davis Morgue on Rose Street.

"Mr. Moyea had been rehearsing in New York with the Underworld Company in which he was to play the role of a convict. He was on his way to the home of his daughter, Mrs. John G. Sperling, 137 1st Avenue, North Pelham, with whom he lived. As the train, the 518 from Grand Central Station and due at Pelham at 5:50, pulled out of the Columbus Avenue station, Mount Vernon, he went out on the rear platform. It has not been learned by the coroner whether anyone was on the platform at the time. It was said by someone in the car that Mr. Moyea felt ill and went out to vomit, lost his balance, and fell over the railing. This seems to be borne out by the fact that the front of his coat was stained. Others say his hat blew off and in trying to recover it he overreached and fell from the rapidly moving train. His body rolled along the tracks for about 20 feet.

"The train was stopped and backed. The man was dead and the body was put into the baggage car and taken to the Pelham Station where it remained until brought to New Rochelle by order of Coroner Livingston. The accident happened near the 2nd Avenue bridge nor far from the Sperling home. Death was probably caused by a fracture of the skull or a broken or dislocated neck. The right side of the face and head was crushed. Apparently there was not another mark on the body. An examination of the body will be made today. Many New Rochelle commuters who were on the train saw the body when it was picked up and were delayed in reaching their homes.

"Mr. Moyea was about 60 years of age and had been engaged in some well known plays during his career. For many years he was a stage director. In recent years he played comedy and character roles. For some time he was employed by the Thanhouser Company, this city, to play character roles for the more important motion picture plays."

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