Tedde Moore dead at 79: A Christmas Story actress passes away 17 years after revealing MS battle

A Christmas Story icon Tedde Moore has died aged 79, her heartbroken family have announced.

Moore, who is best known for her role as teacher Miss Shields in the 1983 Christmas classic opposite Peter Billingsley, passed away on August 5 in Huntsville, Ontario.

A Facebook post read, 'On Wednesday August 5th under sunny skies overlooking Fairy Lake, Tedde passed away surrounded by family physically and spiritually in her beloved Huntsville Muskoka.

'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.'

A cause of death was not revealed. Moore revealed she had multiple sclerosis in 2009.

Moore shares two children with Canadian film and television director Donald Shebib, who died in 2023.

They welcomed daughter Suzanna, who was formerly a child star, and son Noah, 43, a Grammy-winning music producer known for his work with Drake.

Noah was diagnosed with MS in 2005 aged 22.

Moore is also mother to daughter Zoe from a previous relationship with actor Patrick Christopher Carter, and raised a foster daughter, Chaunce Drury. She has five grandchildren.

Moore was nominated for a Genie Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1984 for A Christmas Story. 

Moore reprised her beloved Miss Shields role in the 1994 film My Summer Story.

Her film credits also include Second Wind (1976), Murder by Decree (1979), Overnight (1985), and Down the Road Again (2011).

In 2011, Moore starred as Mrs. Claus in the TV movie Mistletoe over Manhattan and as Nanny Shaw in the mini-series The Kennedys.