AP Photo

SEQUIM, Wash. (Mon December 10, 2001) (AP) _ Actress Pauline Moore, who starred in 25 films between 1937 and 1941, has died of Lou Gehrig's disease, her daughter said. She was 87.

Moore, both Charlie Chan's sidekick and Roy Rogers' leading lady, died of the fatal neuromuscular disease on Friday, said daughter Wendy Geagan.

Moore played teacher Ella in ``Heidi'' in 1937, Lady Constance in ``The Three Musketeers'' in 1939 and the psychic Eve Cairo in ``Charlie Chan at Treasure Island'' in 1939.

She also had a cameo role as Ann Rutledge in the 1939 movie ``Young Mr. Lincoln'' and played the heroine, Miss Sally, in the twelve-episode cliffhanger 1941 serial ``King of the Texas Rangers'' with ``Slingin' Sammy'' Baugh, her daughter said.

From 1956 through 1959, after a 15-year hiatus to raise a family and pursue other interests, Moore appeared in TV shows including ``Death Valley Days'' and ``Four-Star Playhouse.''

Moore moved to Sequim in July to be near one of her two daughters and her son, Geagan said.

As a young actress, Moore appeared in films starring Henry Fonda, David Niven, Loretta Young, Joel McCrea, Shirley Temple, Tyrone Power, Don Ameche and Caesar Romero.

Born in Harrisburg, Pa., she began her acting career with the Edna Preston stock company. By 1932, Moore was in New York appearing in Florenz Ziegfeld's last show, ``Ha Cha.''

She also worked as a model, appearing on the covers of Ladies Home Journal, Cosmopolitan and McCall's. Moore was also in the ``Hostess Girl'' painting on a 1934 Coca-Cola tray now considered highly collectible, Geagan said.

Moore worked under contract at 20th Century Fox and at Republic Studios for several years.

She also was an inspirational speaker and writer known for devotional poetry, short stories and religious plays, her daughter said.

Moore spent most of her adult life in Santa Monica, Calif. She was married to artist-cartoonist Jefferson Machamer from 1934 until his death in 1960. In 1962, she married minister Dodd Watkins, who died in 1972.

A private family service was planned. Details were not immediately available.

Copyright AP 2001. All rights reserved.