Book excerpt: His acting has been compared to Chaplin and Keaton, critics have lauded his music, virtuosity and his sidesplitting performances have set new standards for fun. Dudley Moore: An Informal Biography examines the life and work of this comic genius and world-famous classical pianist. Lavishly illustrated, this first-ever biography covers Moore's long, tough climb to fame and fortune, his triumphs and failures on the British stage and BBC network, his offscreen romances and marriages, his string of box-office hits and failures and his dramatic fall from the top as Hollywood's hottest sex symbol.