Moorer's first professional acting experience was in 1979 at Hartnell Summer Theatre, playing Ottavio in "Scapino". The following year he played Bertram in "All's Well that Ends Well" and Benedick in "Much Ado About Nothing". He continued playing roles in companies throughout California, including Gunner in "Misalliance" (1981); Garth in "Philadelphia Here I Come" and Cliff in "The Woolgatherer", Lancelot Gobbo in "The Merchant of Venice" and Tranio in "Taming of the Shrew" (all in 1982); Philip in "The Lion in Winter" and the title role in an adaptation of "Tom Jones" (both in 1983); Mark in "Mass Appeal", Nick in David Mamet's "The Woods" and Toumel in "A Flea in Her Ear" (all in 1984); George in "Of Mice and Men", John Merrick in "The Elephant Man", Levinsky in "Nuts", Dromio in "Comedy of Errors" and Romeo in "Romeo and Juliet" (all in 1985); Jack in "Charley's Aunt" (1986); and the title role in "Robin Hood: The King Returns" (1987) by Dan Gotch.