Wayne Morris
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 17, 1914
- Died
- September 14, 1959 (aged 45)
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, USA
Biography
Wayne Morris (February 17, 1914 – September 14, 1959), born Bert DeWayne Morris in Los Angeles, was an American film and television actor, as well as a decorated World War II fighter ace. He appeared in many notable films, including Paths of Glory (1957), The Bushwackers (1952) and the title role of Kid Galahad in 1937. While filming Flight Angels (1940), Morris became interested in flying and became a pilot. With war in the wind, he joined the Naval Reserve and became a Navy flier in 1942, leaving his film career behind for the duration of the war. Flying the F6F Hellcat off the aircraft carrier USS Essex, Morris shot down seven Japanese planes and contributed to the sinking of five ships. He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals. Morris was considered by the Navy as physically 'too big' to fly fighters. After being turned down several times as a fighter pilot, he went to his brother in law, Cdr. David McCampbell, imploring him for the chance to fly fighters. Cdr. McCampbell said "Give me a letter." He flew with the VF-15, the famed "McCampbell Heroes." He married Patricia O'Rourke, an Olympic swimmer, and sister to B-movie actress Peggy Stewart. Following the war, Morris returned to films, but his nearly four-year absence had cost him his burgeoning stardom. He continued to act in movies, but the pictures, for the most part, sank in quality. Losing his boyish looks but not demeanor, Morris spent most of the fifties in low-budget westerns. He made an unusual career move in 1957, making his Broadway debut as a washed-up boxing champ in William Saroyan's The Cave Dwellers. He also appeared as a weakling in Stanley Kubrick's Paths of Glory (1957). Morris suffered a massive heart attack while visiting aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard in San Francisco Bay and was pronounced dead after being transported to Oakland Naval Hospital in Oakland, California. He was 45. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Description above from the Wikipedia article Wayne Morris (American actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Known For
Filmography
Buffalo Gun
Movie · as Roche
Bourbon Street Beat
TV · 1 ep
Adventures in Paradise
TV · as Sam Agnew · 1 ep
Bronco
TV · 1 ep
Wanted: Dead or Alive
TV · as Mayor Barney Pax · 1 ep
Bat Masterson
TV · as Mace Pomeroy · 1 ep
Paths of Glory
Movie · as Lt. Roget/Singing man
Plunder Road
Movie · as Commando Munson
The Crooked Sky
Movie · as Mike Conlin
Official Detective
TV · 1 ep
Maverick
TV · 1 ep
The Gelignite Gang
Movie · as Jimmy Baxter
The Adventures of the Big Man
TV · as Bill Pierce · 16 eps
Lord of the Jungle
Movie · as Jeff Wood
The Lonesome Trail
Movie · as Dandy Dayton
Cross Channel
Movie · as Tex Parker
Gunsmoke
TV · as Nat · 1 ep
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV · as Bret Johnson · 1 ep
The Green Buddha
Movie · as Gary Holden
Riding Shotgun
Movie · as Deputy Sheriff Tub Murphy
Two Guns and a Badge
Movie · as Deputy Jim Blake
The Master Plan
Movie · as Major Thomas Brent
The Desperado
Movie · as Sam Garrett
Port of Hell
Movie · as Stanley Povich
Fighting Lawman
Movie · as Deputy Marshal Jim Burke
Texas Bad Man
Movie · as Walt
The Marksman
Movie · as Deputy Marshal Mike Martin
Star of Texas
Movie · as Texas Ranger Ed Ryan / Robert Larkin
Arctic Flight
Movie · as Mike Wien
Desert Pursuit
Movie · as Ford Smith
The Big Gusher
Movie · as Kenny Blake
Yellow Fin
Movie · as Mike Donovan
The Bushwhackers
Movie · as Marshal John Harding
Johnny One-Eye
Movie · as Dane Cory
Stage to Tucson
Movie · as Barney Broderick
Sierra Passage
Movie · as Johnny Yorke
The Tougher They Come
Movie · as Bill Shaw
The House Across the Street
Movie · as Dave Joslin
Task Force
Movie · as McKinney
The Younger Brothers
Movie · as Cole Younger
A Kiss in the Dark
Movie · as Bruce Arnold
John Loves Mary
Movie · as Lt. Victor O'Leary
Breakdowns of 1949
Movie · as Self
The Time of Your Life
Movie · as Tom
The Big Punch
Movie · as Chris Thorgenson
The Ed Sullivan Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Deep Valley
Movie · as Jeff Barker
The Voice of the Turtle
Movie · as Comm. Ned Burling
So You Want to Be in Pictures
Movie · as Self (uncredited)
Blow-Ups of 1947
Movie · as Self
The Smiling Ghost
Movie · as Alexander "Lucky" Downing
I Wanted Wings
Movie · as Tom Cassidy
Bad Men of Missouri
Movie · as Bob Younger
Three Sons o' Guns
Movie · as Charley Patterson
Double Alibi
Movie · as Stephen Wayne
Flight Angels
Movie · as Artie Dixon
Gambling on the High Seas
Movie · as Jim Carter
Ladies Must Live
Movie · as Corey Lake
Brother Rat and a Baby
Movie · as Billy Randolph
The Quarterback
Movie · as Jimmy Jones and Billy Jones
An Angel from Texas
Movie · as Mac McClure
The Return of Doctor X
Movie · as Walter Wichita Garrett
The Kid from Kokomo
Movie · as Homer Baston
Men Are Such Fools
Movie · as Jimmy Hall
Brother Rat
Movie · as Billy Randolph
Valley of the Giants
Movie · as Bill Cardigan
Love, Honor and Behave
Movie · as Ted Painter
Out Where the Stars Begin
Movie · as Wayne Morris
The Kid Comes Back
Movie · as Rush Conway
Kid Galahad
Movie · as Ward 'Kid Galahad' Guisenberry
Under Southern Stars
Movie · as Dallas
Submarine D-1
Movie · as "Sock" McGillis
Land Beyond the Law
Movie · as Dave Seymour
Smart Blonde
Movie · as Railroad Information Clerk (uncredited)
Once a Doctor
Movie · as Sailor on Nirvana
Polo Joe
Movie · as Spectator (uncredited)
King of Hockey
Movie · as Bill "Jumbo" Mullins
Here Comes Carter
Movie · as Bill
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
Movie · as Self
China Clipper
Movie · as Navigator on Clipper