Wayne Morris (born Bert DeWayne Morris Jr. February 17, 1914 – September 14, 1959) was an American film and television actor, as well as a decorated World War II

fighter ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

. He appeared in many films, including '' Paths of Glory'' (1957), '' The Bushwackers'' (1952), and the title role of '' Kid Galahad'' (1937).

Early life and career

Morris was born in

Los Angeles County, California Los Angeles County, officially the County of Los Angeles, and sometimes abbreviated as L.A. County, is the List of the most populous counties in the United States, most populous county in the United States and in the U.S. state of California, ...

to Bert DeWayne Morris and Anna Lorea Morris ( Fitzgerald). He attended Los Angeles City College and was a fullback on that school's varsity football team. He gained acting experience through his work at the Pasadena Playhouse. His film debut came in '' China Clipper'' (1936). He played the title character of '' Kid Galahad'' (1937), a story of a young prizefighter that featured some of Hollywood's biggest stars, Bette Davis,

Edward G. Robinson Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; December 12, 1893January 26, 1973) was a Romanian-American actor of stage and screen, who was popular during the Hollywood's Golden Age. He appeared in 30 Broadway plays and more than 100 films duri ...

and

Humphrey Bogart Humphrey DeForest Bogart (; December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), nicknamed Bogie, was an American film and stage actor. His performances in Classical Hollywood cinema films made him an American cultural icon. In 1999, the American Film In ...

. His career flourished in films like '' Brother Rat'', which starred

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...

, and in Bogart's only horror film, '' The Return of Doctor X'' (1939).

Military service

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. 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 uncle-in-law, Cdr. David McCampbell, imploring him for the chance to fly fighters. Cdr. McCampbell said "Give me a letter." He flew the F6F Hellcat off the

aircraft carrier An aircraft carrier is a warship that serves as a seagoing airbase, equipped with a full-length flight deck and facilities for carrying, arming, deploying, and recovering aircraft. Typically, it is the capital ship of a fleet, as it allows a ...

USS ''Essex'' with the

VF-15 Fighter Squadron 15 or VF-15 was an aviation unit of the United States Navy. Originally established on 1 September 1943, it was disestablished on 20 October 1945. During six months of combat in 1944 the squadron destroyed more enemy planes (312 in ...

(Fighter Squadron 15), the famed "McCampbell Heroes." A December 15, 1944 Associated Press news story reported that Morris was "credited with 57 aerial sorties, shooting down seven Japanese Zeros, sinking an escort vessel and a flak gunboat and helping sink a submarine and damage a heavy cruiser and a mine layer." He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals.

Later career

After 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 much of the 1950s in low-budget westerns, but also appeared as the cowardly Lieutenant Roget, one of the main characters, in

Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, his films, almost all of which are adaptations of nove ...

's '' Paths of Glory'' (1957). In 1957, Morris made his Broadway debut as a washed-up boxing champ in William Saroyan's ''The Cave Dwellers''. On television, Morris starred in a 1956 episode of '' Science Fiction Theater'', "Beam of Fire". In 1958, Morris appeared in ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' as "Nat", a groom almost shot to death. Wayne Morris played "Captain Hathaway" in 1959 on '' The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' (in the episode "The Sea Captain").

Personal life

Morris was first married to tobacco heiress Leonora (Bubbles) Schinasi; the couple later divorced. Eighteen months later, Morris married the 19-year-old Patricia Ann O'Rourke at the Long Beach, California Naval Air Base February 25, 1942. He had two daughters and a son.

Death

Aged 45, Morris died of a

coronary occlusion A coronary occlusion is the partial or complete obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery. This condition may cause a heart attack. In some patients coronary occlusion causes only mild pain, tightness or vague discomfort which may be ignored ...

September 14, 1959, aboard the .

Awards and decorations

During his naval service, Morris earned the following decorations:

Filmography

* '' China Clipper'' (1936) – Navigator on Clipper * ''

Here Comes Carter ''Here Comes Carter'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by William Clemens and written by Roy Chanslor. The film stars Ross Alexander, Glenda Farrell and Anne Nagel. Last film produced by First National Pictures and released on October 24 ...

'' (1936) – Bill * '' Polo Joe'' (1936) – Spectator (uncredited) * ''

King of Hockey ''King of Hockey'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Noel M. Smith and written by George Bricker. The film stars Dick Purcell, Anne Nagel, Marie Wilson, Wayne Morris, George E. Stone and Joseph Crehan. The film was released by Warner Bro ...

'' (1936) – Bill 'Jumbo' Mullins * '' Smart Blonde'' (1937) – Railroad Information Clerk (uncredited) * ''

Once a Doctor ''Once a Doctor'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by William Clemens and written by Robertson White and Ben Grauman Kohn. The film stars Jean Muir, Donald Woods, Gordon Oliver, Joe King, Henry Kolker and Gordon Hart. The film was release ...

'' (1937) – Sailor on 'Nirvana' (uncredited) * '' Land Beyond the Law'' (1937) – Dave Massey (Credits) / Dave Seymour * '' Kid Galahad'' (1937) – Ward Guisenberry / Kid Galahad * ''

Submarine D-1 ''Submarine D-1'' is a 1937 drama directed by Lloyd Bacon and starring Pat O'Brien, George Brent and Wayne Morris.. The film was produced by Cosmopolitan Productions and released by Warner Bros. Plot Butch Rogers and Sock McGillis are old submari ...

'' (1937) – 'Sock' McGillis * ''

The Kid Comes Back ''The Kid Comes Back'' is a 1938 prizefight film directed by B. Reeves Eason and starring Wayne Morris, Barton MacLane, June Travis and "Slapsie Maxie" Rosenbloom. The title may be meant to remind audiences of ''Kid Galahad'', a smash hit pr ...

'' (1938) – Rush Conway * '' Love, Honor and Behave'' (1938) – Ted Painter * ''

Men Are Such Fools ''Men are Such Fools'' is a 1938 American romantic comedy directed by Busby Berkeley and written by Norman Reilly Raine and Horace Jackson. The film stars Wayne Morris, Priscilla Lane, Humphrey Bogart, Hugh Herbert, Johnnie Davis, and Penny Sin ...

'' (1938) – Jimmy Hall * '' Valley of the Giants'' (1938) – Bill Cardigan * '' Brother Rat'' (1938) – Billy Randolph * '' The Kid from Kokomo'' (1939) – Homer Baston * '' The Return of Doctor X'' (1939) – Walter Garrett * '' Brother Rat and a Baby'' (1940) – Billy Randolph * '' Double Alibi'' (1940) – Stephen Wayne * ''

An Angel from Texas ''An Angel from Texas'' is a 1940 comedy film directed by Ray Enright and written by Fred Niblo Jr. and Bertram Millhauser. The film stars Eddie Albert, Rosemary Lane, Wayne Morris, Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. The film was released by Warne ...

'' (1940) – Mac McClure * '' Flight Angels'' (1940) – Artie Dixon * '' Gambling on the High Seas'' (1940) – Jim Carter * '' Ladies Must Live'' (1940) – Corey Lake * '' The Quarterback'' (1940) – Jimmy Jones and Billy Jones * '' I Wanted Wings'' (1941) – Tom Cassidy * ''

Badmen of Missouri ''Bad Men of Missouri'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and written by Charles Grayson. The film stars Dennis Morgan, Jane Wyman, Wayne Morris and Arthur Kennedy. The film was released by Warner Bros. on July 26, 19 ...

'' (1941) – Bob Younger * '' Three Sons o' Guns'' (1941) – Charley Patterson * '' The Smiling Ghost'' (1941) – Lucky Downing * ''

Deep Valley ''Deep Valley'' is a 1947 drama starring Ida Lupino and Dane Clark, directed by Jean Negulesco and produced and released by Warner Bros. A young woman lives unhappily with her embittered parents in an isolated rural home until an escaped convict ...

'' (1947) – Jeff Barker * '' Voice of the Turtle'' (1947) – Comm. Ned Burling * '' The Time of Your Life'' (1948) – Tom (Joe's stooge and friend) * '' The Big Punch'' (1948) – Chris Thorgenson * '' John Loves Mary'' (1949) – Lt. Victor O'Leary * '' A Kiss in the Dark'' (1949) – Bruce Arnold * ''

The Younger Brothers ''The Younger Brothers'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Wayne Morris, Bruce Bennett, Janis Paige. Plot Determined to reform from their outlaw ways, Cole, Jim and Bob Younger ride to Cedar Creek, Minnesot ...

'' (1949) – Cole Younger * '' Task Force'' (1949) – McKinney * ''

The House Across the Street ''The House Across the Street'' is a 1949 American comedy/newspaper film directed by Richard L. Bare and written by Russell S. Hughes. The film stars Wayne Morris, Janis Paige, Bruce Bennett, Alan Hale, Sr., James Mitchell and Barbara Bates. ...

'' (1949) – Dave Joslin * '' Johnny One-Eye'' (1950) – Dane Cory * '' The Tougher They Come'' (1950) – Bill Shaw * '' Stage to Tucson'' (1951) – Barney Broderick * ''

Sierra Passage ''Sierra Passage'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Warren Douglas, Samuel Roeca and Tom W. Blackburn. The film stars Wayne Morris, Lola Albright, Lloyd Corrigan, Alan Hale Jr., Roland Winters and Jim ...

'' (1950) – Johnny Yorke * '' The Big Gusher'' (1951) – Kenny Blake * '' The Bushwhackers'' (1951) – Marshal John Harding * '' Yellow Fin'' (1951) – Mike Donovan * '' Desert Pursuit'' (1952) – Ford Smith * ''

Arctic Flight ''Arctic Flight'' is a 1952 drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Wayne Morris, Alan Hale Jr. and Lola Albright. It was produced by Monogram Pictures. ''Arctic Flight'' depicts bush pilot flying in the Arctic on the edge of the Internat ...

'' (1952) – Mike Wien * ''

Star of Texas ''Star of Texas'' is a 1953 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Thomas Carr (director), Thomas Carr and starring Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris, Paul Fix and Frank Ferguson.Martin p.158 Plot Cast * Wayne Morris (Am ...

'' (1953) – Texas Ranger Ed Ryan / Robert Larkin * '' The Marksman'' (1953) – Deputy Marshal Mike Martin * ''

The Fighting Lawman ''Fighting Lawman'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Thomas Carr, produced by Vincent M. Fennelly, and written by Daniel B. Ullman. It stars Wayne Morris, Virginia Grey, John Kellogg, and Harry Lauter.Martin p.158 Cast * Wayne ...

'' (1953) – Deputy Marshal Jim Burke * ''

Texas Bad Man ''Texas Bad Man'' is a 1953 American Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and starring Wayne Morris, Frank Ferguson and Elaine Riley. Plot Cast *Wayne Morris as Walt *Frank Ferguson as Gil *Elaine Riley as Lois * Sheb Wooley as Mack *De ...

'' (1953) – Walt * '' Riding Shotgun'' (1954) – Deputy Sheriff Tub Murphy * '' The Desperado'' (1954) – Sam Garrett * '' The Master Plan'' (1954) – Maj. Thomas Brent * ''

Two Guns and a Badge ''Two Guns and a Badge'' is a 1954 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Lewis D. Collins and written by Daniel B. Ullman. The film stars Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris, Morris Ankrum, Beverly Garland, Roy Barcroft, Wi ...

'' (1954) – Deputy Jim Blake * '' The Green Carnation'' (1954) – Gary Holden * ''

Port of Hell ''Port of Hell'' is a 1954 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Harold D. Schuster and written by Tom Hubbard, Fred Eggers and Gil Doud. The film stars Dane Clark, Carole Mathews, Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morri ...

'' (1954) – Stanley Povich * '' Lord of the Jungle'' (1955) – Jeff Wood * ''

Lonesome Trail Lonesome may refer to: * ''Lonesome'' (1928 film), an American comedy drama part-talkie film * ''Lonesome'' (2022 film), an Australian drama film * Loneliness, the emotion * "Lonesome", a song by Unwritten Law from the album ''Unwritten Law'' * " ...

'' (1955) – Dandy Dayton * '' Cross Channel'' (1955) – Tex Parker * '' The Gelignite Gang'' (1956) – Jimmy Baxter * ''

The Crooked Sky ''The Crooked Sky'' is a low budget 1957 black and white British melodrama/crime film, directed by Henry Cass from a story by Maclean Rogers and Charles F. Vetter.Weaver 2011, p. 18. The film stars Wayne Morris (American actor), Wayne Morris, Anton ...

'' (1957) – Mike Conlin * '' Paths of Glory'' (1957) – Lieutenant Roget * ''

Plunder Road ''Plunder Road'' is a 1957 American crime film noir directed by Hubert Cornfield and starring Gene Raymond, Jeanne Cooper and Wayne Morris. Plot Five men carry out an elaborate plan to rob a gold shipment from a San Francisco-bound US mint train ...

'' (1957) – Commando Munson * '' Official Detective'' (1958, Episode: "The Cover-Up") – Holmes * '' Buffalo Gun'' (1961) – Roche (final film role)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Wayne 1914 births 1959 deaths 20th-century American male actors American World War II flying aces American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors Aviators from California Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United States) United States Naval Aviators United States Navy officers United States Navy pilots of World War II Warner Bros. contract players Deaths from coronary artery disease