Edward Norris


Septimus Edward Norris was an American film actor.

Early years

Norris was born in 1911, the son of a prominent Philadelphia gynecologist, who was described in a newspaper article as "a famous surgeon and chief of staff at the city's largest hospital." He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At age 16, he dropped out of the Culver Military Academy to marry a socially prominent physician's daughter, Virginia Bell Hiller, and took a job as a reporter.

Film

Norris performed in over 70 films during his 20+ year career in Hollywood, including appearing with Lana Turner in her debut film role in They Won't Forget, a film that was based on the Leo Frank case, where Norris starred as the character analogous to Frank. See full filmography below.

Television

Norris made his television debut in 1951 with two appearances on Fireside Theater.
During the course of his 12-year span on television he made two guest appearances on Perry Mason: "The Case of the Fiery Fingers" and "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark". He ended his film and television career the following year when he appeared on an episode of The Third Man, titled "Ghost Town".

Military service

Norris was a flying instructor in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.

Personal life

After Hiller, Norris was married to actresses Ann Sheridan and Lona Andre. On July 21, 1942, newspaper columnist Harrison Carroll reported that Norris "eloped to Arizona Saturday with a new Hollywood beauty who gave her name as Jane Doe." Another newspaper report said, "An affidavit on file testified that the girl's correct name was Jane Doe." The bride's real name was revealed by columnist Jimmie Fidler on July 30, 1942: "The girl Edward Norris married and introduced to reporters as 'Jane Doe' is June Satterlee, ex-night club hatcheck looker. She's to make a picture to be titled Meet Jane Doe." In March 1943, Norris was granted a divorce from Satterlee "after testifying that she married him solely to further her career in pictures." Mickey June Satterlee was the older sister of Peggy Larue Satterlee, known for accusing Errol Flynn of statutory rape, the incident occurring when Peggy was 15 in August 1941. Both sisters were aspiring actresses. Flynn was acquitted of rape in February 1943.
Norris was an avid shooter and "won many ribbons and trophies in skeet matches throughout the country." He was also a licensed pilot.

Death

Norris died on December 18, 2002, at Fort Bragg, California.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1933Queen ChristinaCount JacobUncredited
1934This Side of HeavenClarke - Upper ClassmanUncredited
1934Coming Out PartyParty GuestUncredited
1934Paris InterludeReporterUncredited
1935One New York NightTomUncredited
1935Naughty MariettaSuitorUncredited
1935Wagon TrailClay Hartley, Jr.
1935Teacher's BeauRalph WilsonShort
1935Murder in the FleetSleepyUncredited
1935Mad LoveMan Outside Theater of HorrorsUncredited
1935Woman WantedMan on Phone at PartyUncredited
1935Show Them No Mercy!Joe Martin
1936Tough GuyBudUncredited
1936Small Town GirlHarvard Man in CarUncredited
1936The [Magnificent Brute (1936 film)|The Magnificent Brute]Hal Howard
1937Mama Steps OutFerdie Fisher - the Bandleader
1937Song of the CityGuido Romandi
1937Between [Two Women (1937 film)|Between Two Women]Dr. Barili
1937They Won't ForgetRobert Perry Hale
1937Bad GuySteve Carrol
1938Boys TownJoe Marsh
1938Newsboys' HomeFrankie Barber
1939Tail SpinSpeed Allen
1939On TrialArbuckle
1939The GorillaJack Marsden
1939Frontier MarshalDan Blackmore
1939Here I Am a StrangerLester Bennet
1939The EscapeLouie Peronni
1939Scandal SheetPetty Haynes
1940Dr. Ehrlich's Magic BulletDr. Morgenroth
1940Ski PatrolPaavo Luuki
1940The Lady in QuestionRobert LaCoste
1941Road ShowEd Newton
1941Back in the SaddleTom Bennett
1941Here Comes HappinessChet Madden
1941Angels with Broken WingsSteve Wilson
1941Doctors Don't TellDr. Frank Blake
1942The Lady Has PlansFrank Richards
1942A Close Call for Ellery QueenStewart Cole
1942The Man with Two LivesPhilip Bennett
1942The [Mystery of Marie Roget (film)|The Mystery of Marie Roget]Marcel Vigneaux
1942I Live on DangerEddie Nelson
1942Sabotage SquadEddie Miller
1942The Great ImpersonationCaptain Francois Bardinet
1942Mug TownClinker
1943You Can't Beat the LawJohnny Gray
1943No Place for a LadyMario
1943Wings Over the PacificLt. Allan Scott, USN
1943The Sultan's DaughterJimmy
1944Sing a JingleAbbott
1944Career GirlSteve Dexter
1944Men on Her MindJeffrey Wingate
1944Shadows in the NightJess Hilton
1944The Singing SheriffVance
1944End of the RoadRobert Kirby
1945Night Club GirlClark Phillips
1945Jungle QueenBob ElliotSerial
1945Penthouse RhythmCharles Henry Holmes Jr.
1946Murder in [the Music Hall]Carl Lang
1946The Truth About MurderWilliam Ames Crane
1946DecoyJim Vincent
1947HeartachesJimmy McDonald, Evening Telegram Reporter
1948Trapped by Boston BlackieIgor Borio
1949Forgotten WomenAndy Emerson
1949The Mysterious DesperadoRamon Bustamante
1949The Wolf HuntersPaul Lautrec
1950Killer SharkRamon - crewman
1950SurrenderWilbur
1950BreakthroughSgt. Roy Henderson
1950The Blazing SunDoc Larry Taylor
1950Highway 301Noyes Hinton
1951I Was a Communist for the FBIHarmon
1951Inside the Walls of Folsom PrisonSgt. Cliff Hart
1953Murder Without TearsWarren Richards
1953The Man from the AlamoMapes
1956The KentuckianRoulette Dealer