Wayne Morris
Wayne Morris was an American film and television actor, as well as a decorated World War II fighter ace. He appeared in many films, including Paths of Glory, The Bushwackers, and the title role of Kid Galahad.
Early life and career
Morris was born in Los Angeles County, California, to Bert DeWayne Morris and Anna Lorea Morris. 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 was in the China Clipper. He played the title character of Kid Galahad, a story of a young prizefighter that featured some of Hollywood's biggest stars, Bette Davis, Edward G. Robinson and Humphrey Bogart. His career flourished in films like Brother Rat, which starred Ronald Reagan, and in Bogart's only horror film, The Return of Doctor X.
Military service
While filming Flight Angels, Morris became interested in flying and became a pilot. With war in the wind, he joined the United States Naval Reserve and became a United States Navy aviator in 1942, leaving his film career behind for the duration of World War II.
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, Commander David McCampbell, imploring him for the chance to fly fighters. McCampbell said "Give me a letter." He flew the F6F Hellcat off the aircraft carrier with Fighter Squadron 15 (VF-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 an antiaircraft gunboat and helping sink a submarine and damage a heavy cruiser and a minelayer." 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's Paths of Glory.
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 as "Nat", a groom almost shot to death. Wayne Morris played "Captain Hathaway" in 1959 on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and posthumously as Sheriff Sam Cloggett in 1960 on New Comedy Showcase.
Personal life
Morris was first married to tobacco heiress Leonora 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 on September 14, 1959, aboard the attack aircraft carrier.
Awards and decorations
During his naval service, Morris earned the following decorations:
Filmography
China Clipper as Navigator on ClipperHere Comes Carter as BillPolo Joe as Spectator King of Hockey as Bill 'Jumbo' MullinsSmart Blonde as Railroad Information Clerk Once a Doctor as Sailor on 'Nirvana' Land Beyond the Law as Dave Massey / Dave SeymourKid Galahad as Ward Guisenberry / Kid GalahadSubmarine D-1 as 'Sock' McGillisThe Kid Comes Back as Rush ConwayLove, Honor and Behave as Ted PainterMen Are Such Fools as Jimmy HallValley of the Giants as Bill CardiganBrother Rat as Billy RandolphThe Kid from Kokomo as Homer BastonThe Return of Doctor X as Walter GarrettBrother Rat and a Baby as Billy RandolphDouble Alibi as Stephen WayneAn Angel from Texas as Mac McClureFlight Angels as Artie DixonGambling on the High Seas as Jim CarterLadies Must Live as Corey LakeThe Quarterback as Jimmy Jones and Billy JonesI Wanted Wings as Tom CassidyBadmen of Missouri as Bob YoungerThree Sons o' Guns as Charley PattersonThe Smiling Ghost as Lucky DowningDeep Valley as Jeff BarkerThe [Voice of the Turtle (film)|The Voice of the Turtle] as Comm. Ned BurlingThe [Time of Your Life (film)|The Time of Your Life] as Tom The Big Punch as Chris ThorgensonJohn Loves Mary as Lieutenant Victor O'LearyA [Kiss in the Dark (1949 film)|A Kiss in the Dark] as Bruce ArnoldThe Younger Brothers as Cole YoungerTask Force as McKinneyThe House Across the Street as Dave JoslinJohnny One-Eye as Dane CoryThe Tougher They Come as Bill ShawStage to Tucson as Barney BroderickSierra Passage as Johnny YorkeThe Big Gusher as Kenny BlakeThe Bushwhackers as Marshal John HardingYellow Fin as Mike DonovanDesert Pursuit as Ford SmithArctic Flight as Mike WienStar of Texas as Texas Ranger Ed Ryan / Robert LarkinThe Marksman as Deputy Marshal Mike MartinThe Fighting Lawman as Deputy Marshal Jim BurkeTexas Bad Man as WaltRiding Shotgun as Deputy Sheriff Tub MurphyThe Desperado as Sam Garrett The Master Plan as Major Thomas BrentTwo Guns and a Badge as Deputy Jim Blake [The Green Carnation (film)|The Green Carnation] as Gary HoldenPort of Hell as Stanley PovichLord of the Jungle as Jeff WoodThe Lonesome Trail as Dandy DaytonCross Channel as Tex ParkerThe Gelignite Gang as Jimmy BaxterThe Crooked Sky as Mike ConlinPaths of Glory as Lieutenant RogetPlunder Road as Commando MunsonOfficial Detective as HolmesAlfred Hitchcock Presents as Bret JohnsonNew Comedy Showcase as Sheriff Sam CloggettBuffalo Gun as Roche