Robert Morley


Robert Adolph Wilton Morley was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, often in supporting roles. In 1939 he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of King Louis XVI in Marie Antoinette.
In Movie Encyclopedia, film critic Leonard Maltin describes Morley as "recognisable by his ungainly bulk, bushy eyebrows, thick lips and double chin,... particularly effective when cast as a pompous windbag." Ephraim Katz in his International Film Encyclopaedia describes Morley as "a rotund, triple-chinned, delightful character player of the British and American stage and screen." In his autobiography, Responsible Gentleman, Morley said his stage career started with managements valuing his appearance for playing "substantial gentleman" roles – as a doctor, lawyer, accountant or other professional member of society.

Early life

Morley was born in Semley, Wiltshire, England, the son of Gertrude Emily and Robert Wilton Morley, a major in the British Army. His mother came from a German family that had emigrated to South Africa. Morley attended Wellington College, Berkshire, which he hated, followed by RADA. As he was a famous "Old Wellingtonian", generations of headmasters tried to contact him, without success, with Morley stating "the only reason for me visiting Wellington would be to burn it down".

Career

Morley made his West End stage debut in 1929 in Treasure Island at the Strand Theatre and his Broadway debut in 1938 in the title role of Oscar Wilde at the Fulton Theatre. Although soon won over to the big screen, Morley remained both a busy West End star and successful author, as well as appearing in touring productions.
A versatile actor, especially in his younger years, he played Louis XVI in Marie Antoinette, for which he received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor.
He co-wrote several plays for the stage. His 1937 play Goodness, How Sad was turned into an Ealing Studios film, Return to Yesterday, directed by Robert Stevenson. Later, he had outstanding success in London and New York with Edward, My Son, a gripping family drama written in 1947 in collaboration with Noel Langley. Morley played the central role of Arnold Holt. Edward, My Son was made into a movie by George Cukor for MGM-British. Morley's acting career continued with roles as a missionary in The African Queen, The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan, as W. S. Gilbert, and in Oscar Wilde. In 1959 he appeared in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents adaptation of a Stanley Ellin short story entitled, 'Specialty of the House'. In Ken Annakin's Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Morley is featured among an international ensemble cast including Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Terry-Thomas, James Fox, Red Skelton, Benny Hill, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Gert Fröbe and Alberto Sordi.
Morley also personified the conservative Englishman in many comedy and caper films. He was the face of BOAC as the merry television commercial spokesman of the 1970s with "We'll take good care of you" for British Airways. Later in his career, he received critical acclaim and numerous accolades for his performance in Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?
In 1980, Morley hosted and provided explanatory introductions to the 14-episode Granada Television anthology series Ladykillers. During the 1980s, Morley hosted a celebrity cooking show on Cable TV, Celebrity Chefs.
He was renowned as a witty raconteur and for being an eloquent conversationalist, as well as a noted and enthusiastic gourmet, in real life and in various roles in film and TV.
In January 1957, Morley went into partnership with Robin Fox in a new production company called the Robin Fox Partnership Ltd, with its offices at 24, Old Burlington Street. Morley was honoured by being the first King of Moomba appointed by the Melbourne Moomba festival committee and, in typical humility, he accepted the crown in bare feet. Morley was in Australia touring his one-man show, The Sound of Morley.
In his book British Film Character Actors, Terence Pettigrew wrote: "Morley, who has more wobbly chins than a Shanghai drinking club, enjoys poking fun at life's absurdities, among whom he generously includes himself."
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1974 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.

Personal life and honours

Robert Morley married Joan Buckmaster, a daughter of Dame Gladys Cooper. Their elder son, Sheridan Morley, became a writer and critic. They also had a daughter, Annabel, and another son, Wilton.
He was godfather to the eldest son of fellow actor Tom Chatto.
Morley was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1957 and was also offered a knighthood in 1975 but declined.
Morley was a member of the Labour Party and lived for decades in Wargrave, Berkshire.

Death

Morley died in Reading, England, from a stroke aged 84 on 3 June 1992.

Theatre career

Complete filmography

Scrooge as Rich Man Marie Antoinette as King Louis XVIYou Will Remember as Tom Barrett / Leslie StuartMajor Barbara as Andrew UndershaftThe Big Blockade as German: Von GeiselbrechtThis Was Paris as Van Der StuylPartners in Crime as Judge The Foreman Went to France as Mayor Coutare of BivaryThe Young Mr. Pitt as Charles James FoxI Live in Grosvenor Square, as Duke of ExmoorThe Ghosts of Berkeley Square as General "Jumbo" BurlapThe Small Back Room as The Minister Edward, My Son as Cameo Outcast of the Islands as Elmer AlmayerThe African Queen as Reverend Samuel Sayer, "The Brother"Curtain Up as Harry Derwent BlackerThe Story of Gilbert and Sullivan as W.S. GilbertMelba as Oscar Hammerstein I The Final Test as Alexander WhiteheadBeat the Devil as PetersonThe Good Die Young as Sir Francis RavenscourtThe Rainbow Jacket as Lord LoganBeau Brummell as King George IIIThe Adventures of Quentin Durward as King Louis XIA Likely Tale as Oswald Petersham / Jonah PetershamLoser Takes All as DreutherAround the World in 80 Days as Gauthier RalphFanny as PanisseLaw and Disorder as Judge CrichtonThe Sheriff of Fractured Jaw as Uncle LuciusAlfred Hitchcock Presents as Mr. LafflerThe Doctor's Dilemma as Sir Ralph Bloomfield-BoningtonThe Journey as Hugh DeverillLibel as Sir WilfredThe Battle of the Sexes as Robert MacPhersonOscar Wilde as Oscar WildeA Majority of One as Koichi AsanoThe Story of Joseph and His Brethren as PotipharThe Young Ones as Hamilton BlackGo to Blazes as Arson EddieThe Road to Hong Kong as Leader of the 3rd EchelonThe Boys as MontgomeryNine Hours to Rama as P.K. MussadiMurder at the Gallop as Hector EnderbyThe Old Dark House as Roderick FemmTake Her, She's Mine as Mr. Pope-JonesLadies Who Do as Colonel WhitforthHot Enough for June as Colonel CuncliffeOf Human Bondage as Dr. JacobsRhythm 'n' Greens as NarratorTopkapi as Cedric PageGenghis Khan as Emperor of ChinaThose Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines as Lord RawnsleyA Study in Terror as Mycroft HolmesThe Loved One as Sir Ambrose AmbercrombieLife at the Top as TiffieldThe Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics as NarratorThe Alphabet Murders as Captain Arthur HastingsTreasure Island Tender Scoundrel as Lord SwiftHotel Paradiso as Henri CotteLucy in London Way...Way Out as Harold QuonsetFinders Keepers as Colonel RobertsThe Trygon Factor as Hubert HamlynWoman Times Seven as Dr. Xavier - episode "Super Simone"Luther as Pope Leo XHot Millions as Caesar SmithSome Girls Do as Miss MarySinful Davey as Duke of ArgyllTwinky as Judge RoxboroughDoctor in Trouble as Captain George SprattCromwell as The Earl of ManchesterSong of Norway as BergWhen Eight Bells Toll as Sir Arthur Arnford-Jones Many Moons as NarratorTheatre of Blood as Meredith MerridewGreat Expectations as Uncle PumblechookHugo the Hippo as The Sultan The Blue Bird as Father TimeThe Fortune Hunters as Mr. Justice BosanquetWho Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe? as Max VandeveerThe Human Factor as Dr. PercivalScavenger Hunt as Charles BernsteinTales of the Unexpected as Harry KnoxOh! Heavenly Dog as BernieLoophole as GodfreyThe Great Muppet Caper as British GentlemenThe Deadly Game as Emile CarpeauHigh Road to China as BentikThe Old Men at the Zoo as Lord GodmanchesterSecond Time Lucky as GodAlice in Wonderland as King of HeartsThe Wind as Elias ApplebyThe Trouble with Spies as AngusLittle Dorrit as Lord Decimus BarnacleWar and Remembrance as Alistair TudsburyThe Lady and the Highwayman as Lord ChancellorAround the World in 80 Days as WentworthIstanbul as Atkins

Publications

More Morley Robert Morley's Book of Bricks Worry! Robert Morley's Book of Worries Robert Morley's Second Book of Bricks
  • ''The Pleasures of Age''