Wayne Morris

Wayne Morris

Born:2/17/1914Died:9/14/1959
Place of Birth: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

Filmography

Buffalo Gun

Buffalo Gun

19610.0
Plunder Road

Plunder Road

19576.9
Paths of Glory

Paths of Glory

19578.3
The Crooked Sky

The Crooked Sky

19575.7
The Gelignite Gang

The Gelignite Gang

19566.4
Cross Channel

Cross Channel

19555.0
The Master Plan

The Master Plan

19556.0
The Lonesome Trail

The Lonesome Trail

19557.5
Lord of the Jungle

Lord of the Jungle

19556.4
Port of Hell

Port of Hell

19540.0
The Green Buddha

The Green Buddha

19545.4
Two Guns and a Badge

Two Guns and a Badge

19540.0
The Desperado

The Desperado

19546.6
Riding Shotgun

Riding Shotgun

19546.0
Texas Bad Man

Texas Bad Man

19530.0
Fighting Lawman

Fighting Lawman

19536.0
The Marksman

The Marksman

19530.0
Star of Texas

Star of Texas

19530.0
Arctic Flight

Arctic Flight

19526.8
Desert Pursuit

Desert Pursuit

19525.7
The Bushwhackers

The Bushwhackers

19515.1
Yellow Fin

Yellow Fin

19514.5
The Big Gusher

The Big Gusher

19515.0
Sierra Passage

Sierra Passage

19506.0
Stage to Tucson

Stage to Tucson

19505.7
The Tougher They Come

The Tougher They Come

19503.0
Johnny One-Eye

Johnny One-Eye

19504.9
Breakdowns of 1949

Breakdowns of 1949

19496.0
The House Across the Street

The House Across the Street

19494.5
Task Force

Task Force

19497.0
The Younger Brothers

The Younger Brothers

19495.0
A Kiss in the Dark

A Kiss in the Dark

19494.7
John Loves Mary

John Loves Mary

19494.8
The Time of Your Life

The Time of Your Life

19485.5
The Big Punch

The Big Punch

19485.3
Blow-Ups of 1947

Blow-Ups of 1947

19476.3
The Voice of the Turtle

The Voice of the Turtle

19476.6
Deep Valley

Deep Valley

19475.8
So You Want to Be in Pictures

So You Want to Be in Pictures

19475.8
The Smiling Ghost

The Smiling Ghost

19416.5
Three Sons o' Guns

Three Sons o' Guns

19415.0
Bad Men of Missouri

Bad Men of Missouri

19415.6
I Wanted Wings

I Wanted Wings

19415.4
The Quarterback

The Quarterback

19400.0
Ladies Must Live

Ladies Must Live

19406.0
Gambling on the High Seas

Gambling on the High Seas

19404.7
Flight Angels

Flight Angels

19404.3
An Angel from Texas

An Angel from Texas

19404.8
Double Alibi

Double Alibi

19404.5
Brother Rat and a Baby

Brother Rat and a Baby

19405.2
The Return of Doctor X

The Return of Doctor X

19395.9
The Kid from Kokomo

The Kid from Kokomo

19396.0
Brother Rat

Brother Rat

19385.0
Valley of the Giants

Valley of the Giants

19386.0
Men Are Such Fools

Men Are Such Fools

19385.6
Out Where the Stars Begin

Out Where the Stars Begin

19386.6
Love, Honor and Behave

Love, Honor and Behave

19383.5
The Kid Comes Back

The Kid Comes Back

19385.3
Submarine D-1

Submarine D-1

19374.7
Kid Galahad

Kid Galahad

19377.0
Land Beyond the Law

Land Beyond the Law

19377.0
Under Southern Stars

Under Southern Stars

19370.0
Once a Doctor

Once a Doctor

19376.3
Smart Blonde

Smart Blonde

19376.1
King of Hockey

King of Hockey

19365.0
Polo Joe

Polo Joe

19360.0
Here Comes Carter

Here Comes Carter

19365.0
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

19366.0
China Clipper

China Clipper

19365.6