
Wayne Morris
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

Plunder Road

Paths of Glory

The Crooked Sky

The Gelignite Gang

Cross Channel

The Master Plan

The Lonesome Trail

Lord of the Jungle

Port of Hell

The Green Buddha

Two Guns and a Badge

The Desperado

Riding Shotgun

Texas Bad Man

Fighting Lawman

The Marksman

Star of Texas

Arctic Flight

Desert Pursuit

The Bushwhackers

Yellow Fin

The Big Gusher

Sierra Passage

Stage to Tucson

The Tougher They Come

Johnny One-Eye

Breakdowns of 1949

The House Across the Street

Task Force

The Younger Brothers

A Kiss in the Dark

John Loves Mary

The Time of Your Life

The Big Punch

Blow-Ups of 1947

The Voice of the Turtle

Deep Valley

So You Want to Be in Pictures

The Smiling Ghost

Three Sons o' Guns

Bad Men of Missouri

I Wanted Wings

The Quarterback

Ladies Must Live

Gambling on the High Seas

Flight Angels

An Angel from Texas

Double Alibi

Brother Rat and a Baby

The Return of Doctor X

The Kid from Kokomo

Brother Rat

Valley of the Giants

Men Are Such Fools

Out Where the Stars Begin

Love, Honor and Behave

The Kid Comes Back

Submarine D-1

Kid Galahad

Land Beyond the Law

Under Southern Stars

Once a Doctor

Smart Blonde

King of Hockey

Polo Joe

Here Comes Carter

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
