Chester Morris

John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 – September 11, 1970) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some prestigious film roles early in his career, and received an Academy Award nomination for Alibi (1929). Morris is remembered for portraying Boston Blackie, a criminal-turned-detective, in the Boston Blackie film series of the 1940s.

Early years

File:The Beloved Traitor 1918.jpg

Morris and Mae Marsh in The Beloved Traitor (1918)

Chester Morris was born John Chester Brooks Morris in New York City, and was one of five children of Broadway stage actor William Morris and stage comedienne Etta Hawkins.<ref name=palmbeach>Template:Cite news</ref> His siblings who lived to adulthood were screenwriter-actor Gordon Morris,<ref name="AE2001">Template:Cite book</ref> actor Adrian Morris, and actress Wilhelmina Morris.<ref name="SAN2019">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Another brother, Lloyd Morris, had died young.<ref name="SAN2019"/>Template:Rp

Morris dropped out of school and began his Broadway career at 15 years old opposite Lionel Barrymore in The Copperhead.<ref name="reading">Template:Cite news</ref> He made his film debut in the silent comedy-drama film An Amateur Orphan (1917).<ref name="blottner">Template:Harvnb</ref>

After appearing in several more Broadway productions in the early 1920s, Morris joined his parents, sister, and two brothers, Gordon and Adrian, on the vaudeville circuit.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> From 1923, they performed William Morris' original sketch called All the Horrors of Home, which premiered at the Palace Theatre, New York, then on the Keith-Orpheum circuit for two years, including Proctor's Theatre, Mount Vernon, New York, and culminating in Los Angeles in 1925.<ref name="SAN2019"/>Template:Rp<ref name="KJ1980">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Morris returned to Broadway with roles in The Home Towners (1926) and Yellow (1927). While appearing in the 1927 play Crime, he was spotted by a talent agent and was signed to a film contract.<ref name=palmbeach/>

Career

File:Public Hero No1 Trailer.webm

Public Hero No. 1 trailer (1935)

Morris made his sound film debut in the 1929 film Alibi, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> He followed with roles in Woman Trap (1929), The Case of Sergeant Grischa (1930) and The Divorcee, starring Norma Shearer in 1930. Later that year, Morris was cast as one of the leads (with Wallace Beery and Robert Montgomery) in the MGM prison drama The Big House. For the next two years, he worked steadily in films for United Artists and MGM and was cast opposite Jean Harlow in the 1932 comedy-drama Red-Headed Woman.<ref name="Parish, Leonard 1976 413">Template:Harvnb</ref>

By the mid- to late 1930s, Morris' popularity had begun to wane and he was cast as the lead actor in such B-movies as Smashing the Rackets (1938) and Five Came Back (1939).<ref name="blottner"/> In 1941, Morris' career was revived when he was cast as criminal-turned-detective Boston Blackie. Morris appeared in a total of 14 Boston Blackie films for Columbia Pictures, beginning with Meet Boston Blackie. He reprised the role of Boston Blackie for the radio series in 1944.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> During World War II, Morris performed magic tricks in over 350 USO shows. He had been practicing magic since the age of 12 and was considered a top amateur magician.<ref name="henderson">Template:Cite news</ref>

While appearing in the Boston Blackie series, Morris continued to appear in roles in other films mostly for Pine-Thomas films for Paramount Pictures.<ref name="blottner"/> After appearing in 1949's Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture, the final Boston Blackie film, Morris largely retired from films.<ref name="reading"/> During the 1950s, he focused mainly on television and theatre, returning to Broadway in 1954 in the comedy The Fifth Season.<ref name="Billboard Fifth Season"/> During this time, Morris also appeared in guest spots for the anthology series Cameo Theatre, Lights Out, Tales of Tomorrow, Alcoa Premiere, Suspense, Danger, Robert Montgomery Presents, The Web, Phillip Morris Playhouse, Studio One, and Kraft Television Theatre. He briefly returned to films in 1955 with a role in the prison drama Unchained, followed by a role in the 1956 science-fiction horror film The She-Creature. In 1960, he had recurring role as Detective Lieutenant Max Ritter in the CBS summer replacement series, Diagnosis: Unknown. The series lasted a year, after which Morris appeared in the NBC television film A String of Beads. In November 1960, he returned to Broadway as Senator Bob Munson in the stage adaptation of the 1959 novel Advise and Consent. Morris remained with the production until it closed in May 1961. In October, he reprised his role for the touring production.<ref name="Parish, Leonard 1976 413"/>

In the early to mid-1960s, Morris appeared in guest spots for the dramas Route 66, The Defenders, and Dr. Kildare. In 1965, he replaced Jack Albertson in the Broadway production of The Subject Was Roses.<ref name="blottner"/> He reprised his role in the play for the touring production in 1966.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Illness and death

In mid-1968, Morris starred opposite Barbara Britton in the touring production of Where Did We Go Wrong?.<ref name="parish">Template:Harvnb</ref> After the production wrapped, he returned to his home in Manhattan, where his health began to decline. Morris was later diagnosed with stomach cancer.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>

Despite his declining health, Morris began work on what was his last film role, as Pop Weaver in the biographical drama The Great White Hope (1970). The film was released after his death.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After filming wrapped, Morris joined the stage production of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial at the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, Pennsylvania.<ref name="henderson"/>

On September 11, 1970, Lee R. Yopp, the producer and director of Caine, was scheduled to have lunch with Morris. After Yopp could not reach Morris by phone at his motel room, he went to Morris's room, where he found the actor's body lying on the floor.<ref name="parish"/> The county coroner attributed Morris's death to an overdose of barbiturates.<ref name="parish"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His remains were cremated and scattered over a German river.<ref>Template:Harv</ref>

Personal life

File:Chester-Lillian-Morris-1943-Photoplay.jpg

Morris and his wife Lillian in 1943

Morris was married twice. He first married Suzanne Kilbourne on November 8, 1926. They had two children, John Brooks and Cynthia.<ref name=palmbeach/> Kilbourne was granted an interlocutory divorce in November 1939 which was finalized on November 26, 1940.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On November 30, 1940, Morris married socialite Lillian Kenton Barker at the home of actor Frank Morgan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They had a son, Kenton, born in 1944. The couple remained married until Morris's death in 1970.<ref name="reading"/>

Select theatre credits

Date	Title	Role	Notes
February 18 – June 1918	Template:Sortname	Template:Sortname	Shubert Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
September 22 – October 1918	Thunder	Template:Sortname	Criterion Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
December 12, 1921 – April 1922	Template:Sortname	Carey	Maxine Elliott Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
September 22 – October 1922	Template:Sortname	Template:Sortname	Times Square Theater, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
January 23 – February 1923	Extra	Template:Sortname	Longacre Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
August 23 – October 1926	Template:Sortname	Template:Sortname	Hudson Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
September 21, 1926 – January 1927	Yellow	Template:Sortname	National Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
February 22 – August 1927	Crime	Template:Sortname	Eltinge 42nd Street Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
February 20 – May 1928	Whispering Friends	Template:Sortname	Hudson Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
September 26 – October 1928	Fast Life	Template:Sortname	Ambassador Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
June 4 – July 1951	Detective Story	Template:Sortname	Ivar Theater, Los Angeles, California<ref name="IBDb"/>
September 5 – October 23, 1954	Template:Sortname	Template:Sortname	Cort Theatre, New York City Touring to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chicago<ref name="Billboard Fifth Season">Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
February 27 – July 19, 1958	Blue Denim	Template:Sortname	Playhouse Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
November 17, 1960 – May 20, 1961	Advise and Consent	Template:Sortname	Cort Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
September 7, 1965 – May 21, 1966	Template:Sortname	Template:Sortname	Helen Hayes Theatre, Henry Miller's Theatre and Belasco Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1917	An Amateur Orphan	Dick	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1918	The Beloved Traitor	Dan	Lost film<ref name="AFI"/>
1923	Loyal Lives	O'Hara	Lost film<ref name="AFI"/>
1925	The Road to Yesterday	Party Guest (uncredited)	<ref name="AFI"/>
1929	Alibi	Chick Williams	Nominee for the Academy Award for Best Actor<ref name="AFI"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1929	Fast Life	Paul Palmer	<ref name="AFI"/>
1929	Woman Trap	Ray Malone	<ref name="AFI"/>
1929	Template:Sortname	Cast member	<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	Second Choice	Don Warren	Lost film<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	Playing Around	Nickey Solomon	<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	She Couldn't Say No	Jerry Casey	Lost film<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	The Case of Sergeant Grischa	Sgt. Grischa Paprotkin	<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	The Divorcee	Ted	<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	The Big House	John Morgan	<ref name="AFI"/>
1930	The Bat Whispers	Detective Anderson	<ref name="AFI"/>
1931	Corsair	John Hawkes	<ref name="AFI"/>
1932	Cock of the Air	Lieutenant Roger Craig	<ref name="AFI"/>
1932	The Miracle Man	John Madison, also known as Doc	<ref name="AFI"/>
1932	Sinners in the Sun	Jimmie Martin	<ref name="AFI"/>
1932	Red-Headed Woman	Bill Legendre Jr.	<ref name="AFI"/>
1932	Breach of Promise	James Pomeroy
1933	Blondie Johnson	Danny Jones	<ref name="AFI"/>
1933	Infernal Machine	Robert Holden	<ref name="AFI"/>
1933	Tomorrow at Seven	Neil Broderick	<ref name="AFI"/>
1933	Golden Harvest	Chris Martin	<ref name="AFI"/>
1933	King for a Night	Bud Williams
1934	Let's Talk It Over	Mike McGann
1934	Gift of Gab	Doyle	<ref name="AFI"/>
1934	Embarrassing Moments	Jerry Randolph
1934	The Gay Bride	Office Boy, also known as Jimmie Burnham	<ref name="AFI"/>
1934	Society Doctor	Dr. Bill Morgan	<ref name="AFI"/>
1935	I've Been Around	Eric Foster
1935	Princess O'Hara	Vic Toledo
1935	Public Hero ﹟1	Jeff Crane	<ref name="AFI"/>
1935	Pursuit	Mitchell	<ref name="AFI"/>
1935	Pirate Party on Catalina Isle	Pirate Captain (uncredited)
1936	Three Godfathers	Bob	<ref name="AFI"/>
1936	Moonlight Murder	Steve Farrell	<ref name="AFI"/>
1936	Frankie and Johnnie	Johnnie Drew	<ref name="AFI"/>
1936	Counterfeit	John Joseph Madden	<ref name="AFI"/>
1936	They Met in a Taxi	Jimmy Donlin
1937	The Devil's Playground	Robert Mason
1937	I Promise to Pay	Eddie Lang	<ref name="AFI"/>
1937	Flight from Glory	Smith	<ref name="AFI"/>
1937	Sunday Night at the Trocadero	Himself	Short subject
1938	Law of the Underworld	Gene Fillmore	<ref name="AFI"/>
1938	Sky Giant	Ken Stockton	<ref name="AFI"/>
1938	Smashing the Rackets	Jim Conway	<ref name="AFI"/>
1939	Pacific Liner	Doc Craig	<ref name="AFI"/>
1939	Blind Alley	Hal Wilson	<ref name="AFI"/>
1939	Five Came Back	Bill Brooks	<ref name="AFI"/>
1939	Thunder Afloat	"Rocky" Blake	<ref name="AFI"/>
1940	The Marines Fly High	Lt. Jim Malone	<ref name="AFI"/>
1940	Wagons Westward	David Cook/Tim Cook	<ref name="AFI"/>
1940	Girl from God's Country	Jim Holden, also known as Dr. Gary Currier
1941	Meet Boston Blackie	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1941	No Hands on the Clock	Humphrey Campbell	<ref name="AFI"/>
1941	Confessions of Boston Blackie	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1942	Canal Zone	"Hardtack" Hamilton
1942	Alias Boston Blackie	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1942	I Live on Danger	Jeff Morrell	<ref name="AFI"/>
1942	Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1942	Wrecking Crew	Duke Mason	<ref name="AFI"/>
1943	After Midnight with Boston Blackie	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1943	Aerial Gunner	Sgt. "Foxy" Pattis	<ref name="AFI"/>
1943	High Explosive	Buzz Mitchell
1943	The Chance of a Lifetime	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1943	Tornado	Pete Ramsey	<ref name="AFI"/>
1944	Gambler's Choice	Ross Hadley	<ref name="AFI"/>
1944	Secret Command	Jeff Gallagher	<ref name="AFI"/>
1944	One Mysterious Night	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1944	Double Exposure	Larry Burke	<ref name="AFI"/>
1945	Rough, Tough and Ready	Brad Crowder
1945	Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1945	Boston Blackie's Rendezvous	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1946	One Way to Love	Barry Cole
1946	A Close Call for Boston Blackie	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1946	The Phantom Thief	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1946	Boston Blackie and the Law	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1947	Blind Spot	Jeffrey Andrews	<ref name="AFI"/>
1948	Trapped by Boston Blackie	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1949	Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture	Boston Blackie	<ref name="AFI"/>
1955	Unchained	Warden Kenyon J. Scudder	<ref name="AFI"/>
1956	The She-Creature	Dr. Carlo Lombardi	<ref name="AFI"/>
1961	A String of Beads	Walter Harmon	TV movie
1970	The Great White Hope	Pop Weaver	<ref name="AFI"/>

Select television credits

Year	Title	Role	Episode(s)
1951	Starlight Theatre	Ed Kennedy	"Act of God Nonwithstanding"
1952	Schlitz Playhouse of Stars	The Dansker	"Billy Budd"
1952	Lux Video Theatre	Lefty	"Welcome Home, Lefty"
1953	Omnibus	The Battler	"The Battler"
1955	Appointment with Adventure	Lt. Kizer	"Time Bomb"
1956	Studio One	Jack Feeney	"The Arena"
1957	The Red Skelton Hour	Tony	"Clem's Fish Market"
1957	Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre	Frank Simmons	"Black Is for Grief"
1957	Playhouse 90	Warden	"Child of Trouble"
1958	Pursuit	Mood	"Tiger on a Bicycle"
1959	The United States Steel Hour	Henry Vining	"Whisper of Evil"
1960	The Play of the Week	Swanson	"Morning's at Seven"
1960	Diagnosis: Unknown	Detective Lieutenant Ritter	Three episodes
1960	Rawhide	Hugh Clements	"Incident on the Road to Yesterday"
1961	Naked City	Frank Manfred	"Make-Believe Man"
1961	Checkmate	Albert Dewitt	"Portrait of a Man Running"
1961	Ben Casey	Walter Tyson	"An Expensive Glass of Water"
1962	Eleventh Hour	Frankie Morrison	"Along About Late in the Afternoon"
1964	Espionage	Harry Kemp	"Castles in Spain"
1964	East Side/West Side	Walt McGill	"The Name of the Game"
1964	Mr. Broadway	Orin Kelsey	"Don't Mention My Name in Sheboygan"
1965	Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre	Major Whitman	"The Fliers"
1967	Coronet Blue	Dr. Michael Wilson	"A Time to Be Born"
1968	Cimarron Strip	George Deeker	"Without Honor"
1969	Gentle Ben	Elsmore	"Busman's Holiday"

Select radio credits

Year	Program	Notes
1944	Boston Blackie	Star of NBC series broadcast June 23 – September 15<ref name="Dunning">Template:Cite book</ref>
1945	Old Gold Comedy Theatre	"Boy Meets Girl"<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1946	Suspense	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
1952	Philip Morris Playhouse	"Each Dawn I Die"<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

References

Sources

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External links

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