Wayne Morris

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

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: February 17, 1914

Deathday: September 14, 1959

Popularity:

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Known For

Paths of Glory
Paths of Glory

1957-10-25

The Return of Doctor X
The Return of Doctor X

1939-11-23

The House Across the Street
The House Across the Street

1949-09-10

Plunder Road
Plunder Road

1957-12-05

Polo Joe
Polo Joe

1936-11-04

Task Force
Task Force

1949-08-30

Deep Valley
Deep Valley

1947-07-30

The Green Buddha
The Green Buddha

1954-11-01

Johnny One-Eye
Johnny One-Eye

1950-05-05

Kid Galahad
Kid Galahad

1937-05-29

Double Alibi
Double Alibi

1940-03-01

The Smiling Ghost
The Smiling Ghost

1941-09-06

The Time of Your Life
The Time of Your Life

1948-09-03

Men Are Such Fools
Men Are Such Fools

1938-06-15

Flight Angels
Flight Angels

1940-05-18

The Kid from Kokomo
The Kid from Kokomo

1939-05-23

Under Southern Stars
Under Southern Stars

1937-02-20

The Younger Brothers
The Younger Brothers

1949-05-03

I Wanted Wings
I Wanted Wings

1941-03-26

Riding Shotgun
Riding Shotgun

1954-04-01

Brother Rat
Brother Rat

1938-10-29

Submarine D-1
Submarine D-1

1937-11-27

The Voice of the Turtle
The Voice of the Turtle

1947-12-25

Bad Men of Missouri
Bad Men of Missouri

1941-07-26

So You Want to Be in Pictures
So You Want to Be in Pictures

1947-06-07

The Big Gusher
The Big Gusher

1951-07-01

Gambling on the High Seas
Gambling on the High Seas

1940-06-22

Valley of the Giants
Valley of the Giants

1938-09-17

A Kiss in the Dark
A Kiss in the Dark

1949-03-25

Stage to Tucson
Stage to Tucson

1950-12-01

Land Beyond the Law
Land Beyond the Law

1937-03-13

King of Hockey
King of Hockey

1936-12-19

Lord of the Jungle
Lord of the Jungle

1955-06-12

Ladies Must Live
Ladies Must Live

1940-07-27

Love, Honor and Behave
Love, Honor and Behave

1938-03-12

The Big Punch
The Big Punch

1948-06-26

The Gelignite Gang
The Gelignite Gang

1956-06-20

Brother Rat and a Baby
Brother Rat and a Baby

1940-01-13

Arctic Flight
Arctic Flight

1952-10-19

Yellow Fin
Yellow Fin

1951-10-14

John Loves Mary
John Loves Mary

1949-02-04

Out Where the Stars Begin
Out Where the Stars Begin

1938-05-28

Here Comes Carter
Here Comes Carter

1936-10-24

Sierra Passage
Sierra Passage

1950-12-31

Fighting Lawman
Fighting Lawman

1953-09-20

Three Sons o' Guns
Three Sons o' Guns

1941-08-02

The Tougher They Come
The Tougher They Come

1950-11-16

Desert Pursuit
Desert Pursuit

1952-05-10

The Crooked Sky
The Crooked Sky

1957-03-31

Two Guns and a Badge
Two Guns and a Badge

1954-09-11

Texas Bad Man
Texas Bad Man

1953-12-20

The Master Plan
The Master Plan

1955-09-08

Smart Blonde
Smart Blonde

1937-01-02

Once a Doctor
Once a Doctor

1937-01-23

The Desperado
The Desperado

1954-06-20

The Kid Comes Back
The Kid Comes Back

1938-02-12

The Quarterback
The Quarterback

1940-10-15

An Angel from Texas
An Angel from Texas

1940-04-27

The Lonesome Trail
The Lonesome Trail

1955-07-01

The Bushwhackers
The Bushwhackers

1951-12-07

The Marksman
The Marksman

1953-04-10

Blow-Ups of 1947
Blow-Ups of 1947

1947-12-31

Star of Texas
Star of Texas

1953-01-11

Buffalo Gun
Buffalo Gun

1961-07-01

Breakdowns of 1949
Breakdowns of 1949

1949-12-31

Port of Hell
Port of Hell

1954-12-05

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)
Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

1936-09-11

China Clipper
China Clipper

1936-08-11

Cross Channel
Cross Channel

1955-09-29