Wayne Morris

Acting

Born Feb 17, 1914

From Los Angeles, California, USA

Died Sep 14, 1959

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

Wayne Morris

Known For

Paths of Glory

Riding Shotgun

Deep Valley

China Clipper

Kid Galahad

The Return of Doctor X

Plunder Road

I Wanted Wings

The Bushwhackers

Bad Men of Missouri

Filmography — Acting

Paths of Glory

Riding Shotgun

Deep Valley

China Clipper

Kid Galahad

The Return of Doctor X

Plunder Road

I Wanted Wings

The Bushwhackers

Bad Men of Missouri

The House Across the Street

The Desperado

Task Force

The Younger Brothers

The Kid from Kokomo

Sierra Passage

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

Brother Rat

An Angel from Texas

The Time of Your Life

Arctic Flight

John Loves Mary

Out Where the Stars Begin

Blow-Ups of 1947

Men Are Such Fools

Submarine D-1

Port of Hell

The Quarterback

Brother Rat and a Baby

Star of Texas

The Voice of the Turtle

The Master Plan

Polo Joe

The Lonesome Trail

Smart Blonde

Two Guns and a Badge

A Kiss in the Dark

Once a Doctor

Flight Angels

Double Alibi

Gambling on the High Seas

Valley of the Giants

So You Want to Be in Pictures

Stage to Tucson

The Smiling Ghost

Under Southern Stars

Ladies Must Live

The Green Buddha

King of Hockey

Johnny One-Eye

The Big Gusher

Cross Channel

Love, Honor and Behave

The Big Punch

The Tougher They Come

Texas Bad Man

The Marksman

Land Beyond the Law

Fighting Lawman

Breakdowns of 1949

Buffalo Gun

The Kid Comes Back

Three Sons o' Guns

The Gelignite Gang

Desert Pursuit

The Crooked Sky

Yellow Fin