CHESTER MORRIS BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:
Chester Morris was born on February 16th, 1901 in New York City, New York with the birth name John Chester Brooks Morris. His father, William Morris was an actor and his mother, Etta Hawkins was a comedienne. He also had two brothers who ultimately ended up working in the entertainment industry as well, Adrian Morris became an actor, and Gordon Morris worked as a writer.
At the age of seventeen, Morris made his Broadway debut in, "The Copperhead". Soon after he became involved in the film industry working on his first film, "An Amateur Orphan" (1917). It was not until the era of sound films, that he really began to establish his name in the industry. In the meantime, he continued to gain experience working on the stage in various Broadway productions such as, "Thunder" and "The Mountain Man" (both 1919). He was billing himself as, "the youngest leading man in the country".
His first talking picture was in 1929 in the film, "Alibi" in which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. This film role, followed with an appearance on the film, "The Big House" (1930) which was really what most consider to be his break through role.
Throughout the 1930's Morris continued to get cast in decent roles on first rated feature films, usually portraying a tough guy role in such films as, "The Bat Whispers" (1930) and "Corsair" (1931).
However, as his career progressed, the only roles being offered to him were in 'B' rated films such as, "Smashing the Rackets" (1938) and "Five Came Back" (1939). It was not until he got a role that lasted a total of 14 pictures, for a detective series called, "Boston Blackie" started by Columbia Pictures in 1941 that really made his mark in the industry. Morris will forever be remembered as the character, Boston Blackie.
From this point on, Morris mainly stuck to television work, however appearing every once in a while on a film. Some of his television work from the 1950's and 1960's included appearances in such series as, "Diagnosis: Unknown" (1960), "The Defenders" (1962-1965) and "Route 66" (1963-1964). Morris's last film appearance was in, "The Great White Hope" (1970).
Alongside a successful stage, television and film career as an actor, Morris was also a very talented stage magician. He was very comfortable on stage and his act included live animals and large stage feats. He also took his act to the stage during World War II entertaining at Army and US Navy camps.
Chester Morris married twice throughout his lifetime, first to Suzanne Kilborn from September 30th, 1927 and the couple had two children, Brooks and Cynthia before divorcing in 1939. He then married for a second time to, Lillian Kenton Barker from November 30th, 1940 and they had a son, Kenton.
Sadly, Morris was diagnosed with cancer and committed suicide in New Hope, Pennsylvania on September 11th, 1970 at the age of sixty nine from a barbiturate overdose.
Filmography
1970 The Great White Hope
1969 Gentle Ben
1968 Cimarron Strip
1967 Coronet Blue
1962-1965 The Defenders
1965 Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1964 Mr. Broadway
1964 Dr. Kildare
1964 Suspense
1964 Kraft Suspense Theatre
1964 East Side/West Side
1964 Espionage
1963-1964 Route 66
1962-1963 Alcoa Premiere
1962 The Eleventh Hour
1961 Ben Casey
1961 Checkmate
1961 Naked City
1961 A String of Beads
1960 Rawhide
1960 Diagnosis: Unknown
1960 Play of the Week
1959 The United States Steel Hour
1959 Oldsmobile Music Theatre
1958 Pursuit
1953-1957 Kraft Theatre
1957 Playhouse 90
1957 Zane Grey Theater
1957 The Red Skelton Hour
1956 The She-Creature
1954-1956 Studio One in Hollywood
1955 Appointment with Adventure
1955 Unchained
1954 The Philip Morris Playhouse
1954 The Web
1952-1953 Robert Montgomery Presents
1951-1953 Danger
1953 Omnibus
1952-1953 Suspense
1952 Tales of Tomorrow
1952 Lux Video Theatre
1952 Lights Out
1952 Schlitz Playhouse
1951 Starlight Theatre
1950 Cameo Theatre
1949 Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture
1948 Trapped by Boston Blackie
1947 Blind Spot
1946 Boston Blackie and the Law
1946 The Phantom Thief
1946 A Close Call for Boston Blackie
1946 One Way to Love
1945 Boston Blackie's Rendezvous
1945 Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion
1945 Rough, Tough and Ready
1944 Double Exposure
1944 One Mysterious Night
1944 Secret Command
1944 Gambler's Choice
1943 The Chance of a Lifetime
1943 High Explosive
1943 Aerial Gunner
1943 After Midnight with Boston Blackie
1943 Tornado
1942 Wrecking Crew
1942 Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood
1942 I Live on Danger
1942 Alias Boston Blackie
1942 Canal Zone
1941 Confessions of Boston Blackie
1941 No Hands on the Clock
1941 Meet Boston Blackie
1940 Girl from God's Country
1940 Wagons Westward
1940 The Marines Fly High
1939 Thunder Afloat
1939 Five Came Back
1939 Blind Alley
1939 Pacific Liner
1938 Smashing the Rackets
1938 Sky Giant
1938 Law of the Underworld
1937 Flight from Glory
1937 I Promise to Pay
1937 The Devil's Playground
1936 They Met in a Taxi
1936 Counterfeit
1936 Frankie and Johnnie
1936 Moonlight Murder
1936 Three Godfathers
1935 Pirate Party on Catalina Isle
1935 Pursuit
1935 Public Hero #1
1935 Princess O'Hara
1935 Society Doctor
1934 I've Been Around
1934 The Gay Bride
1934 Embarrassing Moments
1934 Gift of Gab
1934 Let's Talk It Over
1933 King for a Night
1933 Golden Harvest
1933 Tomorrow at Seven
1933 Infernal Machine
1933 Blondie Johnson
1932 Breach of Promise
1932 Red-Headed Woman
1932 Sinners in the Sun
1932 The Miracle Man
1932 Cock of the Air
1931 Corsair
1930 The Bat Whispers
1930 The Big House
1930 The Divorcee
1930 The Case of Sergeant Grischa
1930 She Couldn't Say No
1930 Playing Around
1930 Second Choice
1929 The Show of Shows
1929 Woman Trap
1929 Fast Life
1929 Alibi
1925 The Road to Yesterday
1923 Loyal Lives
1918 The Beloved Traitor
1917 An Amateur Orphan
