Robert Morse | |
|---|---|
 Morse in 1958 | |
| Born | Robert Alan Morse (1931-05-18)May 18, 1931 Newton, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | April 20, 2022(2022-04-20) (aged 90) Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1953–2022 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 |
Robert Alan Morse (May 18, 1931 – April 20, 2022) was an American actor. Known for his gap-toothed boyishness, he started his career as a star onBroadway acting in musicals and plays before expanding into film and television. He earned numerous accolades including twoTony Awards, twoDrama Desk Awards, aPrimetime Emmy Award, and aScreen Actors Guild Award.
For his roles onBroadway, Morse won twoTony Awards; the first forBest Actor in a Musical for playing J. Pierrepont Finch inHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961), a role which he reprised in the1967 film adaptation; the second forBest Actor in a Play for portrayingTruman Capote in theone-man playTru (1988), a role which he reprised in the1992 television production, earning him aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. Morse was also Tony-nominated forSay, Darling (1959),Take Me Along (1960), andSugar (1973). Morse acted in his final stage role in the Broadway revival of the newspaper comedyThe Front Page from 2016 to 2017.
Morse acted in the filmsThe Matchmaker (1958),The Cardinal (1963),The Loved One (1965), andA Guide for the Married Man (1967). Known for his television roles, he played Robert Dickson in the ABC comedy seriesThat's Life from 1968 to 1969, for which he was nominated forPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series. Morse attained a career resurgence playingBertram Cooper in the critically acclaimedAMC period drama seriesMad Men from 2007 to 2015.[1][2][3][4] The role earned him nominations for fivePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. He portrayedDominick Dunne in theFX limited seriesThe People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016).
Morse was born on May 18, 1931, inNewton, Massachusetts, the second child of May (Silver), a pianist, and Charles Morse, who worked at a record store and managed a theater chain.[5][6] He wasJewish.[7] He attended a number of different schools until finding his inspiration in Henry Lasker, a music teacher atNewton High School who, according to Morse, "knew what I had burning in me and wanted to express".[8][9] Upon graduation, he left home forNew York City to fulfill his ambition of becoming an actor, joining his elder brother Richard who was already studying acting at theNeighborhood Playhouse. He received an uncredited role inThe Proud and Profane (1956), a film starringWilliam Holden andDeborah Kerr. Morse served in theU.S. Navy during theKorean War aboard thedestroyerUSS Black.[10]
Morse earned multiple nominations and wins for Tony,Drama Desk, and Emmy awards over a period of five decades. He appeared in musicals and plays on Broadway, as well as in films and television shows. Morse made his television debut in theCBS soap operaThe Secret Storm in 1954. His first film role was uncredited in the romantic dramaThe Proud and Profane (1956). In 1955, he made hisBroadway debut playing Barnaby Tucker in theThornton Wilder comedic playThe Matchmaker, a role which he reprised in the1958 film of the same name directed byJoseph Anthony. Morse also played Bobby in theOtto Preminger directed drama filmThe Cardinal (1963). During this time, he took television roles inThe Alcoa Hour,Alfred Hitchcock Presents,Naked City,The Play of the Week, andThe Jonathan Winters Show. Morse returned to Broadway playing Ted Snow in the comedic showSay, Darling. Critic John Chapman of TheNew YorkDaily News, described Morse's performance as being "splendid".[11] He would go on to receive aTheatre World Award, as well as his first Tony Award nomination forBest Featured Actor in a Play, losing toCharlie Ruggles inThe Pleasure of His Company.
The following year, he played Richard Miller in the musicalTake Me Along (1959) based on theEugene O'Neill playAh, Wilderness!. Morse acted alongsideJackie Gleason andWalter Pidgeon.[12] For his role, Morse received his second Tony nomination, this time forBest Actor in a Musical.[13]
Morse gained stardom for portraying the young 1960sNew York City businessman J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway production,Frank Loesser andAbe Burrows musical,How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The production earned raves withNew York Times criticHoward Taubman, writing that Robert Morse played Finch "with unfailing bravura and wit", pronouncing Finch, as portrayed by Morse, "a rumpled, dimpled angel with a streak of Lucifer."[14] The production received numerous accolades including thePulitzer Prize for Drama and seven Tony Awards. He went on to receive his third Tony Award nomination and first win forBest Actor in a Musical.[15] Although he was not named on the award, he contributed to theGrammy Award-winning cast album.[16]
He reprised the role in the1967 film adaptation of the same name.[17]Bosley Crowther ofThe New York Times praised the film adaptation, citing it as successfully re-creating "just about everything that was conducive to the stage success." Crowther especially noted his performance, writing "Seeing Mr. Morse in close-ups, as those wily expressions cross on his face and those wicked designs of Pal Joey gleam in his Horatio Alger-character eyes, is better than seeing him on the stage".[18] In 1964, Morse co-starred in the comedy filmQuick, Before It Melts. The following year, he appeared in the black comedy filmThe Loved One, a film based on theEvelyn Waugh novel of the same name which satirized the funeral business in Los Angeles, particularlyForest Lawn Cemetery. In 1967, he co-starred inGene Kelly'sA Guide for the Married Man, oppositeWalter Matthau, and inOh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad, which had been filmed two years previously.[19][20]
In 1968, he appeared in the comedyWhere Were You When the Lights Went Out? oppositeDoris Day. That same year, he acted in the television seriesThat's Life, which attempted to blend the musical genre with a situation comedy centered on newlyweds "Robert" and "Gloria" (played byE. J. Peaker).[21] The series was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Series. Additionally, he guest-starred onThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.[22] During this time, he also appeared in episodes ofNight Gallery,Love, American Style, andAlias Smith and Jones.
Morse was in the original Broadway cast ofSugar, a 1972 musical stage adaptation ofSome Like It Hot. T.E. Killam ofTime wrote of Morse's performance, "Morse captures the tremor, tenderness, coquettishness and vulnerability of a girl's first love. Morse is an enormously personable stage presence, and he knows it."[23] For the role, he won the Drama Desk Award and was again nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Morse joined other performers, includingMarlo Thomas, in creating the 1972Free to Be... You and Me children's album.[17] He provided the voice for the cartoon character Howler inHanna-Barbera'sPound Puppies. ForRankin/Bass, he voiced Jack in the 1979 animated specialJack Frost,[24] as well as the main character Stuffy inThe First Easter Rabbit.[25] Morse appeared in dozens of TV shows,[26] includingAlfred Hitchcock Presents andThe Twilight Zone.[27] He also appeared onCBS Radio Mystery Theater.[28]
He starred in the 1976 musicalSo Long, 174th Street, which was based on the playEnter Laughing. It received poor reviews and closed quickly, becoming Morse's last Broadway role for more than a decade.[6] In 1987, Morse appeared in the filmThe Emperor's New Clothes, which starredSid Caesar and was part of theCannon Movie Tales series.[29] Morse made his return to Broadway portraying author and socialiteTruman Capote in the one man showTru (1989), earning rave reviews for his performance as well as theTony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and theDrama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show.[30] In 1992, he recreated hisTru performance for thePBS seriesAmerican Playhouse and won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. In 1999, Morse was inducted into theAmerican Theater Hall of Fame for his long career as a stage actor.[31]
During the 1990s, he also took on numerous voice roles in various animated shows such asTiny Toon Adventures,Rugrats,Superman: The Animated Series, andThe Wild Thornberrys. In 2000, he acted in theCBS medical dramaCity of Angels playing Edwin O'Malley, acting alongsideBlair Underwood,Vivica A. Fox,Viola Davis, andMaya Rudolph. In 2002, Morse was cast as theWizard of Oz in theSan Francisco run of theStephen Schwartz musicalWicked at theCurran Theatre, and acted oppositeIdina Menzel andKristin Chenoweth. Morse quit the show before its Broadway opening and was replaced byJoel Grey.[32]
Beginning in 2007, Morse took on a recurring role in the critically acclaimedAMC dramatic seriesMad Men as elder 1960s New York City businessmanBertram Cooper, a founding partner in the advertising agency Sterling Cooper. He was regularly nominated for aPrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series as a result of his performance in2008,2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014.[9][33] The series creatorMatthew Weiner originally cast Morse in part because of his reputation on the stage, including his iconic role as social climber J. Pierrepont Finch in 1962’sHow to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. In his character's final moments, he gets a song and dance number where he sings, "The Best Things in Life Are Free". Morse said of the moment, "It’s an absolute love letter from creator Matt Weiner. You couldn’t ask for a nicer send off."[34]
In 2016, he playedWalter Hoving in the comedic filmDonald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie. Morse was cast as journalistDominick Dunne who covered the1994–1995 murder trial of O. J. Simpson forVanity Fair in the critically acclaimedRyan Murphy created limited seriesThe People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story onFX.[35] At the age of 85, Morse returned to Broadway in the 2016 revival of the newspaper comedyThe Front Page acting alongsideNathan Lane,John Slattery,John Goodman, andHolland Taylor at theBroadhurst Theatre.[36] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter described his performance as "delightful".[37] He voicedSanta Claus inTeen Titans Go! (2015-2021), andTeen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans (2019).
Morse was married twice[30] and had five children.[17] He died at his home inLos Angeles,California, on April 20, 2022, at the age of 90.[38][6]
| Year | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | The Proud and Profane | Casualty (uncredited) | [39] |
| 1958 | The Matchmaker | Barnaby Tucker | [39] |
| 1963 | The Cardinal | Bobby | [39] |
| 1964 | Honeymoon Hotel | Jay Menlow | [40] |
| 1964 | Quick, Before It Melts | Oliver Cromwell Cannon | [39] |
| 1965 | The Loved One | Dennis Barlow | [39] |
| 1967 | Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad | Jonathan | [41] |
| 1967 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | J. Pierrepont Finch | [39] |
| 1967 | A Guide for the Married Man | Edward L. Stander | [39] |
| 1968 | Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? | Waldo Zane | [39] |
| 1970 | The Boatniks | Ensign Garland | [39] |
| 1987 | Hunk | Garrison Gaylord | [39] |
| 1987 | The Emperor's New Clothes | Henry | [39] |
| 2002 | It's All About You | Dr. Flowers | [42] |
| 2012 | The Man Who Shook the Hand of Vicente Fernandez | Burt | [43] |
| 2016 | Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie | Walter Hoving | [44] |
| 2019 | Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans | Santa Claus (voice) | [45] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | The Secret Storm | Jerry Ames #1 | Season 1 Episode 1[40] |
| 1955 | Goodyear Television Playhouse | — | Episode: "Man on Spikes"[46] |
| 1956 | The Alcoa Hour | Jiya | Episode: "The Big Wave"[46] |
| 1957 | Matinee Theatre | Frank Wilson | Episode: "Rain in the Morning"[47] |
| 1959 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Phil | Season 4 Episode 35: "Touché"[48] |
| 1959 | Play of the Week | Gustave | Episode: "Thieves Carnival"[49] |
| 1960 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Len | Season 5 Episode 21: "Hitch Hike"[48] |
| 1960 | Play of the Week | Professor Pearson | Episode: "The Velvet Glove"[49] |
| 1961 | Shirley Temple's Storybook | Drum Carpenter | Episode: "Rebel Gun"[50] |
| 1961 | Naked City | Richy Wilkin | Episode: "Sweet Prince of Delancey Street"[49] |
| 1968 | The Jonathan Winters Show | Self | Episode: 12 (13 MAR 1968)[51] |
| 1968–69 | That's Life | Robert Dickson | 26 episodes[40] |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jones | Fred Philpotts | Episode: "The Day They Hanged Kid Curry"[52] |
| 1971 | Night Gallery | Roger Blacker | Episode: "Marmalade Wine"[41] |
| 1971 | Love, American Style | Episode: "Love and the Ledge"[40] | |
| 1974 | Love, American Style | Everett | Episode: "Love and the Forever Tree"[40] |
| 1976 | The First Easter Rabbit | Young Stuffy | Voice, television film[39] |
| 1978 | The Stingiest Man in Town | YoungScrooge | Voice, television film[53] |
| 1978 | Fantasy Island | Barney Shore | Episode: "The Island of Lost Women"[54] |
| 1979 | Jack Frost | Jack Frost (voice) | Television film[40][45] |
| 1982 | All My Children | Harry the Bookie | Episode: "20 July 1982"[49] |
| 1982 | The Good Book | Host / Narrator / Saloon Indian | Television pilot[55] |
| 1983 | Monchhichis | Moncho | Voice, 13 episodes[56] |
| 1983 | One Day at a Time | Frank Sampson | Episode: "Worried Heart"[40] |
| 1983 | Masquerade | — | Episode: "Pilot"[57] |
| 1984 | Calendar Girl Murders | Nat Couray | Television film[58] |
| 1984 | The Fall Guy | Sky Kelly | Episode: "Rabbit's Feet"[57] |
| 1984 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Dewey Hogg | Episode: "How to Succeed in Hazzard"[40] |
| 1984 | Tales of the Unexpected | Stephen Shaw | Episode: "Sauce for the Goose"[59] |
| 1985 | Murder, She Wrote | Marc Faber | Episode: "Broadway Malady"[40] |
| 1985 | Trapper John, M.D. | Honest Wayne McIntyre | Episode: "A False Start"[40] |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Cupid | Episode: "Ye Gods"[49] |
| 1986 | You Again? | Officer Morton | Episode: "The Lush Life"[60] |
| 1986–87 | Pound Puppies | Howler | Voice, 25 episodes[40] |
| 1990 | Masquerade | — | Television film[57] |
| 1991 | ProStars | Additional Voices | Unknown episodes[61] |
| 1992 | Tiny Toon Adventures | Goopy Geer | Voice, episode: "Two-Tone Town"[40][45] |
| 1992 | American Playhouse | Truman Capote | Episode: "Tru"[48] |
| 1993 | Wild Palms | Chap Starfall | 3 episodes[62] |
| 1995 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Dootch | Voice, episode: "Where Have All the Monsters Gone?"[24][45] |
| 1995 | Here Come the Munsters | Grandpa | Television film[41] |
| 1997 | Rugrats | Mr. Koch, Juggler | Voice, episode: "Faire Play"[40][45] |
| 1997 | Superman: The Animated Series | DeSaad | Voice, episode: "Father's Day"[40][45] |
| 1997 | Union Square | Santa Claus | Episode: "Jack Gets a Hot Tip"[63] |
| 1998 | Suddenly Susan | Uncle Bert | Episode: "The Thanksgiving Episode"[40] |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Jake | Voice, episode: "Two's Company"[40][45] |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Edwin O'Malley | 14 episodes[40] |
| 2006 | I Did Not Know That | Nick Rabinowitz | Television film[64] |
| 2007–15 | Mad Men | Bertram Cooper | 58 episodes[48] |
| 2007 | Jeff Ltd. | Ron | Episode: "Too Many Hens in the Foxhouse"[65] |
| 2014 | Sofia the First | Marshak, Gnuckles | Voice, 2 episodes[45] |
| 2014 | The Legend of Korra | Governor | Voice, episode: "After All These Years"[66][45] |
| 2015–21 | Teen Titans Go! | Santa Claus | Voice, 10 episodes[54][48][45] |
| 2016 | The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story | Dominick Dunne | [54] |
| 2016 | Animals | Old Phil | Voice, episode: "Flies."[54][45] |
| 2019 | Corporate | Terry Sales | Episode: "The One Who's There"[54] |
| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Awards | ||||
| 1959 | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Say, Darling | Nominated | [86] |
| 1960 | Best Actor in a Musical | Take Me Along | Nominated | [87] |
| 1962 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | Won | [88] | |
| 1973 | Sugar | Nominated | [89] | |
| 1990 | Best Actor in a Play | Tru | Won | [90] |
| Drama Desk Awards | ||||
| 1972 | Outstanding Performance | Sugar | Won | |
| 1990 | Outstanding Solo Performance | Tru | Won | |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | ||||
| 1969 | Outstanding Variety Series | That's Life | Nominated | [91] |
| 1993 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie | Tru | Won | [92] |
| 2008 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Mad Men | Nominated | [93] |
| 2010 | Mad Men: "Shut the Door. Have a Seat." | Nominated | [94] | |
| 2011 | Mad Men: "Blowing Smoke" | Nominated | [95] | |
| 2013 | Mad Men: "For Immediate Release" | Nominated | [96] | |
| 2014 | Mad Men: "Waterloo" | Nominated | [97] | |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | ||||
| 2007 | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Mad Men | Nominated | [98] |
| 2009 | Won | [99] | ||
| 2010 | Nominated | [100] | ||
| 2012 | Nominated | [101] | ||
