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This gap-toothed, tousle-haired comic lead and character player first came to prominence as a star of the Broadway stage. After training at the American Theatre Wing in the early 1950s, Morse made his Broadway debut in "The Matchmaker" (1955), starring Ruth Gordon and gained attention for his turn in the play "Say, Darling" (1957). He segued to musicals co-starring with Jackie Gleason and Walter Pidgeon in "Take Me Along" (1959), based on Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" and achieved stage stardom in the leading role of J....

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Filmography

The Incredible Hulk - ( Command Van Soldier / 2008 / Released / )
Jack Frost - ( / 1988 / Released / )
Hunk - ( Garrison Gaylord / 1987 / Released / Crown International Pictures )
The Emperor's New Clothes - ( Henry / 1987 / Released / Cannon Releasing )
The Boatniks - ( Ensign Thomas Garland / 1970 / Released / )
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? - ( Waldo Zane / 1968 / Released / MGM/UA Entertainment Company )
A Guide For the Married Man - ( Ed Stander / 1967 / Released / )
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - ( J Pierpoint Finch / 1967 / Released / )
The Loved One - ( Dennis Barlow / 1965 / Released / )
Honeymoon Hotel - ( Jay Menlow / 1964 / Released / MGM/UA Entertainment Company )
Quick, Before It Melts - ( Oliver Cromwell Cannon / 1964 / Released / MGM/UA Entertainment Company )
The Cardinal - ( Bobby / 1963 / Released / )
The Matchmaker - ( Barnaby Tucker / 1958 / Released / Paramount Pictures )
The Proud and the Profane - ( 2nd Casualty / 1956 / Released / )

TV Credits
Mad Men ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
TV Episode Bertram Cooper

TV Episode Bertram Cooper

The Jet Set ( 2008 )
TV Episode Bertram Cooper

The Inheritance ( 2008 )
TV Episode Bertram Cooper

The Gold Violin ( 2008 )
TV Episode Bertram Cooper

My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies ( 1999 / Released ): Actor
Union Square ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
Here Come the Munsters ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The 49th Annual Tony Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Wild Palms ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Tru ( 1992 / Released ): Actor
ProStars ( 1991 / Released ): Voice
The 45th Annual Tony Awards ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Night of 100 Stars III ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Pound Puppies ( 1986 / Released ): Voice
Day-to-Day Affairs ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
New Love American Style ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
Calendar Girl Murders ( 1984 / Released ): Actor
Broadway Plays Washington! ( 1982 / Released ): Actor
The Cop and the Anthom ( 1982 / Released ): Actor
Jack Frost ( 1980 / Released ): Voice
Trapper John, M.D. ( 1979 / Released ): Actor
The First Easter Rabbit ( 1978 / Released ): Voice
Friends and Lovers ( 1974 / Released ): Director
That's Life ( 1968 / Released ): Actor
The Secret Storm ( 1954 / Released ): Actor
City of Angels ( Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor
Suddenly Susan ( Released ): Actor
The Wild West ( Released ): Voice

Full Biography (Back to top)


This gap-toothed, tousle-haired comic lead and character player first came to prominence as a star of the Broadway stage. After training at the American Theatre Wing in the early 1950s, Morse made his Broadway debut in "The Matchmaker" (1955), starring Ruth Gordon and gained attention for his turn in the play "Say, Darling" (1957). He segued to musicals co-starring with Jackie Gleason and Walter Pidgeon in "Take Me Along" (1959), based on Eugene O'Neill's "Ah, Wilderness!" and achieved stage stardom in the leading role of J. Pierpont Finch in the award-winning "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1961), which earned him a Tony Award. In "Sugar" (1974), a musical based on Billy Wilder's "Some Like It Hot", Morse assumed the role created by Jack Lemmon. Over a decade later, Morse re-ignited his career with a tour-de-force portrayal of author Truman Capote in the one-man play "Tru" (1990), which earned him a second Tony Award.

Morse has worked sporadically in features since his 1956's debut in "The Proud and the Profane". He reprised two of his best stage roles, Barnaby Tucker in "The Matchmaker" (1958) and Finch in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1967). Morse offered comic turns as a Brit overseeing his uncle's funeral in Tony Richardson's "The Loved One" (1965) and as Walter Matthau's best friend extolling the joys of infidelity in Gene Kelly's "A Guide for the Married Man" (1967). After appearing in Disney's "The Boatnicks" (1970), he disappeared from the big screen for seventeen years, re-emerging in the unfunny comedy "Hunk" (1987).

Since the mid-50s, Morse has also appeared on the small screen. He and E.J. Peaker co-starred in the musical/comedy series "That's Life" (ABC, 1967-68), which depicted the life of a young married couple in songs, sketches and monologues. Morse was a frequent guest on series ranging from "Naked City" to "The Red Skelton Show" to "The Hollywood Squares". In 1992, he recreated his performance as "Tru" for PBS and won an Emmy as Best Actor in a Miniseries or Special. In addition to providing voices for animated shows, Morse has also appeared in the ABC miniseries "Wild Palms" (1993) and portrayed Grandpa in the TV remake, "Here Comes the Munsters" (Fox, 1995). His daughter Robin is an actress.


Profession(s):
Actor
Sometimes Credited As:
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Family
daughter:Allyn Elizabeth Morse (Born in April 1991; mother, Elizabeth Roberts)
daughter:Andrea Morse (Mother, Carole D'Andrea)
daughter:Hilary Morse (Mother, Carole D'Andrea)
daughter:Robin Morse (Born July 8, 1963; mother, Carole D'Andrea; played Pamela Wagner on "As the World Turns" (CBS) from 1987-1989)
son:Charles Robert Morse (Born July 11, 1996; mother, Elizabeth Roberts)
wife:Elizabeth Roberts (Married second wife in 1989; mother of Allyn and Charles)
wife:Carole D'Andrea (Married from 1961-1981; mother of Morse's three eldest daughters)

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Education
American Theatre Wing New York, New York
Awards (Back to top)

Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special "American Playhouse: Tru" 1993
Drama Desk Award Outstanding One Person Show/Solo Performance "Tru" 1990
Tony Award Best Actor in Play "Tru" 1990
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance "Sugar" 1972
Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" 1962
Theatre World Award "Say, Darling" 1958

Milestones (Back to top)

2007 Played the recurring role of Bertram Cooper on AMC's "Mad Men"; received an Emmy nomination in 2008 for Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2002 Cast in the role of The Wizard in the San Francisco run of the musical "Wicked"; replaced by Joel Grey when it opened on Broadway
2000 Cast as Edwin O'Malley in the CBS medical drama, "City of Angels"
1995 Starred in the Canadian production of "Show Boat"
1995 Portrayed Grandpa in the FOX TV-Movie, "Here Comes the Munsters"
1993 Played featured role in the ABC miniseries "Wild Palms"
1992 Recreated his Broadway performance for a PBS adaptation of "Tru"
1989 Received critical acclaim for his one man stage portrayal of Truman Capote in "Tru"
1987 Returned to features in the comedy "Hunk"
1980 Joined the US touring production of "Sugar Babies"
1976 Last appearence on Broadway for a decade, "So Long, 174th Street"
1972 Joined the original Broadway cast of "Sugar," a musical stage adaptation of "Some Like It Hot"; nominated for a Tony Award
1972 Joined other performers, including Marlo Thomas, in creating the Free to Be... You and Me children's album
1970 Last film for seventeen years, Disney's "The Boatniks"
1968 Appeared in the comedy "Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?" opposite Doris Day
1968 - 1969 TV series debut as regular, "That's Life" (ABC); received first Emmy nomination
1967 Reprised role of Finch for the film version of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
1965 Appeared in the black comedy "The Loved One," a movie that satirized the funeral business in Los Angeles
1961 Created the role of J. Pierpont Finch in the Broadway musical "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
1959 Received second Tony nomination for his role in the Broadway Musical "Take Me Along"
1958 Received a Tony nomination for his role in the Broadway play "Say, Darling"
1958 First major film role, recreating stage role of Barnaby, in the film adaptation of "The Matchmaker" opposite Shirley Booth
1957 TV debut "Rain in the Morning" episode of "Matinee Theater" (NBC)
1956 Feature debut, small role as a battle victim in "The Proud and the Profane"
1955 Created the role of Barnaby in "The Matchmaker" on Broadway; also made Broadway debut opposite Ruth Gordon
1954 Was an original cast member for the CBS soap opera "The Secret Storm"
1949 Made stage debut in a New Hampshire production of "Our Town"
Served in the US Navy during the Korean War

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