Wayne Morris (American actor)

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) 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. Assigned to the carrier USS "Essex" in the Pacific, 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. Wayne Morris was considered by the Navy as physically 'to 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". That's how he became a fighter Ace. He flew with VF15 with the famed "McCampbell Heroes".Medal of Honor David McCampbell was the top Navy Ace of all time, with 34 air victories. 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". In a similar vein, a wonderful performance as a weakling in Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" (1957) might have given impetus to a new career as a character actor had Morris lived. However, he 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.

Further reading

*"McCampbell's Heroes: the Story of the U.S. Navy's Most Celebrated Carrier Fighter of the Pacific", Edwin P. Hoyt.

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0606998/ Wayne Morris at the IMDB]
*findagrave|6563 Retrieved on 2008-01-11