Garrett Morris
Birth nameGarrett Isaac Morris
Birth dateFebruary 1, 1937 (age 89)
Birth placeNew Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • singer
EducationDillard University (BM)
Years active1960–present
Known for
SpouseFreda Morris (m. 1984[1]–2018)

Garrett Isaac Morris[2][3] (born February 1, 1937) is an American actor, comedian and singer. He was part of the original cast and was the first Black cast member of the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, appearing from 1975 to 1980. Morris played the character Jimmy on The Jeffersons (1983–1984), and starred as Junior "Uncle Junior" King on the sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show, which aired from 1996 to 2001. He later portrayed Earl Washington on the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, from 2011 to 2017.

Morris is also known for his role in the sitcom Martin as Stan Winters, from 1992 to 1995, until he suffered an injury. He made two guest appearances on The Wayans Bros. in season one, episode one as himself and again on episode ten as the brothers' uncle Leon (1995). He played a concerned teacher in the film Cooley High (1975), Slide in Car Wash (1976), and Carl in The Census Taker (1984). In 2024, Morris was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Early life and education

Morris was born on February 1, 1937, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in the poverty-stricken Gert Town neighborhood.[4] A church-choir singer from his youth, he trained at the Juilliard School of Music and graduated from Dillard University in 1958.[5][6] Early in his career, he performed with The Belafonte Folk Singers.[7] In 1960, Morris recorded South African Freedom Songs (EPC-601) with Pete Seeger and Guy Carawan for Folkways Records.[8]

Saturday Night Live

Morris had written a play that Lorne Michaels read and liked, which got Morris hired on as a writer for a program he was developing for Saturday night. Morris was asked about bringing in black actors to potentially serve as cast members, such as asking Bill Duke. Duke wasn't cast, but a suggestion by those who were cast led Michaels to view a film that had Morris in it, Cooley High, which Morris later stated "played a hand" in getting him cast on Saturday Night Live, as produced by Michaels.[9][10]

Periodically on SNL he sang classical music: once a Mozart aria "Dalla Sua Pace", Don Ottavio's aria from Don Giovanni when guest-host Walter Matthau designated him as a "musical guest...in place of the usual crap", and once a Schubert lied while the titles on the screen expressed his colleagues' purported displeasure at having to accommodate a misguided request by him. In February 1977, he sang Tchaikovsky's Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt barefoot in colorful Caribbean dress while subtitles explained he had just returned from Jamaica where he had picked up a girl by claiming to be Harry Belafonte.[11]

One of Morris' best known characters on SNL was the Dominican baseball player Chico Escuela. Chico spoke only limited and halting English, so the joke centered on his responding to almost any question with his catch phrase: "Baseball... been berra berra good... to me". Another recurring bit, used in the newscast segment Weekend Update, involved Morris being presented as "Headmaster of the New York School for the hard of hearing" and assisting the newscaster by shouting the main headlines, in a parody of the then-common practice of providing sign language interpretation in an inset on the screen as an aid to the deaf viewer.[12]

According to the book Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live, Morris was frequently unhappy during his tenure on SNL from 1975 to 1980, and expressed the opinion that he was usually typecast in stereotypical roles.[13] In 2024's Saturday Night, directed by Jason Reitman, which dramatically details SNL's opening night, Morris's restless unhappiness is portrayed by actor Lamorne Morris (no relation).[14]

Black performers who have followed Morris on SNL have at times been publicly concerned with experiencing the same fate Morris did. Eddie Murphy, for example, told TV Guide in the early 1980s that SNL producer Jean Doumanian "had tried to Garrett Morris me".[13]

Morris, then at 38, was the eldest of the original cast members when SNL debuted in 1975. He is also the eldest surviving cast member.

Recurring characters

  • Chico Escuela, a Dominican baseball player for the New York Mets
  • Cliff, the streetwise friend to the Festrunk Brothers (Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin)
  • Grant Robinson Jr., one of The Nerds
  • Hodo, one of Miles Cowperthwaite's cronies
  • Merkon, the leader of the Coneheads
  • Weekend Update's "News for the Hard of Hearing" translator, who simply repeated each line while shouting with his hands cupped around his mouth.

Career

Theater

He performed in a number of Broadway musicals, including Hallelujah, Baby! and Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.[15] In 1965, he worked alongside Amiri Baraka, Sun Ra, Albert Ayler and Sonia Sanchez at the Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School in Harlem; during this period, the theater was frequently raided and surveilled by the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.[16][17]

Television

In 1971, he had a small role as a police sergeant in The Anderson Tapes[18] and was a cast member in the short-lived CBS sitcom, Roll Out.[19] He also appeared as a high school teacher in the 1975 film Cooley High.[20] In 1976, Morris appeared in the film Car Wash, playing the role of Slide the bookmaker. In 1983 and 1984, Morris appeared in five episodes of The Jeffersons, playing a character named Jimmy. He starred in the 1984 film The Census Taker, a 1984 black comedy directed by Bruce R. Cook.[21][22]

In 1985, he guested on Murder, She Wrote as Lafayette Duquesne.[23] In 1986, Morris began playing Arnold "Sporty" James, on the NBC cop drama Hunter, starring Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer through 1989.[24] Morris appeared in Married... with Children as Russ, one of Al's poker buddies, in "The Poker Game", in a 1987 season 1 episode and again in the season 3 episode "Requiem for a Dead Barber".[25] He also appeared in the 1992 horror comedy Severed Ties starring Oliver Reed.[26]

Morris also had regular roles on Diff'rent Strokes, The Jeffersons, Hill Street Blues, 227, and Roc.[27] He also appeared in an episode of Who's the Boss, "Sam's Car" (1989), playing the role of Officer Audette.[28] He was a regular cast member on The Jamie Foxx Show, playing Jamie's uncle, Junior King.[20][29]

In 1998, Morris appeared as himself in the fourth episode of the fifth season of the TV series, Space Ghost Coast to Coast. In 2002, Morris made a cameo appearance on an episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Brittany Murphy. In 2006, Morris reprised his role as "Headmaster of the New York School for the Hard of Hearing" in a cameo on the TV series Family Guy, in the episode "Barely Legal."[30]

In August 2008, Morris played the role of Reverend Pratt in the family comedy drama film, The Longshots, starring Ice Cube and Keke Palmer.

In 2011, Morris had a cameo role as a Catholic priest on the episode "Three Boys" on the Showtime series Shameless. He was cast as Earl in the CBS comedy 2 Broke Girls,[31] which premiered on September 19, 2011. During the second season he faced a lawsuit from the Global Agency accusing him of not paying 10% of his income from the show as agreed. However, a rep from the show stated that he had not actually failed to do so.[32]

In 2018, Morris appeared in the NBC show This Is Us.[33] In 2019, Morris appeared in the fifth episode of A Black Lady Sketch Show, titled "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?"[33]

Mugging

In 1994, he was shot by a would-be robber (whom he attempted to fight off) but recovered as he discussed on the January 14, 2016, episode of Marc Maron's podcast WTF.[34] On Howard Stern's radio show on July 20, 1995, Morris said the culprit was imprisoned not for the shooting, but for parole violations for other crimes. In another radio interview, he mentioned that the robber who shot him was eventually convicted and incarcerated. In prison, inmates who happened to be fans of Morris teamed up and beat up the robber in revenge.[35]

At the time of the shooting, Morris was starring on Martin as Martin's first boss, Stan Winters. Morris' shooting rendered him temporarily unable to continue in the role; he was written out of the show by having the character become a national fugitive. The scene where he is about to undergo plastic surgery was shot on the hospital bed Morris occupied while recuperating from the 1994 assault. He made a final appearance as Stan during the show's third season, walking with a cane due to Morris' real injuries, but the reason given for Stan was that he had crashed his car during a police chase.[36]

Film

1980 Garrett appeared in “How to Beat the High Cost of Living” a comedy caper starting Susan Saint James, Jane Curtin, and Jessica Lange. Garrett played the Power and Light Man. In 1985, he appeared in Larry Cohen's science fiction horror film The Stuff, playing cookie magnate Chocolate Chip Charlie, a parody of Famous Amos.[37] In 2015, Morris appeared as a cameo in Ant-Man, referencing an old SNL sketch in which he played the first live-action incarnation of the character.[38]

Commercials

In 2009, Morris appeared in two TV commercials for the Nintendo DS—one featuring Mario Kart DS, and the other featuring Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!. In 2010, Morris appeared in a television commercial for Miller Lite. The national commercial, titled "PopPop", features Morris alongside actors Stacey Dash and Jason Weaver.[39] The commercial takes a light-hearted look at a family relationship with Morris playing the grandfather, PopPop, and Weaver as his grandson. Since summer 2010, Morris has appeared in an ad for Orbit gum in the United States.[citation needed]

He also operated and was the host of his own comedy club, The Downtown Comedy Club, in downtown Los Angeles. On February 9, 2007, Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa honored Garrett Morris for his work and contributions to the black community. He declared February 9, 2007, Garrett Morris Day and named The Downtown Comedy Club the official club of Los Angeles.[40][41]

Other career endeavors

On September 9, 2016, Morris and his family appeared on the ABC's game show Celebrity Family Feud, playing against Alfonso Ribeiro and Ribeiro's friends.[42]

In 2024, Morris was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[27]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1970Where's Poppa?Garrett
1971The Anderson TapesSgt. Everson
1975Cooley HighMr. Mason
1976Car WashSlide
1980How to Beat the High Cost of LivingPower & Light Man
1984The Census TakerHarvey
1985The Stuff"Chocolate Chip Charlie" W. Hobbs
1987Critical ConditionHelicopter Junkie
The UnderachieversDummont
1989Dance to Win-
1991Children of the NightMatty
MotoramaAndy
Blackbird Fly-Short film
1992Severed TiesStripes
1993ConeheadsCapt. Orecruiser
1995Black ScorpionArgyle
1996Black Rose of HarlemWisdom
Santa with MusclesClayton
Almost BlueCharles
1997Black Scorpion IIArgyle
1999Twin Falls IdahoJesus
Palmer's Pick-UpTom Bolza
Graham's Diner—
2001JackpotLester Irving
How HighPCC Agent
2003Connecting DotsHenry
2005The SalonPercy
2007ImplantedKadarShort film
Who's Your Caddy?The Reverend
FrankBilly Hamilton
AmenicAmenicShort film
2008Dog GonePolice Chief
The LongshotsReverend Pratt
2009Bed RiddenBillingsShort film
Just Like FamilyLeroy
Sonny DreamweaverGod
2010Pickin' & Grinnin'Richard A. Trophey
2011Valley of the SunJoe
Let GoDonuts
2012Pawn ShopRey
FreeloadersMr. Abaeze
2015Ant-ManCab Driver
2019Grand-Daddy Day CareArnold

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1960CBS Workshop—Episode: "The Bible Salesman"
1963General HospitalMouthRegular cast
1973Roll OutWheels−Main cast
1974Change at 125th StreetJanitorTelevision film
1975–80, 2002, 2015, 2025Saturday Night LiveHimself / cast memberMain cast (season 1–5), Brittany Murphy/Nelly, 40th Anniversary Special, 50th Anniversary Special
1978ABC Weekend SpecialFrankEpisode: "The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody"
1980Easter FeverJackVoice, television film[43]
1982Diff'rent StrokesSanta Claus / Mr. JonesEpisode: "Santa's Helper"
1983The Invisible WomanLt. Greg LarkinTelevision film
1983–84The JeffersonsJimmyGuest (season 9);
Recurring cast (season 10)
1984At Your ServiceDwayneTelevision film
MasqueradeFroogEpisode: "The French Correction"
The New Scooby Doo MysteriesAdditional voicesSeason 2
1984–85It's Your MovePrincipal Dwight EllisRecurring cast
1985Murder, She WroteLafayette DuquesneEpisode: "Murder to a Jazz Beat"
Hill Street BluesDerelictRecurring cast (season 5)
The Twilight ZoneJakeEpisode: "Dealer's Choice"
Scarecrow and Mrs. KingAsam Ali ShambaEpisode: "The Wrong Way Home"
Pound PuppiesChief WilliamsVoice, television film[43]
1986The Love BoatGary SamuelsEpisode: "The Will / Déjà Vu/ The Prediction"
New Love, American Style—Episode: "Love and the Teddy"
1986–89HunterArnold "Sporty" JamesGuest (season 2);
Recurring cast (season 3–5)
1987227Bob WinslowEpisode: "The Working Game"
1987–89Married... with ChildrenRuss2 episodes
1988Who's the Boss?Officer AudetteEpisode: "Sam's Car"
1991Earth AngelJoeyTelevision film
1991–92RocWizRecurring cast (season 1)
1992Maid for Each OtherHarold BrownTelevision film
1992–95MartinStan WintersMain cast (season 1–2);
Guest (season 3)
1993Daddy DearestStanEpisode: "American We"
1994EREdgar LuckEpisode: "ER Confidential"
1995The Wayans Bros.Uncle Leon / Himself2 episodes
Minor AdjustmentsWillieEpisode: "The Ex-Files"
Cleghorne!Sidney CarlsonMain cast
1996–2001The Jamie Foxx ShowUncle Junior KingMain cast
1997Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildBuzzardVoice, episode: "Pinocchio"
Boston CommonSammy SutherlandEpisode: "I.D. Endow"
1998Space Ghost Coast to CoastHimselfEpisode: "Cahill"
1999G vs EKentucky McQuaidEpisode: "Sunday Night Evil"
2000City of AngelsDr. Frank HollisterEpisode: "Prototype"
Static ShockPreacherVoice, episode: "Child's Play"[43]
Little RichardCarl RaineyTelevision film
2001Justice LeagueAl McGeeVoice, episode: "In Blackest Night" Pt. 1[43]
According to JimLewisEpisode: "The Turkey Bowl"
The HughleysFather RobertsEpisode: "I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas"
2003Maniac MageeMr. CobbleTelevision film
2005Noah's ArcRev. Allen2 episodes
2006All of UsUncle CyrusEpisode: "Neesee's Grave Plot"
Family GuyHimselfEpisode: "Barely Legal"
2007Halfway HomeJimmy the MailmanEpisode: "Halfway Impotent"
FrangelaDaveTelevision film
2011ShamelessOld PriestEpisode: "Three Boys"
2011–172 Broke GirlsEarl WashingtonMain cast
2013PsychClizbyEpisode: "100 Clues"
2017Rhett & Link's Buddy SystemIgnatiusRecurring cast (season 2)
2018MacGyverWillyEpisode: "Mardi Gras Beads + Chair"
ScandalHectorEpisode: "Army of One"
Knight SquadOld FizzwickEpisode: "Working on the Knight Moves"
This Is UsLloydRecurring cast (season 2);
Guest (season 3)
2019A Black Lady Sketch ShowDeacon JonesEpisode: "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?"
2020Family ReunionGrand Sensei ShanduEpisode: "Remember When Shaka Got Beat Up?"
Station 19Earl DavisEpisode: "Poor Wandering One"
Self MadeCleophus WalkerMain cast
2021FairfaxAlbertVoice role;
Episode: "Fairfolks"
Grand CrewNarratorEpisode: "Pilot"
2023 How I Met Your FatherJulianEpisode: "Midwife Crisis"
2025The NeighborhoodJasperEpisode: "Welcome to the Yippedy-Dip"

References

  1. ^ Scott, Walter (March 14, 1999). "Walter Scott's Personality Parade". Wisconsin State Journal Parade. p. 2. Retrieved August 2, 2024. "Still, the Louisiana native says he feels blessed to have work (he's in his third year on the WB Network's Jamie Foxx Show) and the support of his wife of 16 years, Freda, a dancer."
  2. ^ "Birthdays". The Scotsman. February 1, 2023. p. 35. Harry Styles, singer/ songwriter, 29; Shoaib Malik, Pakistani cricketer, 41; Garrett Isaac Morris, American actor (The Jeffersons), 86.
  3. ^ Library of Congress Copyright Office (1973). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Parts 3-4: Dramas and Works Prepared for Oral Delivery Jan-Dec 1973: Vol 27 No 1-2. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 45. LCCN 635347. "MORRIS, GARRETT ISAAC. The secret place, lv. A play. © Garrett Isaac Morris; 27Mar73; DU86443."
  4. ^ "'Saturday Night Live' pioneer and NOLA native Garrett Morris to appear on 'Oprah'". April 11, 2011.
  5. ^ Logan, Elizabeth (2024-10-10). "See Young Garrett Morris During His Saturday Night Live Years". NBC Insider Official Site. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  6. ^ "Celebrating Garrett Morris: Dillard University's Beacon of Artistic Achievement". Dillard University. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  7. ^ George, Rachel (2024-02-03). "Garrett Morris Received His Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Here Are 7 Memorable Roles from the First Black Cast Member on 'SNL'". Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  8. ^ Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection, 2019, p. 138
  9. ^ "So Hard to Say Goodbye: The Oral History of Cooley High"
  10. ^ "Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live". NBC. Retrieved 2019-12-17.
  11. ^ Harris, Will. "Garrett Morris on SNL, 2 Broke Girls, and singing arias for Walter Matthau". AV Club. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  12. ^ "See Young Garrett Morris During His Saturday Night Live Years". NBC Insider Official Site. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  13. ^ Hill, Doug & Weingrad, Jeff (1986). Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live. New York City: Beech Tree Books. ISBN 0-688-05099-9.
  14. ^ "Saturday Night (2024)". imdb.com. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  15. ^ "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (Broadway, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 1971)". Playbill. Archived November 6, 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  16. ^ Patches, Matt (August 21, 2014). "My 'SNL': Testimonials From Cast Members Who Lived It". Grantland.com. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  17. ^ "Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School · F.B. Eyes Digital Archive: FBI Files on African American Authors and Literary Institutions Obtained Through the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)". WUSTL Digital Gateway Image Collections & Exhibitions. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  18. ^ "The Anderson Tapes". The Brattle. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  19. ^ Berman, Marc. "Garrett Morris Turns 88: Celebrating A Career Spanning Seven Decades". Forbes. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
  20. ^ Malooley, Jake. "So Hard to Say Goodbye: The Oral History of Cooley High". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  21. ^ "The Census Taker (1984)". The New York Times. 2011. Archived from the original on December 7, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  22. ^ Michals, Bob (January 3, 1985). "Things Are Beginning To Look 'Berry Good' For Garrett Morris". The Palm Beach Post. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  23. ^ Philo. Murder, She Wrote: Murder to a Jazz Beat. Retrieved 2025-02-06. – via www.philo.com.
  24. ^ "Hunter Season 3, Episode 8". tubitv.com. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  25. ^ Levant, B. (Director). (1987). The Poker Game (season 1, episode 8). Embassy Communications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANraTbHcD1k
  26. ^ Santostefano, D. (Director). (1992). Severed Ties. Fangoria.
  27. ^ Abraham, Mya (2024-01-25). "Garrett Morris To Kick Off Black History Month With His Own Walk Of Fame Ceremony". VIBE.com. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  28. ^ Kelada, A. (Director). (1988, October 18). Sam’s Car (season 5, episode 1). Hunter-Cohan Productions.
  29. ^ djvlad (2023-10-22). Garrett Morris on Playing 'Uncle Junior' on "The Jamie Foxx Show" (Part 10). Retrieved 2025-02-06. – via YouTube.
  30. ^ Barely Legal (season 5, episode 8). (2006, December 17). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYwB38Vsh7A
  31. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 16, 2011). "Scott Porter To Star in CW's 'Hart Of Dixie', More Actors Board Pilots". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  32. ^ Seidman, Robert (June 29, 2011). "CBS Announces Fall 2011 Premiere Dates". TV By the Numbers. Archived from the original on July 1, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2011.
  33. ^ "Garrett Morris: From Snl To Iconic Actor". Baltimore Examiner. 2024-03-16. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  34. ^ Maron, Marc. "Episode 672 - Garrett Morris by WTF with Marc Maron Podcast". WTF Podcast. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
  35. ^ "Comedian Garrett Morris shot in Los Angeles holdup attempt". The Baltimore Sun. February 25, 1994. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  36. ^ Television Academy Foundation Interviews (2012-07-30). "Emmy TV Legends - Garrett Morris discusses getting shot and leaving his role on Martin". Television Academy
  37. ^ Larry, C. (Director). (1985). The Stuff. Larco Productions.
  38. ^ Burlingame, Russ (September 6, 2017). "Ant-Man's Most Overlooked Cameo: Ant-Man Himself". Comicbook.com
  39. ^ "New Miller Lite Beer Commercial Starring Garrett Morris, Jason Weaver...and Stacey Dash!". WPGC. March 31, 2010. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 17, 2018.
  40. ^ Reed, Farrah (2024-01-29). "New Orleans native Garrett Morris to get star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". WDSU. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  41. ^ Staff, U. V. M. (2024-01-25). "Garrett Morris honored with star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame". Unheard Voices Magazine. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  42. ^ ABC (September 10, 2016). "Alfonso Ribeiro versus Garrett Morris! - Celebrity Family Feud". Archived 2021-12-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved November 4, 2019. – via YouTube.
  43. ^ "Garrett Morris (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved March 7, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.