John Chester Brooks Morris (February 16, 1901 â€" September 11, 1970)
was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some
prestigious film roles early in his career, and was nominated for an
Academy Award. Chester Morris is best remembered today for portraying
Boston Blackie, a criminal-turned-detective, in the modestly budgeted
Boston Blackie film series of the 1940s.Chester Morris was born John
Chester Brooks Morris in New York City, one of four surviving children
of Broadway stage actor William Morris and stage comedian Etta
Hawkins. His siblings were screenwriter-actor Gordon Morris
(1898â€"1940), actor Adrian Morris (1907â€"1941), and actress
Wilhelmina Morris (1902â€"1971).:7,263 Another brother, Lloyd Morris
(1892â€"1902), had died young.:7Morris dropped out of school and began
his Broadway career at 15 years old opposite Lionel Barrymore in The
Copperhead. He made his film debut in the silent comedy-drama film An
Amateur Orphan (1917).
was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some
prestigious film roles early in his career, and was nominated for an
Academy Award. Chester Morris is best remembered today for portraying
Boston Blackie, a criminal-turned-detective, in the modestly budgeted
Boston Blackie film series of the 1940s.Chester Morris was born John
Chester Brooks Morris in New York City, one of four surviving children
of Broadway stage actor William Morris and stage comedian Etta
Hawkins. His siblings were screenwriter-actor Gordon Morris
(1898â€"1940), actor Adrian Morris (1907â€"1941), and actress
Wilhelmina Morris (1902â€"1971).:7,263 Another brother, Lloyd Morris
(1892â€"1902), had died young.:7Morris dropped out of school and began
his Broadway career at 15 years old opposite Lionel Barrymore in The
Copperhead. He made his film debut in the silent comedy-drama film An
Amateur Orphan (1917).
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