Wayne Morris (American actor)
| Wayne Morris | |
|---|---|
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|
| Born |
February 17, 1914 Los Angeles, California |
| Died | September 14, 1959 (aged 45) |
| Cause of death | Heart attack |
| Resting place | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1936–1959 |
| Spouse(s) |
Leonora Hornblow (1939–1940) (divorced) 1 son Patricia O'Rourke (1942–1959 (his death) 2 daughters |
Wayne Morris (February 17, 1914 – September 14, 1959) 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), The Bushwackers (1952), and the title role of Kid Galahad in 1937.
Morris was born Bert DeWayne Morris, or Bert De Wayne Morris, in Los Angeles. (Another source says that he was born in Pasadena, California.) He attended Los Angeles City College and was a fullback on that school's varsity football team. He gained acting experience through his work at the Pasadena Playhouse.
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. He flew the F6F Hellcat off the aircraft carrier USS Essex.
A December 15, 1944 Associated Press news story reported that Morris was "credited with 57 aerial sorties, shooting down seven Japanese Zeros, sinking an escort vessel and a flak gunboat and helping sink a submarine and damage a heavy cruiser and a mine layer." He was awarded four Distinguished Flying Crosses and two Air Medals.
Morris was considered by the Navy as physically 'too big' to fly fighters. After being turned down several times as a fighter pilot, he went to his uncle-in-law, Cdr. David McCampbell, imploring him for the chance to fly fighters. Cdr. McCampbell said "Give me a letter." He flew with the VF-15 (Fighter Squadron 15), the famed "McCampbell Heroes."
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