Robert Morse
Biography
Robert Morse was an American actor whose boyish, gap-toothed charm carried him from Broadway musicals and plays into film and television. Born in Newton, Massachusetts, he moved to New York after high school to study acting. He made his Broadway debut in The Matchmaker and repeated that role in the 1958 film. He won a Tony for playing J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, then played Finch again in the 1967 screen adaptation. A second Tony came for Tru, his one-man play about Truman Capote, and he won an Emmy for the 1992 television version. His films included The Loved One (1965), A Guide for the Married Man (1967), The Boatniks (1970) and The Emperor's New Clothes (1987). On television he played Bertram Cooper in Mad Men, earning five Emmy nominations, and he voiced Santa Claus in Teen Titans Go! vs. Teen Titans (2019).
90years old at death
- Born Newton
- Died Los Angeles
- Star sign: TaurusThe sign runs April 20 to May 20
Movie Career
- Films
- 10
- Career span
- 54 years1965 to 2019
Genres
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A role that slipped away
Morse quit the San Francisco run of the Stephen Schwartz musical Wicked, in which he played the Wizard of Oz opposite Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, before its Broadway opening; Joel Grey replaced him.
First role
Morse made his movie debut in an uncredited part in The Proud and Profane, a romantic drama that came out in 1956.
First role
Morse first appeared on Broadway in 1955, playing Barnaby Tucker in Thornton Wilder's comedic play The Matchmaker. Joseph Anthony directed the 1958 film version, in which Morse took on the same part again.
Big break
Morse played J. Pierrepont Finch in the 1961 Broadway musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which earned the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and seven Tony Awards. He won Best Actor in a Musical for that role.
Robert Morse movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying1967 Comedy, Music, Musicalas Finch
IMDb rating 7.25.7K votes
Worked with
Robert Morse shares two films with Al Lewis, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Al Lewis's page
Grey Griffin's page
Tara Strong's page
Christopher Lloyd's page
Kevin Michael Richardson's page
Alfred Molina's page
Jeff MednikowDirector, 1 film, 2019
All films by Jeff Mednikow
All films by David Swift
Jeremy KonnerDirector, 1 film, 2016
All films by Jeremy Konner
Awards
Four awards and honors from 1958 to 1993, three of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 1993 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Tru | Won |
| Tony Awards | |||
| 1990 | Best Actor in a Play | Won | |
| 1962 | Best Actor in a Musical | Won | |
| Other honors | |||
| 1958 | Theatre World Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.