Jeff Morrow

This article is about the actor. For the songwriter, see Geoff Morrow. For the meteorologist, see The Weather Channel.

Irving "Jeff" Morrow (January 13, 1907 in New York City – December 26, 1993 in California) was an American actor. Educated at the Pratt Institute, Jeff Morrow was a commercial artist before turning to acting.

Acting career

As "Irving Morrow" he acted on stage (in Pennsylvania) as early as 1927. He later appeared in such popular plays as Penal Law, and Once in a Lifetime, as well as repertory in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.

After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Morrow spent the late 1940s on the stage and in radio, where he won the title role in the Dick Tracy radio series. He appeared in many Broadway productions, notably Three Wishes for Jamie, Billy Budd, the Maurice Evans production of Macbeth, and Katharine Cornell's production of Romeo and Juliet. Morrow has acted opposite stars such as Katharine Hepburn, Luise Rainer, Barbara Lawrence, and Mae West.

Morrow turned to film acting relatively late in his career, commencing with the Biblical epic The Robe in 1953. Often parodied as the 'Cro-Magnon Man' for his prominent brow, Morrow spent much of the 1950s appearing in a mix of A-budget epics in supporting parts, or 'B' Westerns and science fiction films as a leader and screen hero, usually paired with a busty and beautiful actress. Morrow carried over much of his acting persona from his radio days to his film acting roles, where his ability to rapidly alter both the tone and volume of his voice for dramatic effect frequently gave sound editors fits. He entered the sci-fi/monster movie genre with the widely-praised 1955 film This Island Earth with Faith Domergue, followed by The Creature Walks Among Us with Leigh Snowden, The Giant Claw with Mara Corday and finally Kronos (1957), with Barbara Lawrence.

With the demise of the western and sci-fi genres in Hollywood, Morrow returned to television for most of his later roles, later making guest appearances on series such as Crossroads, Bonanza, My Friend Flicka, The Deputy, Perry Mason, and Police Story.

In 1958-1959, Morrow starred as Bart McClelland, supervisor of construction of the Union Pacific Railroad in the syndicated half-hour western series Union Pacific, based loosely on a Joel McCrea and Barbara Stanwyck film of the same name.

During the early 1960s, Morrow also appeared in such low-budget films as Harbor Lights (1963), Blood Legacy (1971), and in a bow to his earlier career, a cameo in the 1971 monster film Octaman for veteran 1950's monster movie writer/director Harry Essex. After the 1974 cancellation of the situation comedy The New Temperatures Rising, and completion of filming a character role for the low-budget film The Runaways, Morrow largely retired from acting, though he returned for a 1975 appearance in the series Police Story. His last television role was in 1986, with a guest appearance on the second The Twilight Zone series.

Later years and death

In later life, Morrow went back to commercial illustration, while taking occasional acting assignments. He died on December 26, 1993.

He was survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, actress Anna K. Morrow (died July 1, 2009), and their daughter, Lissa Morrow Christian, of New York. His ashes were scattered off the coast of Palos Verdes, California.

External links

• Jeff Morrow (I) at IMDb
• Jeff Morrow at Brian's Drive-In Theater