BIOGRAPHY OF STARS

Chronicle (Levin), 4 January 1947, Page 6

BIOGRAPHY OF STARS

CHESTER MORRIS TBdPBIAE

Chester Morps, , star or Columbia's "Boston . Blackie" series and of many othbr. action films, was born in New York "Oity, the son of William Morris, a prominent actor, and Etta Liwkins Morris, ' an outstanding comedlenne in the Charles Frohman era. After attending graminar schooi and high school in Mount Vernon, New York, he "played. hopkey" at an early age to appear in a picture for the Tanhouser Compahy in New Rochelle. Discovering this, his father promised to make the lad an actor if that. was his ambition. The elder Morris made good his promise and young CJhester toured the country in a family act that played vaudeville for more tlian four years. While Morris was playing in the stage success, "Crime," which listed in its cast such names as Sylvia Sidney, Jack LaRue and Kay Johnson, he received an offer from Hollywood, biit refused. He continued in plays on the -stage, appearing in "Yellow," "Home Towners," "Turn to the Right," and "So This is London." When Roland West was casting for "Alibi," he had great difficulty. in obtaining a Hollywood . actor who could play the most important role. Morris was syggested, and this time he set out. for the motion picture. city to gamble with luck. West immediately signed hihi for the role, and Morris skyrocketed to. screen fame almost oyernight. . In June, 1936, he signed a long-term contract with Columbia Pictures. Formerly married to Sue Kilborn, Morris has two children, Cynthia and Brooks. ' iTis oufdbor. hobbies include.gqlfV'.tenriis, swimming and boxing, while music . ahd, sketching serve him for ah artistic'. oiitlet. His favourite- k'Uthpf is Somerset Maugham. ' ■ - AV k;' • ' • Chester^sV-screen record rates seventeen years . a] 'star, and still going.'stfohg, His.receht film, "A Close Call . for Boston Blackie," marks his 70th.. screen role. It was in actiori films that Morris made most of his big hitSi After the "tough guy" rqie in "Alibi," his fans clamoured for mpre. Among his best remenibered screen roles are those in "The Miracle Man," "The Big House," "Princess (yHara," "Moonlight Murder," and "Counterfeit." He is how hitting a new popularity high in the "Boston Blackie" series. :