Ralph Morgan

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Ralph Morgan (July 6, 1883 in New York City, New York - June 11, 1956 in New York City, New York) was a Hollywood character actor and brother of Frank Morgan (who played the title role in The Wizard of Oz 1939).

Ralph Morgan graduated from Columbia University with a law degree. However, he abandoned the stuffy world of jurisprudence for the more exciting (to him) vocation of journeyman actor. Morgan became so successful in stock and on Broadway that his younger brother, Frank, was encouraged to give the theater a try and, as a result, became even more famous than Ralph.

The elder Morgan made his film bow in 1931, playing leading roles in such productions as Strange Interlude in 1932 and Rasputin and the Empress a year later in 1933 before settling into secondary character parts. Morgan had played more "surprise" killers in more murder mysteries than virtually any other actor in Hollywood (to list the titles of these mysteries would give away the surprise -- if any). Among off-camera interests, there were politics and labor relations; he was also one of the founders and charter members of the Screen Actors Guild. He was even the first President of the SAG. Morgan was the father of Claudia Morgan, an actress best known for her portrayal of Nora Charles on the "Thin Man" radio series.

Preceded by None	President of Screen Actors Guild 1933	Succeeded by Eddie Cantor
Preceded by Robert Montgomery	President of Screen Actors Guild 1938 – 1940	Succeeded by Edward Arnold