Jeff Morrow (actor)
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Irving "Jeff" Morrow (b. January 13, 1907 in New York City d. December 26, 1993, California) was an American actor. Educated at the Pratt Institute, Jeff Morrow was a commercial artist before turning to acting.
[edit] Acting career
As "Irving Morrow" he acted on stage (in Pennsylvania) as early as 1927. He later appeared in such plays as Penal Law, Once in a Lifetime, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, 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 forehead, Morrow spent much of the 1950s appearing in '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 the small screen for most of his later roles, later making guest appearances on television series such as Bonanza, Perry Mason, and Police Story. He did appear in Harbor Lights (1963), Blood Legacy (1971), and in a bow to his earlier career, the 1971 sci-fi film Octaman for veteran 50'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-budge 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.
[edit] Later Years
In later life, Morrow worked as a commercial illustrator, while taking occasional acting assignments. He died on December 26, 1993 in a nursing home in Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California.
