Editing Chester Morris

{{Short description|American actor (1901–1970)}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name                     = Chester Morris
| image                    = Chester Morris pg234.jpg
| imagesize                =
| caption                  = Morris in 1934
| birth_name               = John Chester Brooks Morris
| birth_date               = {{Birth date|1901|02|16}} 
| birth_place              = New York City U.S.
| death_date               = {{death date and age|1970|09|11|1901|02|16}} 
| death_place              = [[New Hope, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| occupation               = Actor
| years_active             = 1917&ndash;1970
| spouse                   = {{Plainlist|
* {{marriage|Suzanne Kilbourne|1926|1940|reason=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Lillian Kenton Barker|1940|1970}}
}}
| parents                  = [[William Morris (actor)|William Morris]]<br>[[Etta Hawkins]]
| children                 = 3
| relatives                = [[Adrian Morris (actor)|Adrian Morris]] (brother)
}}

'''John Chester Brooks Morris''' (February 16, 1901 &ndash; September 11, 1970) was an American stage, film, television, and radio actor. He had some prestigious film roles early in his career, and received an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nomination for ''[[Alibi (1929 film)|Alibi]]'' (1929). Morris is remembered for portraying [[Boston Blackie]], a criminal-turned-detective, in the ''Boston Blackie'' film series of the 1940s.

==Early years==
[[File:The Beloved Traitor 1918.jpg|thumb|right|Morris and [[Mae Marsh]] in ''The Beloved Traitor'' (1918)]]
Chester Morris was born John Chester Brooks Morris in New York City, and was one of five children of Broadway stage actor [[William Morris (actor)|William Morris]] and stage comedienne [[Etta Hawkins]].<ref name=palmbeach>{{cite news| title=Veteran Actor Chester Morris, 69| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=BJFGAAAAIBAJ&pg=865,4592181&dq=chester+morris+divorce&hl=en| newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]]| date=September 12, 1970| page=6}}</ref> His siblings who lived to adulthood were screenwriter-actor Gordon Morris,<ref name="AE2001">{{cite book |last=Ellenberger |first=Allan R. |title=Celebrities in Los Angeles Cemeteries: A Directory |year=2001 |edition=First |type=softcover |location=Jefferson, NC |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-0983-9 |page=141 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZraJCgAAQBAJ&q=Adrian+Morris+actor&pg=PA141}}</ref> actor [[Adrian Morris (actor)|Adrian Morris]], and actress Wilhelmina Morris.<ref name="SAN2019">{{cite book |last1=Nollen |first1=Scott Allen |last2=Nollen |first2=Yuyun Yuningsih |title=Chester Morris: His Life and Career |year=2019 |edition=First |type=softcover |location=Jefferson, NC |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1-4766-7729-3}}</ref>{{rp|7,263}} Another brother, Lloyd Morris, had died young.<ref name="SAN2019"/>{{rp|7}}

Morris dropped out of school and began his Broadway career at 15 years old opposite [[Lionel Barrymore]] in ''The Copperhead''.<ref name="reading">{{cite news |title=Movies' 'Boston Blackie,' Chester Morris, Dies |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=fn8uAAAAIBAJ&pg=5493,6448083&dq=chester+morris+death&hl=en |newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]] |date=September 12, 1970 |page=13}}</ref> He made his film debut in the silent comedy-drama film ''[[An Amateur Orphan]]'' (1917).<ref name="blottner">{{harvnb|Blottner|2011|p=51}}</ref>

After appearing in several more Broadway productions in the early 1920s, Morris joined his parents, sister, and two brothers, Gordon and Adrian, on the [[vaudeville]] circuit.<ref>{{harvnb|Parish| Leonard|1976|p=410}}</ref> From 1923, they performed William Morris' original sketch called ''All the Horrors of Home'', which premiered at the [[Palace Theatre (New York City)|Palace Theatre]], New York, then on the [[Orpheum Circuit|Keith-Orpheum]] circuit for two years, including Proctor's Theatre, Mount Vernon, New York, and culminating in Los Angeles in 1925.<ref name="SAN2019"/>{{rp|12,304}}<ref name="KJ1980">{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Ken D. |last2=McClure |first2=Arthur F. |last3=Twomey |first3=Alfred E |title=Character People: The Stalwarts of the Cinema |year=1980 |edition=Third softcover printing |orig-year=First published 1976 |type=softcover |location=Secaucus, NJ |publisher=Citadel Press |isbn=978-0-8065-0701-9}}</ref>{{rp|150}} Morris returned to Broadway with roles in ''The Home Towners'' (1926) and ''Yellow'' (1927). While appearing in the 1927 play ''Crime'', he was spotted by a talent agent and was signed to a film contract.<ref name=palmbeach/>

==Career==
{{multiple image
<!-- Essential parameters -->
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| width     = 220
<!-- Image 1 -->
| image1    =Alibi (SAYRE 15779).jpg
| alt1     =
| caption1 =Morris (left, with [[Mae Busch]]) received an Oscar nomination for his performance as a gangster in ''[[Alibi (1929 film)|Alibi]]'' (1929)
<!-- Image 2 -->
| image2    =The-Big-House-1930.jpg
| alt2     =
| caption2 =Morris and [[Wallace Beery]] in ''[[The Big House (1930 film)|The Big House]]'' (1930)
}}
[[File:Public Hero No1 Trailer.webm|thumb|thumbtime=1:12|[[:File:Public Hero No1 Trailer.webm|''Public Hero No. 1'' trailer]] (1935)]]
Morris made his sound film debut in the 1929 film ''[[Alibi (1929 film)|Alibi]]'', for which he was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Actor]].<ref>{{harvnb|Morton|Adamson|2009|p=86}}</ref> He followed with roles in ''[[Woman Trap (1929 film)|Woman Trap]]'' (1929), ''[[The Case of Sergeant Grischa (film)|The Case of Sergeant Grischa]]'' (1930) and ''[[The Divorcee]]'', starring [[Norma Shearer]] in 1930. Later that year, Morris was cast as one of the leads (with [[Wallace Beery]] and [[Robert Montgomery (actor)|Robert Montgomery]]) in the [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] prison drama ''[[The Big House (1930 film)|The Big House]]''. For the next two years, he worked steadily in films for [[United Artists]] and MGM and was cast opposite [[Jean Harlow]] in the 1932 comedy-drama ''[[Red-Headed Woman]]''.<ref name="Parish, Leonard 1976 413">{{harvnb|Parish|Leonard|1976|p=413}}</ref>

By the mid- to late 1930s, Morris' popularity had begun to wane and he was cast as the lead actor in such [[B-movie]]s as ''[[Smashing the Rackets]]'' (1938) and ''[[Five Came Back]]'' (1939).<ref name="blottner"/> In 1941, Morris' career was revived when he was cast as criminal-turned-detective [[Boston Blackie]]. Morris appeared in a total of 14 ''Boston Blackie'' films for [[Columbia Pictures]], beginning with ''[[Meet Boston Blackie]]''. He reprised the role of Boston Blackie for the [[Boston Blackie (radio series)#NBC version|radio series]] in 1944.<ref>{{harvnb|Young|Young|2010|p=241}}</ref> During [[World War II]], Morris performed magic tricks in over 350 [[United Service Organizations|USO]] shows. He had been practicing magic since the age of 12 and was considered a top amateur magician.<ref name="henderson">{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1665&dat=19700912&id=wRsaAAAAIBAJ&pg=3801,3271340&hl=en| title=Veteran Actor Chester Morris Found Dead| date=September 12, 1970| newspaper=[[Times-News (Hendersonville, North Carolina)|The Times-News]]| page=9| access-date=March 21, 2015| location=Hendersonville, North Carolina}}</ref>

While appearing in the ''Boston Blackie'' series, Morris continued to appear in roles in other films mostly for [[Pine-Thomas Productions|Pine-Thomas]] films for [[Paramount Pictures]].<ref name="blottner"/> After appearing in 1949's ''Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture'', the final ''Boston Blackie'' film, Morris largely retired from films.<ref name="reading"/> During the 1950s, he focused mainly on television and theatre, returning to Broadway in 1954 in the comedy ''The Fifth Season''.<ref name="Billboard Fifth Season"/> During this time, Morris also appeared in guest spots for the [[anthology series]] ''[[Cameo Theatre]]'', ''[[Lights Out (radio show)#Television|Lights Out]]'', ''[[Tales of Tomorrow]]'', ''[[Alcoa Premiere]]'', ''[[Suspense (U.S. TV series)|Suspense]]'', ''[[Danger (TV series)|Danger]]'', ''[[Robert Montgomery Presents]]'', ''[[The Web (1950 TV series)|The Web]]'', ''[[Philip Morris Playhouse (TV series)|Phillip Morris Playhouse]]'', ''[[Studio One (American TV series)|Studio One]]'', and ''[[Kraft Television Theatre]]''. He briefly returned to films in 1955 with a role in the prison drama ''[[Unchained (film)|Unchained]]'', followed by a role in the 1956 science-fiction horror film ''[[The She-Creature]]''. In 1960, he had recurring role as Detective Lieutenant Max Ritter in the [[CBS]] summer replacement series, ''[[Diagnosis: Unknown]]''. The series lasted a year, after which Morris appeared in the [[NBC]] television film ''A String of Beads''. In November 1960, he returned to Broadway as Senator Bob Munson in the stage adaptation of the 1959 novel ''[[Advise and Consent]]''. Morris remained with the production until it closed in May 1961. In October, he reprised his role for the touring production.<ref name="Parish, Leonard 1976 413"/>

In the early to mid-1960s, Morris appeared in guest spots for the dramas ''[[Route 66 (TV series)|Route 66]]'', ''[[The Defenders (1961 TV series)|The Defenders]]'', and ''[[Dr. Kildare (TV series)|Dr. Kildare]]''. In 1965, he replaced [[Jack Albertson]] in the Broadway production of ''[[The Subject Was Roses]]''.<ref name="blottner"/> He reprised his role in the play for the touring production in 1966.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1338&dat=19661108&id=HbszAAAAIBAJ&pg=4343,2234703&hl=en| title=No Book---Says Chester Morris| date=November 8, 1966| newspaper=[[Spokane Daily Chronicle]]| page=17| access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref>

==Illness and death==
In mid-1968, Morris starred opposite [[Barbara Britton]] in the touring production of ''Where Did We Go Wrong?''.<ref name="parish">{{harvnb|Parish|Leonard|1976|p=414}}</ref> After the production wrapped, he returned to his home in Manhattan, where his health began to decline. Morris was later diagnosed with [[stomach cancer]].<ref>{{harvnb|Frasier|2015|p=233}}</ref>

Despite his declining health, Morris began work on what was his last film role, as Pop Weaver in the biographical drama ''[[The Great White Hope (film)|The Great White Hope]]'' (1970). The film was released after his death.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19691001&id=8VgqAAAAIBAJ&pg=3220,470345&hl=en| title=Chester Morris Back On Screen| date=October 1, 1969| newspaper=[[The Pittsburgh Press]]| page=93| access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1873&dat=19710620&id=WU0fAAAAIBAJ&pg=3995,5410826&hl=en| title='Hope' Tackles Issues Of Today's World| last=Canby| first=Vincent| date=June 20, 1971| newspaper=[[The Daytona Beach News-Journal]]| page=7B| agency=New York Times News Service| access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref> After filming wrapped, Morris joined the stage production of ''[[The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (play)|The Caine Mutiny Court Martial]]'' at the [[Bucks County Playhouse]] in [[New Hope, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="henderson"/>

On September 11, 1970, Lee R. Yopp, the producer and director of ''Caine'', was scheduled to have lunch with Morris. After Yopp could not reach Morris by phone at his motel room, he went to Morris's room, where he found the actor's body lying on the floor.<ref name="parish"/> The county coroner attributed Morris's death to an overdose of [[barbiturates]].<ref name="parish"/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=888&dat=19700912&id=Kt8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=971,688611&hl=en| title='Boston Blackie' Dies| date=September 12, 1970| newspaper=St. Petersburg Times| page=4A| access-date=March 21, 2015}}</ref> His remains were cremated and scattered over a German river.<ref>{{harv|Rosen|2004|p=188}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Chester-Lillian-Morris-1943-Photoplay.jpg|thumb|upright|Morris and his wife Lillian in 1943]]
Morris was married twice. He first married Suzanne Kilbourne on November 8, 1926. They had two children, John Brooks and Cynthia.<ref name=palmbeach/> Kilbourne was granted an [[interlocutory]] divorce in November 1939 which was finalized on November 26, 1940.<ref>{{cite news| title=Divorce Decree Given Wife Of Chester Morris| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z_lBAAAAIBAJ&pg=5810,5078326&dq=chester+morris+kilborn&hl=en| newspaper=[[Telegraph Herald]]| location=[[Dubuque, Iowa]]| date=November 12, 1939| page=7}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Marriage Not To Be Blocked| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OgNcAAAAIBAJ&pg=5877,3207205&dq=chester+morris+lillian+barker&hl=en| newspaper=Warsaw Union| date=November 26, 1940| page=8}}</ref>

On November 30, 1940, Morris married socialite Lillian Kenton Barker at the home of actor [[Frank Morgan]].<ref>{{cite news| title=Honeymoon Precedes Work of New Movie| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HUAuAAAAIBAJ&pg=6368,4518939&dq=chester+morris+lillian+barker&hl=en| newspaper=The Miami News| date=December 1, 1940| page=5-A}}</ref> They had a son, Kenton, born in 1944. The couple remained married until Morris's death in 1970.<ref name="reading"/>

==Select theatre credits==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Date
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| February 18 – June 1918
| ''{{sortname|The|Copperhead|nolink=1}}''
| {{sortname|Sam|Carter|nolink=1}}
| [[Shubert Theatre (New York City)|Shubert Theatre]], [[New York City]]<ref name="IBDb">{{cite web |url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/chester-morris-53754 |title=Chester Morris |website=[[Internet Broadway Database]] |access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref>
|-
| September 22 – October 1918
| ''Thunder''
| {{sortname|Sam|Disbrow|nolink=1}}
| [[Olympia Theatre (New York City)|Criterion Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| December 12, 1921 – April 1922
| ''{{sortname|The|Mountain Man|nolink=1}}''
| Carey
| [[Maxine Elliott Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| September 22 – October 1922
| ''{{sortname|The|Exciters|nolink=1}}''
| {{sortname|Lexington|Dalrymple|nolink=1}}
| [[Times Square Theater]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| January 23 – February 1923
| ''Extra''
| {{sortname|Wallace|King|nolink=1}}
| [[Longacre Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| August 23 – October 1926
| ''{{sortname|The|Home Towners|nolink=1}}''
| {{sortname|Waly|Calhoon|nolink=1}}
| [[Hudson Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| September 21, 1926 – January 1927
| ''Yellow''
| {{sortname|Val|Parker|nolink=1}}
| [[Nederlander Theatre|National Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| February 22 – August 1927
| ''Crime''
| {{sortname|Rocky|Morse|nolink=1}}
| [[Empire Theatre (42nd Street)|Eltinge 42nd Street Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| February 20 – May 1928
| ''Whispering Friends''
| {{sortname|Al|Sheeler|nolink=1}}
| Hudson Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| September 26 – October 1928
| ''Fast Life''
| {{sortname|Chester|Palmer|nolink=1}}
| [[Ambassador Theatre (New York City)|Ambassador Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| June 4 – July 1951
| ''Detective Story''
| {{sortname|Principal|Detective|nolink=1}}
| Ivar Theater, Los Angeles, California<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| September 5 – October 23, 1954
| ''{{sortname|The|Fifth Season|nolink=1}}''
| {{sortname|Detective|nolink=1}}
| [[James Earl Jones Theatre|Cort Theatre]], New York City<br>Touring to Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Chicago<ref name="Billboard Fifth Season">{{cite magazine |last=Francis |first=Bob |date=August 21, 1954 |title=Speaking of Legit |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyEEAAAAMBAJ&q=Chester+Morris+The+Fifth+Season&pg=PA48 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=2016-08-28 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Calta |first=Louis |date=September 29, 1954 |title=Tour is Planned by 'Fifth Season' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1954/09/29/archives/tour-is-planned-by-fifth-season-comedy-to-leave-cort-oct-23-morris.html?_r=0 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=2016-08-28 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>
|-
| February 27 – July 19, 1958
| ''[[Blue Denim]]''
| {{sortname|Major|Bartley|nolink=1}}
| [[Playhouse Theatre (New York City)|Playhouse Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| November 17, 1960 – May 20, 1961
| ''[[Advise and Consent#Adaptations|Advise and Consent]]''
| {{sortname|Bob|Munson|nolink=1}}
| Cort Theatre, New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|-
| September 7, 1965 – May 21, 1966
| ''{{sortname|The|Subject Was Roses}}''
| {{sortname|John|Cleary|nolink=1}}
| [[Helen Hayes Theatre]], [[Stephen Sondheim Theatre|Henry Miller's Theatre]] and [[Belasco Theatre]], New York City<ref name="IBDb"/>
|}

==Filmography==
{{multiple image
<!-- Essential parameters -->
| align     = right
| direction = vertical
| width     = 220
<!-- Image 1 -->
| image1    =Alibiposter.jpg
| alt1     =
| caption1 =Poster for ''[[Alibi (1929 film)|Alibi]]'' (1929)
<!-- Image 2 -->
| image2    =CORSAIR poster.jpg
| alt2     =
| caption2 =Poster for ''[[Corsair (film)|Corsair]]'' (1931)
<!-- Image 3 -->
| image3    =The-Gay-Bride-1934.jpg
| alt3     =
| caption3 =Poster for ''[[The Gay Bride]]'' (1934)
<!-- Image 4 -->
| image4    =Public-Hero-Number-One-1935-Poster-2.jpg
| alt4     =
| caption4 =Poster for ''[[Public Hero ﹟1]]'' (1935)

<!-- Image 5 -->
| image5    =Five-Came-Back-1939-1.jpg
| alt5     =
| caption5 =Chester Morris, [[Lucille Ball]], Casey Johnson and [[Kent Taylor]] in ''[[Five Came Back]]'' (1939)
}}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1917
| ''[[An Amateur Orphan]]''
| Dick
| '''Lost''' film<ref name="AFI">{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&retailCheck=&Type=PN&CatID=DATABIN_CAST&ID=31139&AN_ID=&searchedFor=Chester_Morris_ |title=Chester Morris |website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]] |access-date=2016-08-28}}</ref>
|-
| 1918
| ''[[The Beloved Traitor]]''
| Dan
| '''Lost''' film<ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1923 
| ''[[Loyal Lives]]''
| Tom|O'Hara
| '''Lost''' film<ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1925
| ''[[The Road to Yesterday]]''
| Party Guest (uncredited)
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1929
| ''[[Alibi (1929 film)|Alibi]]''
| Chick Williams
| Nominee for the [[2nd Academy Awards|Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]<ref name="AFI"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearchInput.jsp |title=The Official Academy Awards Database |website=[[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]] |access-date=2016-08-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208011732/http://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/ampas_awards/BasicSearchInput.jsp |archive-date=February 8, 2009 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
|-
| 1929
| ''[[Fast Life (1929 film)|Fast Life]]''
| Paul Palmer
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1929
| ''[[Woman Trap (1929 film)|Woman Trap]]''
| Ray Malone
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1929
| ''{{sortname|The|Show of Shows}}''
| Cast member
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[Second Choice]]''
| Don Warren
| '''Lost''' film<ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[Playing Around]]''
| Nickey Solomon
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[She Couldn't Say No (1930 film)|She Couldn't Say No]]''
| Jerry Casey
| '''Lost''' film<ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[The Case of Sergeant Grischa (film)|The Case of Sergeant Grischa]]''
| Sgt. Grischa Paprotkin
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[The Divorcee]]''
| Ted
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[The Big House (1930 film)|The Big House]]''
| John Morgan
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1930
| ''[[The Bat Whispers]]''
| Detective Anderson
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1931
| ''[[Corsair (film)|Corsair]]''
| John Hawkes
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1932
| ''[[Cock of the Air]]''
| Lieutenant Roger Craig
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1932
| ''[[The Miracle Man (1932 film)|The Miracle Man]]''
| John Madison, also known as Doc
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1932
| ''[[Sinners in the Sun]]''
| Jimmie Martin
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1932
| ''[[Red-Headed Woman]]''
| Bill Legendre Jr.
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1932
| ''[[Breach of Promise (1932 film)|Breach of Promise]]''
| James Pomeroy
|
|-
| 1933
| ''[[Blondie Johnson]]''
| Danny Jones
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1933
| ''[[Infernal Machine (film)|Infernal Machine]]''
| Robert Holden
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1933
| ''[[Tomorrow at Seven]]''
| Neil Broderick
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1933
| ''[[Golden Harvest (film)|Golden Harvest]]''
| Chris Martin
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1933
| ''[[King for a Night]]''
| Bud Williams
|
|-
| 1934
| ''[[Let's Talk It Over]]''
| Mike McGann
|
|-
| 1934
| ''[[Gift of Gab (film)|Gift of Gab]]''
| Doyle
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1934
| ''[[Embarrassing Moments (1934 film)|Embarrassing Moments]]''
| Jerry Randolph
|
|-
| 1934
| ''[[The Gay Bride]]''
| Office Boy, also known as Jimmie Burnham
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1934
| ''[[Society Doctor]]''
| Dr. Bill Morgan
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1935
| ''[[I've Been Around (film)|I've Been Around]]''
| Eric Foster
|
|-
| 1935
| ''[[Princess O'Hara]]''
| Vic Toledo
|
|-
| 1935
| ''[[Public Hero ﹟1]]''
| Jeff Crane
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1935
| ''[[Pursuit (1935 film)|Pursuit]]''
| Mitchell
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1935
| ''Pirate Party on Catalina Isle''
| Pirate Captain (uncredited)
|
|-
| 1936
| ''[[Three Godfathers (1936 film)|Three Godfathers]]''
| Bob
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1936
| ''[[Moonlight Murder]]''
| Steve Farrell
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1936
| ''[[Frankie and Johnny (1936 film)|Frankie and Johnnie]]''
| Johnnie Drew
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1936
| ''[[Counterfeit (1936 film)|Counterfeit]]''
| John Joseph Madden
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1936
| ''[[They Met in a Taxi]]''
| Jimmy Donlin
|
|-
| 1937
| ''[[The Devil's Playground (1937 film)|The Devil's Playground]]''
| Robert Mason
|
|-
| 1937
| ''[[I Promise to Pay]]''
| Eddie Lang
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1937
| ''[[Flight from Glory]]''
| Smith 
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1937
| ''[[Sunday Night at the Trocadero]]''
| Himself
| Short subject
|-
| 1938
| ''[[Law of the Underworld]]''
| Gene Fillmore
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1938
| ''[[Sky Giant]]''
| Ken Stockton
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1938
| ''[[Smashing the Rackets]]''
| Jim Conway
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1939
| ''[[Pacific Liner]]''
| Doc Craig
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1939
| ''[[Blind Alley (film)|Blind Alley]]''
| Hal Wilson
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1939
| ''[[Five Came Back]]''
| Bill Brooks
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1939
| ''[[Thunder Afloat]]''
| "Rocky" Blake
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1940
| ''[[The Marines Fly High]]''
| Lt. Jim Malone
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1940
| ''[[Wagons Westward]]''
| David Cook/Tim Cook
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1940
| ''[[Girl from God's Country]]''
| Jim Holden, also known as Dr. Gary Currier
|
|-
| 1941
| ''[[Meet Boston Blackie]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1941
| ''[[No Hands on the Clock]]''
| Humphrey Campbell
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1941
| ''[[Confessions of Boston Blackie]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Canal Zone (film)|Canal Zone]]''
| "Hardtack" Hamilton
|
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Alias Boston Blackie]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1942
| ''[[I Live on Danger]]''
| Jeff Morrell
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Boston Blackie Goes Hollywood]]'' 
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1942
| ''[[Wrecking Crew (1942 film)|Wrecking Crew]]''
| Duke Mason
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1943
| ''[[After Midnight with Boston Blackie]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Aerial Gunner]]''
| Sgt. "Foxy" Pattis
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1943
| ''[[High Explosive (film)|High Explosive]]''
| Buzz Mitchell
|
|-
| 1943
| ''[[The Chance of a Lifetime (1943 film)|The Chance of a Lifetime]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1943
| ''[[Tornado (1943 film)|Tornado]]''
| Pete Ramsey
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1944
| ''[[Gambler's Choice]]''
| Ross Hadley
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1944
| ''[[Secret Command]]''
| Jeff Gallagher
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1944
| ''[[One Mysterious Night]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1944
| ''[[Double Exposure (1944 film)|Double Exposure]]''
| Larry Burke
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Rough, Tough and Ready]]''
| Brad Crowder
|
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1945
| ''[[Boston Blackie's Rendezvous]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1946
| ''[[One Way to Love]]''
| Barry Cole
|
|-
| 1946
| ''[[A Close Call for Boston Blackie]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1946
| ''[[The Phantom Thief]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1946
| ''[[Boston Blackie and the Law]]'' 
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1947
| ''[[Blind Spot (1947 film)|Blind Spot]]''
| Jeffrey Andrews
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1948
| ''[[Trapped by Boston Blackie]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1949
| ''[[Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture]]''
| Boston Blackie
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Unchained (film)|Unchained]]''
| Warden Kenyon J. Scudder
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1956
| ''[[The She-Creature]]''
| Dr. Carlo Lombardi
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|-
| 1961
| ''A String of Beads''
| Walter Harmon
| TV movie
|-
| 1970
| ''[[The Great White Hope (film)|The Great White Hope]]''
| Pop Weaver
| <ref name="AFI"/>
|}

==Select television credits==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Episode(s)
|-
| 1951
| ''[[Starlight Theatre (TV series)|Starlight Theatre]]''
| Ed Kennedy
| "Act of God Nonwithstanding"
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Schlitz Playhouse of Stars]]''
| The Dansker
| "Billy Budd"
|-
| 1952
| ''[[Lux Video Theatre]]''
| Lefty
| "Welcome Home, Lefty"
|-
| 1953
| ''[[Omnibus (U.S. TV series)|Omnibus]]''
| The Battler
| "The Battler"
|-
| 1955
| ''[[Appointment with Adventure]]''
| Lt. Kizer
| "Time Bomb"
|-
| 1956
| ''[[Studio One (American TV series)|Studio One]]''
| Jack Feeney
| "[[The Arena (Studio One)|The Arena]]"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[The Red Skelton Show|The Red Skelton Hour]]''
| Tony
| "Clem's Fish Market"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre]]''
| Frank Simmons
| "Black Is for Grief"
|-
| 1957
| ''[[Playhouse 90]]''
| Warden
| "Child of Trouble"
|-
| 1958
| ''[[Pursuit (TV series)|Pursuit]]''
| Mood
| "Tiger on a Bicycle"
|-
| 1959
| ''[[The United States Steel Hour]]''
| Henry Vining
| "Whisper of Evil"
|-
| 1960
| ''[[The Play of the Week]]''
| Swanson
| "Morning's at Seven"
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Diagnosis: Unknown]]''
| Detective Lieutenant Ritter
| Three episodes
|-
| 1960
| ''[[Rawhide (TV series)|Rawhide]]''
| Hugh Clements
| "Incident on the Road to Yesterday"
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Naked City (TV series)|Naked City]]''
| Frank Manfred
| "Make-Believe Man"
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Checkmate (American TV series)|Checkmate]]''
| Albert Dewitt 
| "Portrait of a Man Running"
|-
| 1961
| ''[[Ben Casey]]''
| Walter Tyson
| "An Expensive Glass of Water"
|-
| 1962
| ''[[Eleventh Hour (U.S. TV series)|Eleventh Hour]]''
| Frankie Morrison
| "Along About Late in the Afternoon"
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Espionage (TV series)|Espionage]]''
| Harry Kemp
| "Castles in Spain"
|-
| 1964
| ''[[East Side/West Side]]''
| Walt McGill
| "The Name of the Game"
|-
| 1964
| ''[[Mr. Broadway (TV series)|Mr. Broadway]]''
| Orin Kelsey
| "Don't Mention My Name in Sheboygan"
|-
| 1965
| ''[[Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre]]''
| Major Whitman
| "The Fliers"
|-
| 1967
| ''[[Coronet Blue]]''
| Dr. Michael Wilson
| "A Time to Be Born"
|-
| 1968
| ''[[Cimarron Strip]]''
| George Deeker
| "Without Honor"
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Gentle Ben#Television|Gentle Ben]]''
| Elsmore
| "Busman's Holiday"
|}

==Select radio credits==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Program !! Notes
|-
| 1944|| ''[[Boston Blackie#Radio|Boston Blackie]]'' || Star of [[NBC Red Network|NBC]] series broadcast June 23 – September 15<ref name="Dunning">{{cite book |last=Dunning |first=John |title=On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fi5wPDBiGfMC&dq=%22Boston+Blackie,+Detective+Drama%22=%22Chester+Morris+as+Boston+Blackie%22&pg=PA110 |year=1998 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=New York, NY |isbn=978-0-19-507678-3 |page=110 |edition=Revised |access-date=2019-09-19}}</ref>
|-
| 1945|| ''Old Gold Comedy Theatre'' || "[[Boy Meets Girl (1938 film)|Boy Meets Girl]]"<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Those Were The Days| magazine=Nostalgia Digest| date=Winter 2014| volume=40| issue=1| pages=32–39}}</ref>
|-
| 1946|| ''[[Suspense (radio program)|Suspense]]'' || "The Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy"<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.escape-suspense.com/2008/11/suspense-the-strange-death-of-gordon-fitzroy.html| title = Suspense - the Strange Death of Gordon Fitzroy| website=Escape and Suspense!}}</ref>

|-
| 1952|| ''[[Philip Morris Playhouse]]'' || "Each Dawn I Die"<ref>{{cite news| last1=Kirby| first1=Walter| title=Better Radio Programs for the Week| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2376557/the_decatur_daily_review/| newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review| date=April 20, 1952| page=46| via=[[Newspapers.com]]| access-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book| last=Blottner| first=Gene |title=Columbia Pictures Movie Series, 1926-1955: The Harry Cohn Years |year=2011 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-786-48672-4}}
* {{cite book| last=Frasier| first=David K.| title=Suicide in the Entertainment Industry: An Encyclopedia of 840 Twentieth Century Cases| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rmJCgAAQBAJ&q=Suicide+in+the+Entertainment+Industry:+An+Encyclopedia+of+840+Twentieth+Century+Cases| date=2015| publisher=McFarland| isbn=978-1-4766-0807-5}}
* {{cite book| last1=Morton| first1=Lisa| last2=Adamson| first2=Kent| title=Savage Detours: The Life and Work of Ann Savage| year=2009| publisher=McFarland| isbn=978-0-786-45706-9}}
* {{cite book| last=Rosen| first=Fred| title=Cremation in America| year=2004| publisher=Prometheus Books| isbn=978-1-5910-2136-0}}
* {{cite book| last1=Young| first1=William H. |last2=Young| first2=Nancy K.| title=World War II and the Postwar Years in America: A Historical and Cultural Encyclopedia, Volume 1| year=2010| publisher=ABC-CLIO| isbn=978-0-313-35652-0}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Chester Morris}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|31846}}
* {{IMDb name|0606431}}

{{Boston Blackie}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Chester}}
[[Category:1901 births]]
[[Category:1970 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male child actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male radio actors]]
[[Category:American male silent film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Drug-related deaths in Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Barbiturates-related deaths]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players]]
[[Category:Morris family (show business)|Chester Morris]]
[[Category:American vaudeville performers]]