Editing Garrett Morris

{{Short description|American actor (born 1937)}}
{{For|the British flautist|Gareth Morris}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Garrett Morris
| image              = Garrett Morris in Los Angeles 2013 (2).jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = Morris in 2013
| birth_name         = Garrett Isaac Morris
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1937|2|1}}
| birth_place        = [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| occupation         = {{flatlist|
* Actor
* comedian
* singer
}}
| education          = [[Juilliard School]]<br>[[Dillard University]] ([[Bachelor of Music|BM]])
| years_active       = 1960–present
| known_for          = {{Plain list|
* ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
* ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]''
* ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]''
* ''[[2 Broke Girls]]''
* ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]''
}}
| spouse             = Freda Morris (m. 1984<ref>Scott, Walter (March 14, 1999). [https://www.newspapers.com/image/404533928/?clipping_id=152549234 "Walter Scott's Personality Parade"]. ''Wisconsin State Journal Parade''. p.&nbsp;2. Retrieved August 2, 2024. "Still, the Louisiana native says he feels blessed to have work (he's in his third year on the WB Network's ''Jamie Foxx Show'') and the support of his wife of 16 years, Freda, a dancer."</ref>–2018)
}}

'''Garrett Isaac Morris'''<ref>{{Cite news|title=Birthdays|author=|date=February 1, 2023|work=The Scotsman|page=35|quote=Harry Styles, singer/ songwriter, 29; Shoaib Malik, Pakistani cricketer, 41; Garrett Isaac Morris, American actor (The Jeffersons), 86.|id={{ProQuest|2771131721}}}}</ref><ref>Library of Congress Copyright Office (1973). ''[https://archive.org/details/catalogofcop197332734libr/page/44/mode/2up?q=%22garrett+isaac+morris%22 Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series. Parts 3-4: Dramas and Works Prepared for Oral Delivery Jan-Dec 1973: Vol 27 No 1-2]''. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.&nbsp;45. {{LCCN|635347}}. "MORRIS, GARRETT ISAAC. The secret place, lv. A play. © Garrett Isaac Morris; 27Mar73; DU86443."</ref> (born February 1, 1937) is an American actor, comedian and singer. He was part of the original cast and was the first black cast member of the [[sketch comedy]] program ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', appearing from 1975 to 1980. 

He also played Jimmy on ''[[The Jeffersons]]'' (1983–1984). Morris had one of the starring roles, as Junior "Uncle Junior" King, on the sitcom ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]'', which aired from 1996 to 2001. Morris also had a regular role as Earl Washington on the [[CBS]] sitcom ''[[2 Broke Girls]]'', from 2011 to 2017. 

He is also known for his role in the sitcom ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' as Stan Winters, from 1992 to 1995, until he suffered an injury. Also, he made two guest appearances on ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]'' in season one, episode one as himself and again on episode ten as the brothers' uncle Leon (1995). He played a concerned teacher in the film ''[[Cooley High]]'' (1975), Slide in ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'' (1976), and Carl in ''[[The Census Taker]]'' (1984).

In 2024, Morris was honored with his own star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].

==Early life and education==
Morris was born on February 1, 1937, in [[New Orleans]], Louisiana, and grew up in the poverty-stricken [[Gert Town]] neighborhood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/article_85080591-df31-5fec-ab1f-c05ac7000965.html|title = 'Saturday Night Live' pioneer and NOLA native Garrett Morris to appear on 'Oprah'| date=April 11, 2011 }}</ref>  A church-choir singer from his youth, he trained at the [[Juilliard School of Music]] and graduated from [[Dillard University]] in 1958.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Logan |first=Elizabeth |date=2024-10-10 |title=See Young Garrett Morris During His Saturday Night Live Years |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/garrett-morris-young-saturday-night-live-photos |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrating Garrett Morris: Dillard University's Beacon of Artistic Achievement |url=https://www.dillard.edu/du-news/celebrating-garrett-morris/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Dillard University |language=en-US}}</ref> Early in his career, he performed with [[The Belafonte Folk Singers]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=George |first=Rachel |date=2024-02-03 |title=Garrett Morris Received His Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Here Are 7 Memorable Roles from the First Black Cast Member on 'SNL' |url=https://atlantablackstar.com/2024/02/02/first-black-snl-cast-member-garrett-morris-received-his-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Atlanta Black Star |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1960, Morris recorded ''South African Freedom Songs'' (EPC-601) with Pete Seeger and Guy Carawan for Folkways Records.<ref>''Pete Seeger: The Smithsonian Folkways Collection'', 2019, p. 138</ref>

==''Saturday Night Live''==
Morris had written a play that [[Lorne Michaels]] read and liked, which got Morris hired on as a writer for a program he was developing for Saturday night. Morris was asked about bringing in black actors to potentially serve as cast members, such as asking [[Bill Duke]]. Duke wasn't cast, but a suggestion by ones who were cast led Michaels to view a film that had Morris in it, ''[[Cooley High]]'', which Morris later stated "played a hand" in getting him cast on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', as produced by Michaels.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/so-hard-to-say-goodbye-the-oral-history-of-cooley-high/ | title=So Hard to Say Goodbye: The Oral History of Cooley High }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/cast/garrett-morris-15131|title=Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live |publisher=NBC|access-date=2019-12-17}}</ref> 

Periodically on ''SNL'' he sang classical music: once a [[Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart|Mozart]] [[aria]] "Dalla Sua Pace", Don Ottavio's aria from ''[[Don Giovanni]]'' when guest-host [[Walter Matthau]] designated him as a "musical guest...in place of the usual crap", and once a [[Franz Schubert|Schubert]] ''[[lied]]'' while the titles on the screen expressed his colleagues' purported displeasure at having to accommodate a misguided request by him. In February 1977, he sang [[Tchaikovsky|Tchaikovsky's]] ''[[None but the Lonely Heart (Tchaikovsky)|Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt]]'' barefoot in colorful Caribbean dress while subtitles explained he had just returned from Jamaica where he had picked up a girl by claiming to be [[Harry Belafonte]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Will |title=Garrett Morris on SNL, 2 Broke Girls, and singing arias for Walter Matthau |url=https://www.avclub.com/garrett-morris-on-snl-2-broke-girls-and-singing-arias-1798268909 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}</ref>

One of Morris' best known characters on ''SNL'' was the [[People of the Dominican Republic|Dominican]] baseball player Chico Escuela. Chico spoke only limited and halting English, so the joke centered on his responding to almost any question with his catch phrase: "Baseball... been berra berra good... to me". Another recurring bit, used in the [[newscast]] segment ''[[Weekend Update]]'', involved Morris being presented as "Headmaster of the New York School for the [[hard of hearing]]" and assisting the newscaster by shouting the main headlines, in a parody of the then-common practice of providing [[sign language]] interpretation in an inset on the screen as an aid to the [[deaf]] viewer.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-10 |title=See Young Garrett Morris During His Saturday Night Live Years |url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/garrett-morris-young-saturday-night-live-photos |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=NBC Insider Official Site |language=en-US}}</ref>

According to the book ''Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live'', Morris was frequently unhappy during his tenure on ''SNL'' from 1975 to 1980, and expressed the opinion that he was usually [[Typecasting (acting)|typecast]] in stereotypical roles.<ref name="Backstage" />  In 2024's ''[[Saturday Night (2024 film)|Saturday Night]]'', directed by [[Jason Reitman]], which dramatically details ''SNL'''s opening night, Morris's restless unhappiness is portrayed by actor [[Lamorne Morris]] (no relation).<ref name="IMDb">{{cite web |title=Saturday Night (2024) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27657135/reference/ |website=imdb.com |publisher=IMDb.com, Inc. |access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>

Black performers who have followed Morris on ''SNL'' have at times been publicly concerned with experiencing the same fate Morris did. [[Eddie Murphy]], for example, told ''[[TV Guide]]'' in the early 1980s that ''SNL'' producer [[Jean Doumanian]] "had tried to Garrett Morris me".<ref name="Backstage">{{cite book|last1=Hill|first1=Doug|first2=Jeff|last2=Weingrad|year=1986|title=Saturday Night: A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live|location=New York City|publisher=Beech Tree Books|isbn=0-688-05099-9}}</ref>

Morris, then at 38, was the eldest of the original cast members when SNL debuted in 1975.  As such, he is also the eldest surviving cast member.

===Recurring characters===
* [[Saturday Night Live characters appearing on Weekend Update#Chico Escuela|Chico Escuela]], a Dominican baseball player for the [[New York Mets]]
* Cliff, the streetwise friend to the Festrunk Brothers ([[Dan Aykroyd]] and [[Steve Martin]])
* Grant Robinson, Jr., one of [[The Nerds]]
* Hodo, one of Miles Cowperthwaite's cronies
* Merkon, the leader of the [[Coneheads]]
* ''Weekend Update''<nowiki/>'s "News for the Hard of Hearing" translator, who simply repeated each line while shouting with his hands cupped around his mouth.

==Career==

=== Theater ===

He performed in a number of [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[musical theater|musicals]], including ''[[Hallelujah, Baby!]]'' and ''[[Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death (Broadway, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 1971) |url=https://playbill.com/production/aint-supposed-to-die-a-natural-death-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004340 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241106080619/https://playbill.com/production/aint-supposed-to-die-a-natural-death-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004340 |archive-date=2024-11-06 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1965, he worked alongside [[Amiri Baraka]], [[Sun Ra]], [[Albert Ayler]] and [[Sonia Sanchez]] at the [[Black Arts Movement|Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School]] in [[Harlem]]; during this period, the theater was frequently raided and surveilled by the [[New York City Police Department]] and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=August 21, 2014 |title=My 'SNL': Testimonials From Cast Members Who Lived It |url=https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/my-snl-testimonials-from-cast-members-who-lived-it/ |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=Grantland.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School · F.B. Eyes Digital Archive: FBI Files on African American Authors and Literary Institutions Obtained Through the U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) |url=http://omeka.wustl.edu/omeka/exhibits/show/fbeyes/theatreschool |access-date=January 17, 2018 |publisher=WUSTL Digital Gateway Image Collections & Exhibitions}}</ref> 

=== Television ===

In 1971, he had a small role as a police sergeant in ''[[The Anderson Tapes]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Anderson Tapes |url=https://brattlefilm.org/movies/the-anderson-tapes/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=The Brattle |language=en-US}}</ref> and was a cast member in the short-lived CBS sitcom, ''[[Roll Out]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Marc |title=Garrett Morris Turns 88: Celebrating A Career Spanning Seven Decades |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcberman1/2025/02/01/garrett-morris-turns-88-celebrating-a-career-spanning-seven-decades/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> He also appeared as a high school teacher in the 1975 film ''[[Cooley High]]''.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Malooley |first=Jake |title=So Hard to Say Goodbye: The Oral History of Cooley High |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/arts-culture/so-hard-to-say-goodbye-the-oral-history-of-cooley-high/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Chicago Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1976, Morris appeared in the film ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]'', playing the role of Slide the bookmaker. In 1983 and 1984, Morris appeared in five episodes of ''[[The Jeffersons]]'', playing a character named Jimmy. He starred in the 1984 film ''[[The Census Taker]]'', a 1984 [[black comedy]] directed by Bruce R. Cook.<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/86893/The-Census-Taker/details|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207041833/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/86893/The-Census-Taker/details|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 7, 2011|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2011|title=The Census Taker (1984)|access-date=May 24, 2010}}</ref><ref name="pbp1">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_QiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Fs0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1339,1505753|title=Things Are Beginning To Look 'Berry Good' For Garrett Morris|first=Bob|last=Michals|newspaper=[[The Palm Beach Post]]|date=January 3, 1985|access-date=May 24, 2010|archive-date=May 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200517174014/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=N_QiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Fs0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1339,1505753|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1985, he guested on ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' as Lafayette Duquesne.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.philo.com/player/show/U2hvdzo2MDg1NDg4OTk2NDg0NzIzMzQ?episode=RXBpc29kZTo2MDg1NDg4OTk2NDkwMzgxODk |title=Murder, She Wrote: Murder to a Jazz Beat |last=Philo |language=en |access-date=2025-02-06 |via=www.philo.com}}</ref> In 1986, Morris began playing Arnold "Sporty" James, on the NBC cop drama ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]'', starring [[Fred Dryer]] and [[Stepfanie Kramer]] through 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunter Season 3, Episode 8 |url=https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/485101/s03-e08-love-hate-and-sporty-james |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=tubitv.com}}</ref> Morris appeared in ''[[Married... with Children]]'' as Russ, one of Al's poker buddies, in "The Poker Game", in a 1987 season 1 episode and again in the season 3 episode "Requiem for a Dead Barber".<ref>Levant, B. (Director). (1987). ''The Poker Game'' (season 1, episode 8). Embassy Communications. <nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANraTbHcD1k</nowiki></ref> He also appeared in the 1992 horror comedy ''[[Severed Ties (film)|Severed Ties]]'' starring [[Oliver Reed]].<ref>Santostefano, D. (Director). (1992). ''Severed Ties''. Fangoria.</ref>

Morris also had regular roles on ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'', ''[[The Jeffersons]]'', ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'', ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]'', and ''[[Roc (TV series)|Roc]]''.<ref name=":2" /> He also appeared in an episode of ''[[Who's the Boss]]'', "Sam's Car" (1989), playing the role of Officer Audette.<ref>Kelada, A. (Director). (1988, October 18). ''Sam’s Car'' (season 5, episode 1). Hunter-Cohan Productions.</ref> He was a regular cast member on ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]'', playing Jamie's uncle, Junior King.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_lR4L5Asck |title=Garrett Morris on Playing 'Uncle Junior' on "The Jamie Foxx Show" (Part 10) |date=2023-10-22 |last=djvlad |access-date=2025-02-06 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

In 1998, Morris appeared as himself in the fourth episode of the fifth season of the TV series, ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]''. In 2002, Morris made a cameo appearance on an episode of ''Saturday Night Live'' hosted by [[Brittany Murphy]]. In 2006, Morris reprised his role as "Headmaster of the New York School for the Hard of Hearing" in a cameo on the TV series ''[[Family Guy]]'', in the episode "[[Barely Legal (Family Guy)|Barely Legal."]]<ref>''Barely Legal'' (season 5, episode 8). (2006, December 17). <nowiki>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYwB38Vsh7A</nowiki></ref>

In August 2008, Morris played the role of Reverend Pratt in the family comedy drama film, ''[[The Longshots]]'', starring [[Ice Cube]] and [[Keke Palmer]].

In 2011, Morris had a cameo role as a Catholic priest on the episode "Three Boys" on the Showtime series ''[[Shameless (American TV series)|Shameless]]''. He was cast as Earl in the [[CBS]] comedy ''[[2 Broke Girls]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=March 16, 2011 |title=Scott Porter To Star in CW's 'Hart Of Dixie', More Actors Board Pilots |url=https://deadline.com/2011/03/scott-porter-to-star-in-cws-hart-of-dixie-114548/ |access-date=July 1, 2011 |publisher=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> which premiered on September 19, 2011. During the second season he faced a lawsuit from the Global Agency accusing him of not paying 10% of his income from the show as agreed. However, a rep from the show stated that he had not actually failed to do so.<ref name="cbspremieres">{{cite web |last=Seidman |first=Robert |date=June 29, 2011 |title=CBS Announces Fall 2011 Premiere Dates |url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/29/cbs-announces-fall-2011-premiere-dates/96883/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110701095954/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/06/29/cbs-announces-fall-2011-premiere-dates/96883/ |archive-date=July 1, 2011 |access-date=July 1, 2011 |work=TV By the Numbers}}</ref> 

In 2018, Morris appeared in the NBC show ''[[This Is Us]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-16 |title=Garrett Morris: From Snl To Iconic Actor |url=https://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/garrett-morris/ |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Baltimore Examiner |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2019, Morris appeared in the fifth episode of ''[[A Black Lady Sketch Show]]'', titled "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?"<ref name=":0" />

=== Mugging ===

In 1994, he was shot by a would-be robber, whom he attempted to fight off, but recovered as he discussed on the January 14, 2016, episode of [[Marc Maron]]'s podcast [[WTF with Marc Maron|''WTF'']].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Maron |first=Marc |title=Episode 672 - Garrett Morris by WTF with Marc Maron Podcast |url=https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/wtf-with-marc-maron-podcast-3254/episodes/episode-672-garrett-morris-146116674 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=WTF Podcast |language=en}}</ref> On Howard Stern's radio show on July 20, 1995, Morris said the culprit was imprisoned not for the shooting, but for parole violations for other crimes. In another radio interview, he mentioned that the robber who shot him was eventually convicted and incarcerated. In prison, inmates who happened to be fans of Morris teamed up and beat up the robber in revenge.<ref>{{cite web |date=February 25, 1994 |title=Comedian Garrett Morris shot in Los Angeles holdup attempt |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/02/25/comedian-garrett-morris-shot-in-los-angeles-holdup-attempt/ |access-date=January 17, 2018 |website=The Baltimore Sun}}</ref>

At the time of the shooting, Morris was starring on ''[[Martin (television)|Martin]]'' as Martin's first boss, Stan Winters. Morris' shooting rendered him temporarily unable to continue in the role; he was written out of the show by having the character become a national fugitive. The scene where he is about to undergo [[plastic surgery]] was shot on the hospital bed Morris occupied while recuperating from the 1994 assault. He made a final appearance as Stan during the show's third season, walking with a cane due to Morris' real injuries, but the reason given for Stan was that he had crashed his car during a police chase.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Television Academy Foundation Interviews |date=2012-07-30 |title=Emmy TV Legends - Garrett Morris discusses getting shot and leaving his role on Martin |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA5KkpT0uAs |website=Television Academy}}</ref>

=== Film ===

In 1985, he appeared in [[Larry Cohen]]'s science fiction [[horror film]] ''[[The Stuff]]'', playing cookie magnate Chocolate Chip Charlie, a parody of [[Famous Amos]].<ref>Larry, C. (Director). (1985). ''The Stuff''. Larco Productions.</ref> In 2015, Morris appeared as a cameo in ''[[Ant-Man (film)|Ant-Man]]'', referencing an old ''SNL'' sketch in which he played the first live-action incarnation of the character.<ref>{{cite web |last=Burlingame |first=Russ |title=Ant-Man's Most Overlooked Cameo: Ant-Man Himself |url=https://comicbook.com/2015/07/18/ant-mans-most-overlooked-cameo-ant-man-himself/ |work=Comicbook.com}}</ref>

=== Commercials ===

In 2009, Morris appeared in two TV commercials for the [[Nintendo DS]]—one featuring ''[[Mario Kart DS]]'', and the other featuring ''[[Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!]]''. In 2010, Morris appeared in a television commercial for Miller Lite. The national commercial, titled "PopPop", features Morris alongside actors [[Stacey Dash]] and [[Jason Weaver]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wpgc.cbslocal.com/2010/03/31/new-miller-lite-beer-commercial-starring-garrett-morris-jason-weaver-and-stacey-dash/|title=New Miller Lite Beer Commercial Starring Garrett Morris, Jason Weaver...and Stacey Dash!|date=March 31, 2010|publisher=WPGC|access-date=January 17, 2018|archive-date=January 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116084640/http://wpgc.cbslocal.com/2010/03/31/new-miller-lite-beer-commercial-starring-garrett-morris-jason-weaver-and-stacey-dash/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The commercial takes a light-hearted look at a family relationship with Morris playing the grandfather, PopPop, and Weaver as his grandson. {{as of|2010|alt=Since summer 2010}}, Morris has appeared in an ad for Orbit gum in the United States.{{citation needed|date=January 2011}}<!-- Forum is not reliable source - removed http://friendsoftom.com/forum/index.php/topic,7014.msg157073.html?PHPSESSID=la85gqfmtp7rku7vtb1oavd7p7#msg157073 --> 

He also operated and was the host of his own comedy club, The Downtown Comedy Club, in downtown Los Angeles. On February 9, 2007, Los Angeles mayor [[Antonio Villaraigosa]] honored Garrett Morris for his work and contributions to the black community. He declared February 9, 2007, Garrett Morris Day and named The Downtown Comedy Club the official club of Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Farrah |date=2024-01-29 |title=New Orleans native Garrett Morris to get star on Hollywood Walk of Fame |url=https://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-native-garrett-morris-to-get-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/46568990 |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=WDSU |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=U. V. M. |date=2024-01-25 |title=Garrett Morris honored with star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame |url=https://unheardvoicesmag.com/2024/01/25/garrett-morris-to-be-honored-with-a-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/#google_vignette |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=Unheard Voices Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref> 

=== Other career endeavors ===

On September 9, 2016, Morris and his family appeared on the ABC's game show ''[[Celebrity Family Feud]]'', playing against [[Alfonso Ribeiro]] and Ribeiro's friends.<ref>{{cite web |author=ABC |date=September 10, 2016 |title=Alfonso Ribeiro versus Garrett Morris! - Celebrity Family Feud |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VUt0_49Z7M |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/2VUt0_49Z7M |archive-date=2021-12-11 |access-date=November 4, 2019 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In 2024, Morris was honored with his own star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Abraham |first=Mya |date=2024-01-25 |title=Garrett Morris To Kick Off Black History Month With His Own Walk Of Fame Ceremony |url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/garrett-morris-hollywood-walk-of-fame-star-1234845060/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1970
| ''[[Where's Poppa?]]''
| Garrett 
| 
|-
| 1971
| ''[[The Anderson Tapes]]''
| Sgt. Everson 
| 
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Cooley High]]''
| Mr. Mason 
| 
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Car Wash (film)|Car Wash]]''
| Slide 
| 
|-
| 1980
| ''[[How to Beat the High Cost of Living]]''
| Power & Light Man
| 
|-
| 1984
| ''[[The Census Taker]]''
| Harvey 
| 
|-
| 1985
| ''[[The Stuff]]''
| "Chocolate Chip Charlie" W. Hobbs
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 1987
| ''[[Critical Condition (film)|Critical Condition]]''
| Helicopter Junkie 
| 
|-
| ''[[The Underachievers (film)|The Underachievers]]''
| Dummont 
| 
|-
| 1989
| ''Dance to Win''
| -
| 
|-
|rowspan=3| 1991
| ''[[Children of the Night (1991 film)|Children of the Night]]''
| Matty 
| 
|-
| ''[[Motorama (film)|Motorama]]''
| Andy 
| 
|-
| ''Blackbird Fly''
| -
| [[Short film]]
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Severed Ties (film)|Severed Ties]]''
| Stripes 
| 
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Coneheads (film)|Coneheads]]''
| Capt. Orecruiser 
| 
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Black Scorpion (film)|Black Scorpion]]''
| Argyle 
| 
|-
|rowspan=3| 1996
| ''Black Rose of Harlem''
| Wisdom 
| 
|-
| ''[[Santa with Muscles]]''
| Clayton 
| 
|-
| ''Almost Blue''
| Charles 
| 
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Black Scorpion II]]''
| Argyle 
| 
|-
|rowspan=3| 1999
| ''[[Twin Falls Idaho (film)|Twin Falls Idaho]]''
| Jesus 
| 
|-
| ''Palmer's Pick-Up''
| Tom Bolza
| 
|-
| ''Graham's Diner''
| —
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2001
| ''[[Jackpot (2001 film)|Jackpot]]''
| Lester Irving
| 
|-
| ''[[How High]]''
| PCC Agent
| 
|-
| 2003
| ''Connecting Dots''
| Henry
| 
|-
| 2005
| ''[[The Salon (film)|The Salon]]''
| Percy
| 
|-
|rowspan=4| 2007
| ''Implanted''
| Kadar
| Short film
|-
| ''[[Who's Your Caddy?]]''
| The Reverend 
| 
|-
| ''Frank''
| Billy Hamilton
| 
|-
| ''Amenic''
| Amenic
| Short film
|-
|rowspan=2| 2008
| ''[[Dog Gone (film)|Dog Gone]]''
| Police Chief
| 
|-
| ''[[The Longshots]]''
| Reverend Pratt
| 
|-
|rowspan=3| 2009
| ''Bed Ridden''
| Billings
| rowspan=2| Short film
|-
| ''Just Like Family''
| Leroy
|-
| ''Sonny Dreamweaver''
| God
| 
|-
| 2010
| ''Pickin' & Grinnin'''
| Richard A. Trophey 
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2011
| ''Valley of the Sun''
| Joe 
| 
|-
| ''[[Let Go (film)|Let Go]]''
| Donuts 
| 
|-
|rowspan=2| 2012
| ''Pawn Shop''
| Rey 
| 
|-
| ''[[Freeloaders (film)|Freeloaders]]''
| Mr. Abaeze
| 
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Ant-Man (film)|Ant-Man]]''
| Cab Driver
| 
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Grand-Daddy Day Care]]''
| Arnold
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1960
| ''[[CBS Workshop]]''
| —
| Episode: "The Bible Salesman"
|-
| 1963
| ''[[General Hospital]]''
| Mouth
| Regular cast
|-
| 1973
| ''[[Roll Out]]''
| Wheels−
| Main cast
|-
| 1974
| ''Change at 125th Street''
| Janitor
| Television film
|-
| 1975–80, 2002, 2015, 2025
| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Himself / cast member
| Main cast (season 1–5), ''[[Saturday Night Live season 28|Brittany Murphy/Nelly]], [[Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special|40th Anniversary Special]], [[Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special|50th Anniversary Special]]
|-
| 1978
| ''[[ABC Weekend Special]]''
| Frank
| Episode: "The Seven Wishes of Joanna Peabody"
|-
| 1980
| ''[[Easter Fever]]''
| Jack
| Voice, television film<ref name="btva">{{cite web |title=Garrett Morris (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Garrett-Morris/ |access-date=March 7, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.</ref>
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]''
| Santa Claus / Mr. Jones
| Episode: "Santa's Helper"
|-
| 1983
| ''[[The Invisible Woman (1983 film)|The Invisible Woman]]''
| Lt. Greg Larkin
| Television film
|-
| 1983–84
| ''[[The Jeffersons]]''
| Jimmy
| Guest (season 9);<br />Recurring cast (season  10)
|-
|rowspan=3| 1984
| ''At Your Service''
| Dwayne
| Television film
|-
| ''[[Masquerade (TV series)|Masquerade]]''
| Froog
| Episode: "The French Correction"
|-
| ''[[The New Scooby Doo Mysteries]]''
| Additional voices
| Season 2
|-
| 1984–85
| ''[[It's Your Move]]''
| Principal Dwight Ellis
| Recurring cast
|-
|rowspan=5| 1985
| ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]''
| Lafayette Duquesne
| Episode: "Murder to a Jazz Beat"
|-
| ''[[Hill Street Blues]]''
| Derelict
| Recurring cast (season 5)
|-
| ''[[The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)|The Twilight Zone]]''
| Jake
| Episode: "[[Dealer's Choice (The Twilight Zone)|Dealer's Choice]]"
|-
| ''[[Scarecrow and Mrs. King]]''
| Asam Ali Shamba
| Episode: "The Wrong Way Home"
|-
| ''[[Pound Puppies (film)|Pound Puppies]]''
| Chief Williams
| Voice, television film<ref name="btva" />
|-
|rowspan=2| 1986
| ''[[The Love Boat]]''
| Gary Samuels
| Episode: "The Will / Déjà Vu/ The Prediction"
|-
| ''New Love, American Style''
| —
| Episode: "Love and the Teddy"
|-
| 1986–89
| ''[[Hunter (1984 American TV series)|Hunter]]''
| Arnold "Sporty" James
| Guest (season 2);<br />Recurring cast (season 3-5)
|-
| 1987
| ''[[227 (TV series)|227]]''
| Bob Winslow
| Episode: "The Working Game"
|-
| 1987–89
| ''[[Married... with Children]]''
| Russ
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Who's the Boss?]]''
| Officer Audette
| Episode: "Sam's Car"
|-
| 1991
| ''Earth Angel''
| Joey
| Television film
|-
| 1991–92
| ''[[Roc (TV series)|Roc]]''
| Wiz
| Recurring cast (season 1)
|-
| 1992
| ''[[Maid for Each Other]]''
| Harold Brown
| Television film
|-
| 1992–95
| ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]''
| Stan Winters
| Main cast (season 1–2);<br /> Guest (season 3)
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Daddy Dearest]]''
| Stan
| Episode: "American We"
|-
| 1994
| ''[[ER (TV series)|ER]]''
| Edgar Luck
| Episode: "ER Confidential"
|-
|rowspan=3| 1995
| ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]''
| Uncle Leon / Himself
| 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[Minor Adjustments]]''
| Willie
| Episode: "The Ex-Files"
|-
| ''[[Cleghorne!]]''
| Sidney Carlson
| Main cast
|-
| 1996–2001
| ''[[The Jamie Foxx Show]]''
| Uncle Junior King
| Main cast
|-
|rowspan=2| 1997
| ''[[Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child]]''
| Buzzard
| Voice, episode: "[[Pinocchio]]"
|-
| ''[[Boston Common (TV series)|Boston Common]]''
| Sammy Sutherland
| Episode: "I.D. Endow"
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Space Ghost Coast to Coast]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Cahill"
|-
| 1999
| ''[[G vs E]]''
| Kentucky McQuaid
| Episode: "Sunday Night Evil"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2000
| ''[[City of Angels (2000 TV series)|City of Angels]]''
| Dr. Frank Hollister
| Episode: "Prototype"
|-
| ''[[Static Shock]]''
| Preacher
| Voice, episode: "Child's Play"<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[Little Richard (film)|Little Richard]]''
| Carl Rainey
| Television film
|-
|rowspan=3| 2001
| ''[[Justice League (TV series)|Justice League]]''
| Al McGee
| Voice, episode: "In Blackest Night" Pt. 1<ref name="btva" />
|-
| ''[[According to Jim]]''
| Lewis
| Episode: "The Turkey Bowl"
|-
| ''[[The Hughleys]]''
| Father Roberts
| Episode: "I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas"
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Maniac Magee (film)|Maniac Magee]]''
| Mr. Cobble
| Television film
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Noah's Arc (TV series)|Noah's Arc]]''
| Rev. Allen
| 2 episodes
|-
|rowspan=2| 2006
| ''[[All of Us]]''
| Uncle Cyrus
| Episode: "Neesee's Grave Plot"
|-
| ''[[Family Guy]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "[[Barely Legal (Family Guy)|Barely Legal]]"
|-
|rowspan=2| 2007
| ''[[Halfway Home (TV series)|Halfway Home]]''
| Jimmy the Mailman
| Episode: "Halfway Impotent"
|-
| ''Frangela''
| Dave
| Television film
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Shameless (American TV series)|Shameless]]''
| Old Priest
| Episode: "Three Boys"
|-
| 2011–17
| ''[[2 Broke Girls]]''
| Earl Washington
| Main cast
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Psych]]''
| Clizby
| Episode: "100 Clues"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Rhett & Link's Buddy System]]''
| Ignatius
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
|rowspan=4| 2018
| ''[[MacGyver (2016 TV series)|MacGyver]]''
| Willy
| Episode: "Mardi Gras Beads + Chair"
|-
| ''[[Scandal (American TV series)|Scandal]]''
| Hector
| Episode: "Army of One"
|-
| ''[[Knight Squad]]''
| Old Fizzwick
| Episode: "Working on the Knight Moves"
|-
| ''[[This Is Us]]''
| Lloyd
| Recurring cast (season 2);<br />Guest (season 3)
|-
| 2019
| ''[[A Black Lady Sketch Show]]''
| Deacon Jones
| Episode: "Why Are Her Pies Wet, Lord?"
|-
|rowspan=3| 2020
| ''[[Family Reunion (TV series)|Family Reunion]]''
| Grand Sensei Shandu
| Episode: "Remember When Shaka Got Beat Up?"
|-
| ''[[Station 19]]''
| Earl Davis
| Episode: "Poor Wandering One"
|-
| ''[[Self Made (miniseries)|Self Made]]''
| Cleophus Walker
| Main cast
|-
|rowspan=2| 2021
| ''[[Fairfax (TV series)|Fairfax]]''
| Albert
| Voice role;<br />Episode: "Fairfolks"
|-
| ''[[Grand Crew]]''
| Narrator
| Episode: "Pilot"
|-
|rowspan=1| 2023
| '' [[How I Met Your Father]]''
| Julian
| Episode: "Midwife Crisis"
|-
| 2025
| ''[[The Neighborhood (TV series)|The Neighborhood]]''
| Jasper
| Episode: "Welcome to the Yippedy-Dip"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0606541}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|11203}}
* {{EmmyTVLegends name|garrett-morris|Garrett Morris}}
* Video: {{YouTube|BWH8T5SGJ6g|Colfax roasting Garrett Morris}}
* [http://snltranscripts.jt.org/79/79fupdate.phtml Garrett Morris as Chico on ''Weekend Update'']
* [http://www.downtowncomedyclub.com/ The Downtown Comedy Club]

{{2017 Television Hall of Fame}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morris, Garrett}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:African-American male comedians]]
[[Category:African-American comedians]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American male voice actors]]
[[Category:American shooting survivors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Male actors from New Orleans]]
[[Category:Dillard University alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American sketch comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from Los Angeles]]
[[Category:20th-century American comedians]]
[[Category:21st-century American comedians]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:Comedians from New Orleans]]