Greg Morris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Greg Morris
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Morris in 1972
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| Born |
Francis Gregory Alan Morris
September 27, 1933 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
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| Died | August 27, 1996 (aged 62) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
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| Alma mater | University of Iowa |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1963–1995 |
| Spouse(s) |
Leona Keyes
(m. 1956) |
| Children | 3; including Phil and Iona |
| Parent(s) |
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Greg Morris was an American actor. He was born on September 27, 1933, and passed away on August 27, 1996. He was most famous for playing Barney Collier in the TV show Mission: Impossible. He also played Lt. David Nelson in the series Vega$.
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Greg Morris's Early Life and Acting Career
Greg Morris was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His father, Francis Williams, was a jazz trumpet player. Greg served in the United States Army during the Korean War.
After the war, he went to the University of Iowa. There, he was very active in college theater. He also hosted a jazz radio show called "Tea-Time" on the university's station, WSUI. He even helped organize concerts with a friend.
Starting His TV Journey
Greg Morris began acting on television in the 1960s. He appeared as a guest on many popular shows. These included The Twilight Zone, Branded, and Ben Casey.
One of his first TV roles was a small part on The Dick Van Dyke Show. In that episode, his character's appearance caused a lot of laughter from the audience. He also appeared in a college drama series called Channing.
Becoming Famous with Mission: Impossible
In 1966, Greg Morris got his most well-known role. He was cast as Barney Collier, the team's electronics expert, in the TV series Mission: Impossible. He was one of only three actors who stayed on the show for its entire run.
After Mission: Impossible ended, Morris acted in several movies. He also made guest appearances on other TV shows. One of these was The Six Million Dollar Man in 1974.
Starring in Vega$
Later, he joined the cast of the detective series Vega$ (1978–1981). He played Lt. David Nelson of the Las Vegas Metro Police. In 1981, he was in a serious car accident, but he recovered.
Later Roles and Legacy
After Vega$ was canceled, Morris continued to make guest appearances on TV. He even returned for several episodes of the Mission: Impossible remake (1988–1990). In this new version, his son, Phil Morris, played Grant Collier, who was Barney's son.
Greg Morris also appeared in What's Happening!! and The Jeffersons. On The Jeffersons, he played an electronics expert, similar to his Mission: Impossible role. He was also a frequent guest on game shows like Password and Tattletales.
Before he passed away, Greg Morris saw the Mission: Impossible movie starring Tom Cruise. He reportedly did not like the movie and left early.
Greg Morris's Family Life
Greg Morris married Leona Keyes in 1956. They stayed married until his death. They had three children together. Two of their children, Phil Morris and Iona Morris, also became actors. Leona Morris passed away in 2016.
Death
Greg Morris died on August 27, 1996, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 62 years old. He passed away from lung cancer and a brain tumor.
See also
In Spanish: Greg Morris para niños
