Morton Downey Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morton Downey Jr.
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Morton Downey Jr.
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Sean Morton Downey
December 9, 1932 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | March 12, 2001 (aged 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Talk show host, actor |
| Children | 4 |
| Parent(s) | Morton Downey Barbara Bennett |
| Relatives | Richard Bennett (grandfather) Adrienne Morrison (grandmother) Lewis Morrison (great-grandfather) Constance Bennett (aunt) Joan Bennett (aunt) |
Morton Downey Jr. (born December 9, 1932 – died March 12, 2001) was an American television talk show host and actor. He became well-known in the late 1980s for his program The Morton Downey Jr. Show, which was known for its lively and sometimes confrontational style.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Morton Downey Jr. came from a family deeply involved in entertainment. His father, Morton Downey, was a popular singer. His mother, Barbara Bennett, was an actress, singer, and dancer. Morton Downey Jr. did not use his first legal name, Sean, in his public career.
His aunts, Constance Bennett and Joan Bennett, were famous Hollywood film stars. His grandfather, Richard Bennett, was also a celebrated actor. Morton Downey Jr. grew up in a wealthy family and spent summers near the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. He later attended New York University.
Career in Radio and Music
In the 1950s, Downey Jr. started his career in radio. He worked as a program director and announcer at station WPOP in Hartford, Connecticut. He also worked as a disc jockey (DJ) in many cities across the U.S., sometimes using the name "Doc" Downey. He faced issues with regulators for some of his on-air behavior.
Like his father, Downey Jr. also pursued a career in music. He recorded pop and country songs and wrote several popular tunes in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1958, he recorded "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Later, in 1981, his song "Green Eyed Girl" appeared on the Billboard country music chart.
In the 1980s, Downey Jr. became a talk show host at KFBK-AM in Sacramento, California. He was known for his direct and sometimes aggressive style. He was later replaced by Rush Limbaugh in 1984.
Television Talk Show Success
Morton Downey Jr.'s biggest impact came from his television talk show, The Morton Downey Jr. Show. It began as a local program in October 1987 on WWOR-TV in New York and New Jersey. By early 1988, it became a nationally syndicated show, meaning it was shown across the country.
The show was famous for its loud discussions and debates among Downey, his guests, and the audience. Downey often smoked during the show and would blow smoke towards his guests. His fans were called "Loudmouths." The show featured special lecterns shaped like cartoon mouths, where guests would stand to debate.
Downey's catchphrases, like "zip it!", became popular. He enjoyed making his guests argue, which sometimes led to heated moments. The show's style and content made it controversial, and some stations and advertisers found it difficult to support.
Fame and Show Cancellation
The success of The Morton Downey Jr. Show made Downey Jr. a pop culture star. He appeared on Saturday Night Live in 1988 and at WrestleMania V in 1989. He also took on acting roles in movies like Predator 2 and Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation. He often played characters similar to his talk show host persona.
In 1989, Downey Jr. released an album of songs inspired by his show, titled Morton Downey Jr. Sings. The album's single, "Zip It!", became a surprise hit on some college radio stations. However, his TV show's viewership began to decline in 1989. Many stations moved the show to later time slots.
In July 1989, The Morton Downey Jr. Show was canceled due to declining viewership and controversy. At the time, it was airing on 70 stations across the country. In February 1990, Downey Jr. filed for bankruptcy.
Later Career and Health
After his TV show ended, Downey Jr. appeared on CNBC with an interview program called Showdown in 1990. He also attempted to return to talk radio several times in the 1990s.
In June 1996, Downey Jr. was diagnosed with lung cancer. He had one of his lungs removed as part of his treatment. After this, his views on smoking changed completely. He went from being a supporter of smokers' rights to a strong anti-smoking activist. He continued to speak out against smoking until his death.
He once said, "I had spawned a generation of kids to think it was cool to smoke a cigarette. Kids walked up to me until a matter of weeks ago, they'd have a cigarette in their hand and they'd say, 'Hey, Mort,' or, 'Hey, Mouth, autograph my cigarette.' And I'd do it." He also blamed tobacco companies for misleading consumers about cigarettes.
Personal Life and Interests
Morton Downey Jr. was married four times and had four children. He had a daughter named Melissa with his wife Helen. With his wife Joan, he had two daughters, Tracey and Kelli. With his fourth wife, Lori, he had a daughter named Seanna Micaela.
Beyond entertainment, Downey Jr. had an interest in sports. He was one of the owners of the New Orleans Buccaneers basketball team in the American Basketball Association in the late 1960s. He also helped start the proposed World Baseball Association in 1974.
Legacy and Influence
In 1998, Morton Downey Jr. was honored with a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs, California, Walk of Stars. His influence also reached pop culture in unexpected ways. For example, Morton Koopa Jr. from the Nintendo video game Super Mario Bros. 3 is named after him.
His show is often seen as a pioneer of a more confrontational style of talk television. The 2012 documentary film Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie explores his life, career, and impact on television.
Death
Morton Downey Jr. passed away on March 12, 2001, from lung cancer and pneumonia. He was 68 years old.
Film and Television Roles
- 1978: Born Again as Classroom Guard
- 1990: Predator 2 as Tony Pope
- 1990: Tales from the Crypt (Episode: "Television Terror") as Horton Rivers
- 1991: Monsters (Episode: "A Face for Radio") as Ray Bright
- 1991: Driving Me Crazy as Taj
- 1991: Legal Tender as Mal Connery
- 1992: Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation as Orrin Price
- 1992: Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger as Big Chuck
- 1992: The Silencer as Michael Keating
- 1997: Meet Wally Sparks as himself
- 1999: Palmer's Pick-Up as Dick Cash (final film role)
