Greg Morris
Encyclopedia
Francis Gregory Alan "Greg" Morris (September 27, 1933 – August 27, 1996) was an American television
and movie
actor.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
, Morris began his acting career in the 1960s making guest appearances on many TV shows such as The Twilight Zone
and Ben Casey
. In 1966, he was cast in his most recognizable role as the electronics expert Barney Collier in the TV series Mission: Impossible
. Morris, Peter Lupus
and Bob Johnson
were the only actors to remain with the series throughout its entire run.
While in college, Morris was active in theater and hosted the late afternoon Jazz radio show, "Tea-Time," on the University of Iowa
's station, WSUI
. He co-produced concerts at the University with a student friend. After Iowa, Greg's first professional stage role was in The Death of Bessie Smith. One of his earliest television roles was a cameo appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show
, when Rob and Laura think they've gotten the wrong baby from the hospital. His appearance in that episode caused what is purported to be the longest, uninterrupted span of laughter from a live studio audience in TV history. In the 1963–1964 season, he appeared on ABC
's drama
about college
life, Channing
, starring Jason Evers
and Henry Jones
.
After Mission: Impossible
was cancelled, Morris appeared in movies and made guest TV appearances before he was cast as Lt. David Nelson during the second season of the TV series Vega$
. After the cancellation of the series in 1981, Morris continued to make guest TV appearances in the next decade, including a few episodes in the short-lived 1980s remake of the Mission: Impossible TV series, which starred his son Phil Morris, who was cast as Grant Collier, the son of Barney. He also appeared in a couple of episodes of the TV series What's Happening!!
as Lawrence Nelson (father of Dwayne) and in three episodes of The Jeffersons
, in which he reprised his role of an electronics expert (although not as Barney Collier) in a quasi-spoof of the Mission: Impossible series.
Morris died in 1996 of brain cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada
. Shortly before his death, he went to see the film version of Mission: Impossible
that starred Tom Cruise
. The reports were that he disliked the movie so much (an opinion that was shared by several of his former co-stars) that he left the theater early.
According to The Associated Press, he said of the movie: "It's an abomination."
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
actor.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Morris began his acting career in the 1960s making guest appearances on many TV shows such as The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series)
The Twilight Zone is an American anthology television series created by Rod Serling, which ran for five seasons on CBS from 1959 to 1964. The series consisted of unrelated episodes depicting paranormal, futuristic, dystopian, or simply disturbing events; each show typically featured a surprising...
and Ben Casey
Ben Casey
Ben Casey is an American medical drama series which ran on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, *, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaffe intoned, "Man, woman, birth, death, infinity." Neurosurgeon Joseph...
. In 1966, he was cast in his most recognizable role as the electronics expert Barney Collier in the TV series Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
. Morris, Peter Lupus
Peter Lupus
Peter Lupus is an American bodybuilder and actor of Syrian ancestry. He attended the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University, where he also played football and basketball, graduating in 1954...
and Bob Johnson
Bob Johnson (actor)
Robert Cleveland Johnson , known professionally as Bob Johnson, was an American actor and voice actor who played supporting roles on series television and in films from the late 1950s until a few years before his death...
were the only actors to remain with the series throughout its entire run.
While in college, Morris was active in theater and hosted the late afternoon Jazz radio show, "Tea-Time," on the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
's station, WSUI
WSUI
WSUI is a public radio station in Iowa City, Iowa, in the United States. It is operated by the University of Iowa and a member of Iowa Public Radio. Its signal serves most of eastern Iowa. WSUI is one of two National Public Radio member stations serving eastern Iowa, the other being KUNI in...
. He co-produced concerts at the University with a student friend. After Iowa, Greg's first professional stage role was in The Death of Bessie Smith. One of his earliest television roles was a cameo appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show
The Dick Van Dyke Show is an American television sitcom that initially aired on the Columbia Broadcasting System from October 3, 1961, until June 1, 1966. The show was created by Carl Reiner and starred Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore. It was produced by Reiner with Bill Persky and Sam Denoff....
, when Rob and Laura think they've gotten the wrong baby from the hospital. His appearance in that episode caused what is purported to be the longest, uninterrupted span of laughter from a live studio audience in TV history. In the 1963–1964 season, he appeared on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
about college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
life, Channing
Channing (TV series)
Channing is an American drama series that aired on American Broadcasting Company from September 18, 1963 to April 8, 1964...
, starring Jason Evers
Jason Evers
Jason Evers was an American actor.Evers was born Herb Evers in New York City, New York. After quitting high school to join the United States Army, Evers was so inspired by stars like John Wayne that he decided to try acting...
and Henry Jones
Henry Jones (actor)
Henry Burk Jones was an American actor of stage, film and television.Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Helen and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk...
.
After Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible is an American television series which was created and initially produced by Bruce Geller. It chronicled the missions of a team of secret American government agents known as the Impossible Missions Force . The leader of the team was Jim Phelps, played by Peter Graves, except in...
was cancelled, Morris appeared in movies and made guest TV appearances before he was cast as Lt. David Nelson during the second season of the TV series Vega$
Vega$
Vega$ is an American detective television drama series that aired on ABC between 1978 and 1981. It was produced by Aaron Spelling. The series, was filmed in its entirety in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is believed to be the first television series produced entirely in Las Vegas...
. After the cancellation of the series in 1981, Morris continued to make guest TV appearances in the next decade, including a few episodes in the short-lived 1980s remake of the Mission: Impossible TV series, which starred his son Phil Morris, who was cast as Grant Collier, the son of Barney. He also appeared in a couple of episodes of the TV series What's Happening!!
What's Happening!!
What's Happening!! is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from August 5, 1976 to April 28, 1979. The show premiered as a summer series. With good ratings and reviews, and after the failure of several other shows on the network, What's Happening!! returned in November 1976 as a weekly...
as Lawrence Nelson (father of Dwayne) and in three episodes of The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
, in which he reprised his role of an electronics expert (although not as Barney Collier) in a quasi-spoof of the Mission: Impossible series.
Morris died in 1996 of brain cancer in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. Shortly before his death, he went to see the film version of Mission: Impossible
Mission: Impossible (film)
Mission: Impossible is a 1996 action thriller directed by Brian De Palma and starring Tom Cruise. Following on from the television series of the same name, the plot follows a new agent, Ethan Hunt and his mission to uncover the mole within the CIA who has framed him for the murders of his entire...
that starred Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
. The reports were that he disliked the movie so much (an opinion that was shared by several of his former co-stars) that he left the theater early.
According to The Associated Press, he said of the movie: "It's an abomination."