Morris W. Morris
Encyclopedia
Morris W. Morris (aka Lewis Morrison) was a Jamaican-born American stage actor best known for his longtime performance in the role of "Mephistopheles
" in "Faust
". Morris was of English and Spanish ancestry.
Morris served in the United States army, as a lieutenant in the Louisiana Native Guards, during the Civil War. Officers of the Guard, based in New Orleans, were free blacks in New Orleans and the surrounding area. During the beginning of the Civil War, the Louisiana Guard promptly switched allegiances to the Union, and its officers became the first black officers in the Union army.
He was married to English-born actress Rose Wood, and by her was the father of actress Adrienne Morrison
; and the grandfather of actresses Barbara Bennett
, Joan Bennett
and Constance Bennett
, and the great-grandfather of Morton Downey, Jr.
After the Civil War, he became a stage actor first performing in New Orleans beginning in minor roles with Edwin Booth
and Charlotte Cushman until he was featured in larger parts. He became a well-known actor in New Orleans and moved on to the New York
stage where he gained greater fame in "Faust". He eventually founded his own traveling theater troupe and traveled the world playing the role of Mephistopheles in "Faust". His theater posters have been preserved by the American Archives and can be accessed on line. He was the grandfather of Hollywood film actresses Joan Bennett and Constance Bennett, and the great-grandfather of television talk show host, Morton Downey, Jr. He is buried in a mausoleum in Nepperhan Heights, New York.
On stage he was known as Lewis Morrison. His second wife was much younger Florence Roberts
.
Mephistopheles
Mephistopheles is a demon featured in German folklore...
" in "Faust
Faust
Faust is the protagonist of a classic German legend; a highly successful scholar, but also dissatisfied with his life, and so makes a deal with the devil, exchanging his soul for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. Faust's tale is the basis for many literary, artistic, cinematic, and musical...
". Morris was of English and Spanish ancestry.
Morris served in the United States army, as a lieutenant in the Louisiana Native Guards, during the Civil War. Officers of the Guard, based in New Orleans, were free blacks in New Orleans and the surrounding area. During the beginning of the Civil War, the Louisiana Guard promptly switched allegiances to the Union, and its officers became the first black officers in the Union army.
He was married to English-born actress Rose Wood, and by her was the father of actress Adrienne Morrison
Adrienne Morrison
Mabel Adrienne Morrison was a semi-successful stage actress of the early 20th century. She married actor Richard Bennett, with whom she had three daughters who later would become actresses. She was the daughter of actress and actor Lewis Morrison. She appeared as Nat-u-ritch, the Indian squaw, in...
; and the grandfather of actresses Barbara Bennett
Barbara Bennett
Barbara Jane Bennett was an American silent film actress.Born into an acting family, she was the daughter of actor Richard Bennett and actress Adrienne Morrison, whose father was the stage actor Lewis Morrison. Her sisters were actresses Constance and Joan Bennett.Bennett would never succeed to...
, Joan Bennett
Joan Bennett
Joan Geraldine Bennett was an American stage, film and television actress. Besides acting on the stage, Bennett appeared in more than 70 motion pictures from the era of silent movies well into the sound era...
and Constance Bennett
Constance Bennett
-Early life:She was born in New York City, the daughter of actor Richard Bennett and actress Adrienne Morrison, whose father was the stage actor Lewis Morrison , a wealthy performer of English and Spanish ancestry...
, and the great-grandfather of Morton Downey, Jr.
After the Civil War, he became a stage actor first performing in New Orleans beginning in minor roles with Edwin Booth
Edwin Booth
Edwin Thomas Booth was a famous 19th century American actor who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe, performing Shakespearean plays. In 1869 he founded Booth's Theatre in New York, a spectacular theatre that was quite modern for its time...
and Charlotte Cushman until he was featured in larger parts. He became a well-known actor in New Orleans and moved on to the New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
stage where he gained greater fame in "Faust". He eventually founded his own traveling theater troupe and traveled the world playing the role of Mephistopheles in "Faust". His theater posters have been preserved by the American Archives and can be accessed on line. He was the grandfather of Hollywood film actresses Joan Bennett and Constance Bennett, and the great-grandfather of television talk show host, Morton Downey, Jr. He is buried in a mausoleum in Nepperhan Heights, New York.
On stage he was known as Lewis Morrison. His second wife was much younger Florence Roberts
Florence Roberts (Stage actress)
Florence Roberts was an early twentieth century stage actress. She was born in New York but raised in California and had early success in the San Francisco area beginning in 1889. She performed at the Baldwin Theatre and the Alcazar Theatre often playing Shakespearean parts...
.
External links
- Google books-Lewis Morrison
- http://www2.netdoor.com/~jgh/morris.html