William Morris

William Henry Morris (January 1, 1861 – January 11, 1936) was an American stage and film actor.

Career

He began his career as a teenager in the theater, first appearing at the Boston Museum in 1875. He became a star on the Broadway stage, where he spent most of his career. He appeared in popular plays such as 1909's Is Matrimony a Failure? He was a character actor in silent films, usually playing gruff fathers or bad guys.

His appearance in Alice Guy's 1917 silent film The Ocean Waif, from Kino DVD, is an example of Morris's surviving screen work.

Personal life

He was married to actress Etta Hawkins, with whom he had five children: screenwriter-actor Gordon Morris (1898–1940), actors Chester Morris (1901–1970) and Adrian Morris (1907–1941), and actress Wilhelmina Morris (1902–1971). Their first child, Lloyd Morris, died young (1892–1902).

Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1916 Romeo and Juliet Abraham 1930 Brothers Dr. MooreThe Convict's CodeTheodore Perry1931 The Woman Between Frederick Weston The Gang Buster Andrew Martine

Selected stage appearances Men and Women (1890) Is Matrimony a Failure? (1909) The Concert (1910) The Family Cupboard (1913) Cheating Cheaters (1916)