biography

Jeff Morrow Born Leslie Irving Morrow in New York on January 13, 1907, actor Jeff Morrow took an interest in acting while he was an art student at the Pratt Institute in New York City. Upon graduation Morrow worked as a commercial artist while studying drama. He proved successful as a stage actor, working on Broadway in a variety of plays from the early 1930s through the early 1950s. After a stint in the Army during World War II, Morrow also did quite a bit of radio and portrayed the title character in the Dick Tracy radio series in the late 1940s. As his career was going very well, at age 40 Morrow married actress Anna Karen in 1947, and the couple welcomed a daughter in 1950.

Vera Miles and Jeff Morrow

With Vera Miles in a 1960 issue of The Playgoer promoting the off-Broadway production of The Country Girl


In 1950, Morrow began taking guest-star roles in early television series such as Lights Out and Hallmark Hall of Fame. But unlike most actors with his vast experience, Morrow waited until he was in his 40s before tackling a film assignment. His first film was the 20th Century Fox big-budget epic The Robe (1953; with Richard Burton and Victor Mature). He took on supporting roles in several more films including the Paramount drama Flight to Tangier (1953; with Joan Fontaine and Jack Palance) before signing with Universal-International in 1954. His first film for the studio was the adventure Tanganyika (1954; with Van Heflin, Ruth Roman, and Howard Duff). At Universal-International, he starred in costume dramas such as Captain Lightfoot (1954; with Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush) and science fiction films, including This Island Earth (1955; with Rex Reason and Faith Domergue). Although he acted in a variety of genres, today Jeff Morrow is best known for his science fiction films which include The Creature Walks Among Us (1956; with Rex Reason and Gregg Palmer) and The Giant Claw (1957; with Mara Corday and Morris Ankrum). Universal-International dropped nearly all of its contract players in 1956, and Morrow was no exception.

the films of jeff morrow

Sign of the Pagan (1954)

Jeff MorrowJeff Morrow and Jeff Chandler

From the Universal-International drama Sign of the Pagan, directed by Douglas Sirk. LEFT: Morrow as General Paulinus. RIGHT: With Jeff Chandler

Tanganyika (1954)

Jeff Morrow

From Universal-International's adventure Tanganyika

Captain Lightfoot (1955)

Jeff MorrowJeff MorrowJeff Morrow

From Douglas Sirk's romance Captain Lightfoot, released by Universal-International. LEFT and CENTER: Morrow as Captain Thunderbolt. RIGHT: With Rock Hudson

This Island Earth (1955)

Rex Reason and Jeff MorrowJeff Morrow, Faith Domergue, and Rex ReasonFaith Domergue, Rex Reason, and Jeff Morrow

From Universal's science fiction classic This Island Earth. LEFT: Rex Reason and Morrow fight a Mutant. CENTER and RIGHT: With Faith Domergue and Rex Reason in Metaluna

The Creature Walks Among Us (1956)

Jeff MorrowJames Rawley, Rex Reason, Maurice Manson, Jeff Morrow, and Gregg PalmerLeigh Snowden and Jeff MorrowRex Reason, Leigh Snowden, and Jeff Morrow

From Universal-International's The Creature Walks Among Us, the final film in the Creature of the Black Lagoon trilogy. LEFT: Morrow as Dr. William Barton. CENTER A: With James Rawley, Rex Reason, Maurice Manson, and Gregg Palmer. CENTER B: Morrow puts the moves on creature bait Leigh Snowden. RIGHT: With Rex Reason and Leigh Snowden

World in My Corner (1956)

Jeff Morrow

From the Audie Murphy boxing drama World in My Corner

The Giant Claw (1957)

Mara Corday, Louis Merrill, Morris Ankrum, and Jeff Morrow

Columbia released the campy sci-fi flick The Giant Claw, one of my favorite 1950s science fiction efforts. Pictured with Jeff Morrow are Mara Corday, Louis Merrill, and Morris Ankrum

Kronos (1957)

Jeff Morrow and Barbara Lawrence

With Barbara Lawrence in the 20th Century Fox science fiction thriller Kronos

Harbor Lights (1964)

Jeff Morrow

Lobby card from the low-budget 20th Century Fox thriller Harbor Lights

Temperatures Rising (1972-1974 ABC TV Series)

Jeff Morrow

Morrow joined the cast of the ABC sit-com Temperatures Rising at the beginning of the second season in 1973. This was one of his final roles

later years

Upon his exit from Universal-International in 1956, Morrow freelanced at Paramount, Allied Artists, and several other studios throughout the early 1960s. In addition, he starred in the syndicated television series Union Pacific during the 1958-1959 season. When his film career began to falter in the early 1960s, he turned to television, acting in Perry Mason and other popular programs while doing occasional films such as Legacy of Blood (1971; with Faith Domergue, Merry Anders, and John Carradine). He retired from acting in the mid 1970s, following the cancellation of the situation comedy Temperatures Rising, in which he was a regular. Sadly, Jeff Morrow passed away after a long illness on December 26, 1993, at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, actress Anna Karen, and their daughter Lissa.


filmography

FILM
Fugitive Lovers (1975) with Virginia Mayo, John Russell, and Juanita Moore
Legacy of Blood (1971) with Faith Domergue, Merry Anders, John Carradine, John Russell, John Smith, Richard Davalos, and Buck Kartalian
Octaman (1971) with Kerwin Mathews, Pier Angeli, and Buck Kartalian
Normal Young Man (1969)
Harbor Lights (1964) with Kent Taylor
Five Bold Women (1960) with Merry Anders and Irish McCalla
The Story of Ruth (1960) with Stuart Whitman, Tom Tryon, Viveca Lindfors, Les Tremayne, John Gabriel, and Ziva Rodann
Copper Sky (1957) with Coleen Gray and Strother Martin
Hour of Decision (1957) with Hazel Court and Lionel Jeffries
The Giant Claw (1957) with Mara Corday, Morris Ankrum, and Frank Griffin
Kronos (1957) with Barbara Lawrence, George O'Hanlon, Morris Ankrum, and Richard Harrison
Pardners (1956) with Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lori Nelson, Agnes Moorehead, Lon Chaney Jr., and Lee Van Cleef
The First Texan (1956) with Joel McCrea, Felicia Farr, Jody McCrea, and William Hopper
The Creature Walks Among Us (1956) with Rex Reason, Leigh Snowden, and Gregg Palmer
World in My Corner (1956) with Audie Murphy, Barbara Rush, and John McIntire
This Island Earth (1955) with Faith Domergue, Rex Reason, Russell Johnson, and Lance Fuller
Captain Lightfoot (1955) with Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush
Sign of the Pagan (1954) with Jeff Chandler, Jack Palance, Rita Gam, Allison Hayes, and George Dolenz
Tanganyika (1954) with Van Heflin, Ruth Roman, and Howard Duff
The Siege at Red River (1954) with Van Johnson, Joanne Dru, and Richard Boone
Flight to Tangier (1953) with Joan Fontaine, Jack Palance, and Corinne Calvet
The Robe (1953) with Richard Burton, Jean Simmons, Victor Mature, Michael Rennie, Richard Boone, and Betta St. John

TELEVISION SERIES
Temperatures Rising, 1972-1974 ABC TV series. Morrow portrayed Dr. Lloyd Axton during the second season
Union Pacific, 1958-1959 syndicated TV series. Morrow portrayed Bart McClelland

TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
The Twilight Zone, episode A Day in Beaumont/The Last Defender of Camelot, originally aired April 11, 1986
Police Story, episode Sniper, originally aired February 11, 1975
Police Story, episode The Gamble, originally aired March 26, 1974
Search, episode The Mattson Papers, originally aired February 28, 1973
The Name of the Game, episode Love-In at Ground Zero, originally aired January 31, 1969
The Name of the Game, episode The Protector, originally aired November 15, 1968
Daniel Boone, episode Faith's Way, originally aired April 4, 1968
Judd for the Defense, episode Everybody Loved Harlan Except His Wife, originally aired December 29, 1967
Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., episode A Leader of Men, originally aired September 29, 1967
Daniel Boone, episode The Symbol, originally aired December 29, 1966
The Iron Horse, episode No Wedding Bells for Tony, originally aired November 7, 1966
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Festive Felon, originally aired November 28, 1963
The Rifleman, episode End of the Hunt, originally aired February 18, 1963
The Virginian, episode The Man Who Wouldn't Die, originally aired January 30, 1963
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Dodging Domino, originally aired November 1, 1962
Tales of Wells Fargo, episode Vignette of a Sinner, originally aired June 2, 1962
Perry Mason, episode The Case of the Ancient Romeo, originally aired May 5, 1962
Cheyenne, episode The Idol, originally aired January 29, 1962
Bonanza, episode The Honor of Cochise, originally aired October 8, 1961
The Deputy, episode The Jason Harris Story, originally aired October 8, 1960
The Chevy Mystery Show, episode Murder by the Book, originally aired September 4, 1960
Markham, episode Crash in the Desert, originally aired August 18, 1960
The Twilight Zone, episode Elegy, originally aired February 19, 1960
Wagon Train, episode The Clayton Tucker Story, originally aired February 10, 1960
Lux Playhouse, episode Frederick, originally aired March 20, 1959
Official Detective, episode The Policeman's Gun, originally aired January 30, 1958
Zane Grey Theater, episode Blood in the Dust, originally aired October 11, 1957
The Millionaire, episode The Matt Kirby Story, originally aired September 18, 1957
The 20th Century-Fox Hour, episode City in Flames, originally aired March 6, 1958
General Electric Theater, episode Lady of the House, originally aired January 20, 1957
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode Twenty Dollar Bride, originally aired January 8, 1957
General Electric Theater, episode The Charlatan, originally aired November 11, 1956
The Ford Television Theatre, episode Sudden Silence, originally aired October 10, 1956
Climax!, episode Fury at Dawn, originally aired July 19, 1956
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, episode The Finger of God, originally aired March 30, 1956
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode An Echo Out of the Past, originally aired March 6, 1956
Jane Wyman Presents The Fireside Theatre, episode The Thread, originally aired February 21, 1956
My Friend Flicka, episode The Stranger, originally aired November 11, 1955
Frontier, episode In Nebraska, originally aired October 30, 1955
Studio One, episode Affairs of State, originally aired April 18, 1955
TV Reader's Digest, episode The End of Blackbeard the Pirate, originally aired March 7, 1955
Letter to Loretta, episode Tale of a Cayuse, originally aired February 27, 1955
Cavalcade of America, episode Decision for Justice, originally aired February 15, 1955
Letter to Loretta, episode Lady in Wet Paint, originally aired May 30, 1954
The United States Steel Hour, episode The Last Notch, originally aired March 30, 1954
Hallmark Hall of Fame, episode Crabapple Saint, originally aired August 24, 1952
Sure As Fate, episode The Vanishing Lady, originally aired October 17, 1950
The Philco Television Playhouse, episode The Life of Vincent Van Gogh, originally aired March 5, 1950

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Watch the trailers for Jeff Morrow's science fiction films The Creature Walks Among Us and The Giant Claw

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