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Greg Morris 1933 - 1996

Greg Morris of Las Vegas, Clark County, NV was born on September 27, 1933, and died at age 62 years old on August 27, 1996.

Greg Morris

Las Vegas, Clark County, NV 89119

September 27, 1933

August 27, 1996

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Greg Morris Greg Morris (1933 - 1996)

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Greg Morris' History: 1933 - 1996

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Introduction

Greg Morris - Television Star Born Francis Gregory Alan Morris September 27, 1933 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. Died August 27, 1996 (aged 62) Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Alma mater University of Iowa Occupation Actor Years active 1963–1995 Spouse(s) Leona Keyes (m. 1956) Children 3, including Phil Morris and Iona Morris Parent(s) Francis Williams (father) Francis Gregory Alan Morris (September 27, 1933 – August 27, 1996) was an American actor. He was best known for portraying Barney Collier on Mission: Impossible and Lt. David Nelson on Vega$. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, to the jazz trumpeter Francis Williams, Morris served in the United States Army during the Korean War. While in college at Iowa on the G.I. Bill, Morris was active in college theater and hosted the late afternoon Jazz radio show, "Tea-Time", on the University of Iowa station, WSUI. He co-produced concerts at the university with a student friend. Morris began his television acting career in the 1960s, making guest appearances on numerous TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, Branded, and Ben Casey. In 1966, Morris was cast in his most recognizable role as the team electronics expert Barney Collier in the TV series Mission: Impossible. Morris, Peter Lupus, and Bob Johnson were the only actors to remain with Mission Impossible throughout its entire run. After Iowa, Greg's first professional stage role was in The Death of Bessie Smith. One of his earliest television roles was a cameo appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show in the episode "That's My Boy?", where Rob becomes convinced that they have taken home the wrong baby from the hospital. The revelation of Morris' character as the other child's father prompted a record-setting bout of laughter from the studio audience. In the 1963–1964 season, he appeared on ABC's drama about college life, Channing, starring Jason Evers and Henry Jones. After Mission: Impossible was canceled, Morris appeared in several movies and made guest TV appearances (1974 – The Six Million Dollar Man – Episode 1-05 "Little Orphan Airplane") before he was cast in 1978 as Lt. David Nelson of the Las Vegas Metro Police, during the 1978-79 season of the ABC TV detective series Vega$, co-starring with Robert Urich as Las Vegas detective Dan Tanna and Phyllis Davis as Bea. After the cancellation of Vega$ in June 1981, Morris recovered from a serious car accident on I-15 near Las Vegas. After his recovery, Morris continued to make guest TV appearances in the next decade, including several episodes in the short-lived 1988–1990 remake of the Mission: Impossible TV series, which starred his son Phil Morris. Phil Morris was cast as Grant Collier, the son of Barney. Morris also appeared in two 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 comparison sequel of the Mission: Impossible series. Morris was also a frequent guest star on Password ‘’ Tattletales ‘’ and Password Plus in the 1960s and 1970s. Shortly before his death in 1996, 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 some 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." Morris married his wife Leona Keyes in 1956, and remained married until his death. Together they had three children, including actor Phil Morris and actress Iona Morris. Leona Morris died on November 2, 2016, aged 81. Death Morris died on August 27, 1996 of lung cancer and a brain tumor in Las Vegas, Nevada at the age of 62.
09/27

1933

Birthday

September 27, 1933

Birthdate

Unknown

Birthplace

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Early Life & Education

Morris served in the United States Army during the Korean War. While in college at Iowa on the G.I. Bill, Morris was active in college theater and hosted the late afternoon Jazz radio show, "Tea-Time", on the University of Iowa station, WSUI. He co-produced concerts at the university with a student friend.
Military Service

Morris served in the United States Army during the Korean War. While in college at Iowa on the G.I. Bill, Morris was active in college theater and hosted the late afternoon Jazz radio show, "Tea-Time", on the University of Iowa station, WSUI. He co-produced concerts at the university with a student friend.
Professional Career

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1963 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour The Intern Episode: "Forecast: Low Clouds and Coastal Fog" 1963 Sam Benedict Victim Episode: "Of Rusted Cannons and Fallen Sparrows" 1963 Dr. Kildare Lincoln Ball Episode: "The Gift of the Koodjanuk" 1963 The Twilight Zone Lt. Woodard Episode: "The 7th Is Made Up of Phantoms" 1963 The Lieutenant Sgt. Perc Linden Episode: "The Proud and the Angry" 1963 The Lieutenant Crew Chief Episode: "The Two Star Giant" 1963 The Dick Van Dyke Show Mr. Peters Episode: "That's My Boy??" 1964 The Lieutenant Crew Chief Episode: "To Kill a Man" 1964 The New Interns Dr. Pete Clarke 1964 The Lively Set Highway Patrol Officer 1965 The Fugitive Mickey Deming Episode: "Wings of an Angel" 1965 I Spy Jim Rogers Episode: "Lori" 1965 The Sword of Ali Baba Yusef 1965 The Dick Van Dyke Show Frank "Sticks" Mandalay Episode: "Bupkis" 1966 The Doomsday Flight FBI Agent Balaban TV movie written by Rod Serling 1966–1973 Mission: Impossible Barney Collier Main cast 1973 Mannix Escaped Convict Episode: "Climb a Deadly Mountain" 1974 The Six Million Dollar Man Josh Episode: "Little Orphan Airplane" 1974 Match Game Himself Game Show Participant / Celebrity Guest Star 1975 The Streets of San Francisco Eddie Griffin Episode: "Merchants of Death" 1976 Countdown at Kusini Red Salter 1976 S.T.A.B. Richard Hill Thai film 1976 Sanford and Son Willis Episodes: "The Hawaiian Connection", parts 1 & 2 1977 What's Happening!! Lawrence Nelson Episode: "If I'm Elected" 1978 Wonder Woman Caribe Episode: "Light-Fingered Lady" 1978 Quincy, M.E. Cliff Collier Episode: "A Night to Raise the Dead" 1978 Fantasy Island Ted Harmon Episode: "War Games / Queen of the Boston Bruisers" 1978 The Eddie Capra Mysteries Shelby Episode: "The Intimate Friends of Janet Wilde" 1978–1981 Vega$ Lt. Dave Nelson Recurring 1978 The Love Boat Guest star Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part – Maybe/Chubs/Locked Away" 1979 Password Plus Himself Game Show Participant / Celebrity Guest Star 1979 Roots: The Next Generations Beeman Jones Miniseries, part 1 1979 What's Happening!! Lawrence Nelson Episode: "Dwayne's Debate" 1983 The Fall Guy Gary Jordan Episode: "P.S., I Love You" 1983 The Jeffersons Jimmy's Cousin Episodes: "Mission: Incredible" parts 1-3 1983 Fantasy Island Chief of Surgery Episode: "The Wedding Picture / Castaways" 1984 T.J. Hooker Dave Reemer Episode: "Exercise in Murder" 1984 Murder, She Wrote Lt. Andrews Episode: "Lovers and Other Killers" 1985 Super Password Himself Game Show Participant / Celebrity Guest Star 1988 War of the Worlds General Masters Episode: "The Second Seal" 1988–1990 Mission: Impossible Barney Collier Recurring 1989 The Adventures of Superboy Damon Episode: "The Invisible People" 1995 TekWar Hacker Episode: "Killer Instinct"
08/27

1996

Death

August 27, 1996

Death date

Unknown
Cause of death

Unknown
Death location

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Obituary

‘Mission: Impossible’ Actor Greg Morris Dies at 61 August 28, 1996 LAS VEGAS (AP) _ Actor Greg Morris, who played quiet, efficient electronics expert Barney Collier in the ``Mission: Impossible″ television series, has died at age 61 after a recent battle with brain cancer. Morris was found dead at home Tuesday. Clark County Coroner Ron Flud said today that Morris apparently died of natural causes, but no autopsy was planned. Morris, who had fought brain cancer the past few years, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in May that he was cancer-free. In a 1994 interview, Phil Morris said his father continued to smoke while battling cancer that originated in his lung and later spread to his brain. Morris was one of the first black actors to star in a hit series during the 1960s, playing a technical wizard on ``Mission: Impossible,″ which ran from 1966-1973. ``My seven years on that show were seven of the most fun years of my career,″ he recalled. But he walked out of the new movie version after watching only 40 minutes. ``It’s an abomination,″ he said of the Tom Cruise film, which did not feature any of the TV series cast. Born Sept. 27, 1934, in Cleveland, Morris went to Hollywood in the early 1960s after some minor stage experience in Seattle. He had guest roles on series including ``Dr. Kildare,″ ``The Dick Van Dyke Show″ and ``The Twilight Zone″ before being cast in ``Mission: Impossible.″ Morris played the part of an electronics expert who helped an elite team of agents usually involved in disrupting the activities of various small foreign powers seeking to create problems for the free world. Morris came to Las Vegas in 1979 to film the TV series ``Vega$,″ in which he played Lt. David Nelson. He liked the city so much he decided to stay. He and his wife, Leona, were married for 38 years. He is survived by Leona and three children: Phil, Linda and Iona. Greg Morris died on August 27, 1996 at 62 years old. He was born on September 27, 1933. We know that Greg Morris had been residing in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada 89119.

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Greg Morris lived 10 years shorter than the average family member when died at the age of 62.

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8 Memories, Stories & Photos about Greg

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Greg Morris - Television Star

Color Still.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Steven Hill, Peter Lupus, Barbara Bain, and Greg Morris.

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Steven Hill, Peter Lupus, Barbara Bain, and Greg Morris.

Mission Impossible - Cast Members.
Steven Hill, Peter Lupus, Greg Morris, and Barbara Bain.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Greg Morris - Television Star.

Publicity Still.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Greg Morris

Beautifully Dressed playing a variety of characters who were usually educated and polite and self-assured.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

He had a beautiful smile.

In real life, he was happily married with three children and never got divorced.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Mission Impossible Cast Members.

Greg Morris, Peter Lupus, Martin Landau, Barbara Bain, and Peter Graves.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Mission Impossible TV Cast.

Cast Members. Barbara Bain. Martin Landau. Peter Lupus. Greg Morris. Peter Graves.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Amanda S. Stevenson

17.8k+ favorites

04/27/2021

Leona Morris. Greg's wife.

Happily married to Leona Morris.

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

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Greg Morris' Family Tree & Friends

Greg Morris' Family Tree

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Greg Morris Sep 27, 1933 - Aug 27, 1996

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Other Biographies

Other Greg Morris Biographies

Morris, Greg (May 11, 1955 - Feb 23, 2007)

Other Morris Family Biographies

Morris, George (Born May 16, 1870) Morris-Dimick, Alice (Born May 13, 1844) Morris, Julia (Born Mar 6, 1921) Morris, Elton (Sep 1, 1921 - Dec 10, 2003) Snead/morris, Katherine (Born Jan 16, 1912) Morris, Harold (Born Aug 21, 1898) Morris, Jane (Born Jan 24, 1824) Morris, Sarah (Born Jun 24, 1850) Morris, Essie (Born May 22, 1907) Morris-Wheeler, Sarah (Born 1851)

Morris, Clara (Nov 7, 1927 - May 12, 1992) Morris, Benajamin (Born 1844) Morris, Elizabeth (Born 1874) Morris, Dora (Born Dec 11, 1886) Morris, Loy (Jan 1, 1923 - Apr 1981) Morris, Billie (Born Jul 4, 1944) Morris, Gracie (Born Apr 1, 1926) Morris, Georgia Anne Tanner (Born Jan 8, 1850) Morris, Crawford (Born Aug 7, 1891) Morris, Emory (Born Dec 14, 1862)

About the AncientFaces Community

Greg Morris 1933 - 1996

Greg Morris' History: 1933 - 1996

Introduction

Birthday

Early Life & Education

Military Service

Professional Career

Death

Obituary

8 Memories, Stories & Photos about Greg

Greg Morris' Family Tree & Friends

Greg Morris' Family Tree

Greg's Friends

Other Greg Morris Biographies

Other Morris Family Biographies