Born 1901 in New York City, American actor Chester Morris made his sound film debut in the 1929 film Alibi, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Late 1930, he was cast as one of the leads (with Wallace Beery and Robert Montgomery) in the MGM prison drama The Big House.
By the mid- to late 1930s, Morris’ popularity had begun to wane and he was cast as the lead actor in such B-movies as Smashing the Rackets (1938) and Five Came Back (1939). In 1941, Morris’ career was revived when he was cast as criminal-turned-detective Boston Blackie. Morris appeared in a total of 14 Boston Blackie films for Columbia Pictures, beginning with Meet Boston Blackie. He reprised the role of Boston Blackie for the radio series in 1944.
In the early to mid-1960s, Morris appeared in guest spots for the dramas Route 66, The Defenders, and Dr. Kildare. In 1965, he replaced Jack Albertson in the Broadway production of The Subject Was Roses. He reprised his role in the play for the touring production in 1966.
Morris died in 1970 in New Hope, Pennsylvania, aged 69. Take a look at these vintage photos to see portraits of a young and handsome Chester Morris in the 1930s.
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