Anita Morris

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Anita Morris

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Biography

Trained at the American Mime Theatre, long-legged, redheaded Anita Morris learned how to use "body language" for utmost effect. After appearing as a singer/dancer/actress in such Broadway musicals as Jesus Christ Superstar, Seesaw, The Magic Show, Sugar Babies, and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Morris brought down the house in Nine, the 1982 stage musical version of Fellini's 8 1/2. Her bawdy portrayal of the hero's mistress earned her a Tony Award nomination that year and helped to secure her stardom. Morris' TV-series credits include the roles of Babs Berrenger in Berrenger's (1985) and Barbara Whiteman in Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1987); her films include The Happy Hooker (1975), Ruthless People (1985), Bloodhounds of Broadway (1990), and Radioland Murders (1994; released posthumously). Anita Morris died of cancer in 1994, and was survived by her husband, director Grover Dale. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
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Anita Morris

As Claudette Katzenback in Radioland Murders (1994)
Born Anita Rose Morris
March 14, 1943(1943-03-14)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Died March 2, 1994(1994-03-02) (aged 50)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation Actress, singer, dancer
Years active 1972–1994
Spouse Grover Dale (m. 1973–1994) «start: (1973)–end+1: (1995)»"Marriage: Grover Dale to Anita Morris" Location: (linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Morris)(her death); 1 son

Anita Rose Morris (March 14, 1943 – March 2, 1994) was an American actress, singer and dancer.

Career

Among many roles, Morris's most prominent film role was as Carol Dodsworth, the mistress to Danny DeVito, in Ruthless People and for her sensual performance as Carla in the musical Nine opposite Raul Julia. While nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony Award as Carla, she lost to Liliane Montevecchi, also in Nine. 21 years later, Jane Krakowski won the Tony Award in the same category as Morris, playing Carla in a revival with Antonio Banderas.

Her signature number in Nine was "A Call from the Vatican", and she also sang "Simple", late in act two. She was scheduled to perform the former at the Tony Awards in 1982, but the TV censors found her outfit too revealing. Her stage work began in the American Mime Theatre, and carried her to Broadway both for Nine, Jesus Christ Superstar, "See Saw", "The Magic Show", (cast album & video/DVD) "Sugar Babies" (replacement for the "Soubrette" originated by Ann Jillian) and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Morris portrayed the lover of Rob Lowe in 1984's The Hotel New Hampshire. Other film work included Bloodhounds of Broadway with Madonna, Randy Quaid, and Matt Dillon, Ruthless People with Danny DeVito and Bette Midler, 18 Again! with George Burns, Absolute Beginners with David Bowie, and Charlie Schlatter and Radioland Murders, which was her final film role.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, she played guest roles in sitcoms and dramas, including Miami Vice, Who's the Boss?, Murder, She Wrote, Cheers, Melrose Place, Matlock, Tales from the Crypt and A Different World. In 1984, Morris appeared in The Rolling Stones' music video "She Was Hot".

Personal life

She is the mother of actor James Badge Dale and was married from 1973 to actor Grover Dale. She died in Los Angeles, aged 50, after a long struggle with ovarian cancer, which was first diagnosed in 1980.

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Mentioned in

A Sinful Life (1989 Comedy Film)
Dog Bites Cliff: Cheers (TV Episode) (1987 Comedy TV Episode)
A Smoky Mountain Christmas (1986 Musical Film)
Big Blonde (1980 Drama Film)