An actor with slicked-back hair, a jutting jaw and a hooked nose, Morris was the son of well-known Broadway performers. As a child he appeared in silents and as a teenager he began a stage acting career; he made his Broadway debut in 1918. He debuted onscreen in Alibi (1929), for which he received a Best Actor Oscar nomination. He went on to a busy screen career, usually in gun-toting roles. He is best remembered as Boston Blackie, the character he played in a series of 13 films. He retired from the screen in 1956, returning in 1970 to play the fight manager in The Great White Hope (1970). Shortly thereafter he died of an overdose of barbiturates.
Chester Morris
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- At age 12, began practicing magic and was considered a top amateur magician.
- At age 15, dropped out of school to begin his Broadway career.
- Toured with his family for two years performing a comedy sketch entitled "The Horrors of Home" on the vaudeville circuit.
- Worked in silent films and sound films.
- The Boston haircut, popular in the 1940s, was made famous by Boston Blackie, a character played by him in 14 films.
- During World War II, toured with the USO performing magic tricks.