Robert Adolph Wilton Morley (26 May 1908 – 3 June 1992) was an English actor who enjoyed a lengthy career in both Britain and the United States. He was frequently cast as a pompous English gentleman representing the Establishment, often in supporting roles. In 1939 he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of King Louis XVI in Marie Antoinette.
In Movie Encyclopedia, film critic Leonard Maltin describes Morley as "recognisable by his ungainly bulk, bushy eyebrows, thick lips and double chin, ... particularly effective when cast as a pompous windbag." Ephraim Katz in his International Film Encyclopaedia describes Morley as "a rotund, triple-chinned, delightful character player of the British and American stage and screen." In his autobiography, Responsible Gentleman, Morley said his stage career started with managements valuing his appearance for playing "substantial gentleman" roles – as a doctor, lawyer, accountant or other professional member of society.
Early life Morley was born in Semley, Wiltshire, England, the son of Gertrude Emily (née Fass) and Robert Wilton Morley, a major in the British Army. His mother came from a German family that had emigrated to South Africa. Morley attended Wellington College, Berkshire, which he hated, followed by RADA. As he was a famous "Old Wellingtonian", generations of headmasters tried to contact him, without success, with Morley stating "the only reason for me visiting Wellington would be to burn it down".
Career Morley made his West End stage debut in 1929 in Treasure Island at the Strand Theatre and his Broadway debut in 1938 in the title role of Oscar Wilde at the Fulton Theatre. Although soon won over to the big screen, Morley remained both a busy West End star and successful author, as well as appearing in touring productions.
A versatile actor, especially in his younger years, he played Louis XVI in Marie Antoinette (1938), for which he received an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor, and won both a National Board of Review Award and a Photoplay Award.
He co-wrote several plays for the stage. His 1937 play Goodness, How Sad was turned into an Ealing Studios film, Return to Yesterday (1940), directed by Robert Stevenson. Later, he had outstanding success in London and New York with Edward, My Son, a gripping family drama written in 1947 in collaboration with Noel Langley. Morley played the central role of Arnold Holt. Edward, My Son (1949) was made into a movie by George Cukor for MGM-British. Morley's acting career continued with roles as a missionary in The African Queen (1951), The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953), as W. S. Gilbert, and in Oscar Wilde (1960). In 1959 he appeared in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents adaptation of a Stanley Ellin short story entitled, 'Specialty of the House'. In Ken Annakin's Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, Morley is featured among an international ensemble cast including Stuart Whitman, Sarah Miles, Terry-Thomas, James Fox, Red Skelton, Benny Hill, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Gert Fröbe and Alberto Sordi.
Morley also personified the conservative Englishman in many comedy and caper films. He was the face of BOAC (later British Airways) as the merry television commercial spokesman of the 1970s with "We'll take good care of you". Later in his career, he received critical acclaim and acting plaudits for his performance in the 1977 comedic satire Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?, winning both a National Society of Film Critics Award and a Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award, as well as earning a nomination for a Golden Globe Award. In 1980, Morley hosted and provided explanatory introductions to the 14-episode Granada Television anthology series Ladykillers. During the 1980s, Morley hosted a celebrity cooking show on Cable TV, Celebrity Chefs.
He was described as a raconteur and conversationalist, and also a gourmet, which was reflected in both his real life and some of his film and TV roles.McCann, Graham (28 June 2020). "The many meals of Robert Morley". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
In January 1957, Morley went into partnership with Robin Fox in a new production company called the Robin Fox Partnership Ltd, with its offices at 24, Old Burlington Street."The Robin Fox Partnership Ltd", The Stage, Thursday 24 January 1957, p. 8"MOOMIN IN MAYFAIR", Evening News (London), Saturday 01 June 1957, p. 4: "I went along to have a drink with Robert Morley and his co-partner, Robin Fox, in their new offices in Mayfair. "All frightfully high-class, dear boy" said Morley. "Wonderful decorations, marvellous champagne and the most deelicious..." Morley was honoured by being the first King of Moomba appointed by the Melbourne Moomba festival committee and, in typical humility, he accepted the crown in bare feet.Bellamy, Craig; Gordon Chisholm & Hilary Ericksen (2006). Moomba – A festival for the people. PDF pp 18 & 22."Photo of Robert Morley accepting King of Moomba crown". Melbourne Herald. Morley was in Australia touring his one-man show, The Sound of Morley.
In his book British Film Character Actors, Terence Pettigrew wrote: "Morley, who has more wobbly chins than a Shanghai drinking club, enjoys poking fun at life's absurdities, among whom he generously includes himself."
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1974 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews.
Personal life and honours Robert Morley married Joan Buckmaster (1910–2005), a daughter of Dame Gladys Cooper. Their elder son, Sheridan Morley, became a writer and critic. They also had a daughter, Annabel, and another son, Wilton.
He was godfather to the eldest son of fellow actor Tom Chatto.
Morley was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1957 and was also offered a knighthood in 1975 but declined.Hope, Christopher (25 January 2012). "JB Priestley, Roald Dahl, Lucian Freud and LS Lowry among 277 people who turned down honours". The Daily Telegraph.
Morley was a member of the Labour Party and lived for decades in Wargrave, Berkshire.Roger Collier: "Robert Morley & Son", The Sydney Morning Herald, 28 February 1980, p. 16f
Death Morley died in Reading, England, from a stroke aged 84 on 3 June 1992.
Theatre career
First stage appearance in Dr Syn (Hippodrome, Margate, 28 May 1928) First London role, a pirate in Treasure Island (Strand Theatre, Christmas 1929) Touring, plus Playhouse Oxford and Festival Cambridge repertory, (1931–33) Oakes in Up in the Air (Royalty Theatre, London 1933) Touring with Sir Frank Benson (1934–35) Ran a repertory company with Peter Bull (Perranporth, Cornwall, 1935) Title role in Oscar Wilde (Gate Theatre Studio, Villiers Street, London, 1936) Alexandre Dumas in The Great Romancer (Strand Theatre and New Theatre, 1937) Henry Higgins in Pygmalion (Old Vic Theatre, 1937) Title role in Oscar Wilde (Fulton Theatre, New York, October 1938) Title role in Springtime for Henry (Perranporth, 1939) Descius Heiss in Play with Fire (try-out version of The Shop at Sly Corner, Theatre Royal, Brighton, 1941) Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner (Savoy Theatre — and on tour – 1941–43) Charles in Staff Dance (also wrote, touring UK, 1944) Prince Regent in The First Gentleman (New Theatre and Savoy, 1945–46) Arnold Holt in Edward, My Son (also co-wrote, His Majesty's Theatre, 1947; also played this role at the Martin Beck Theatre New York 1948, and in Australia and New Zealand, 1949–50) Philip in The Little Hut (Lyric Theatre, 1950) Hippo in Hippo Dancing (also adapted, Lyric, 1954) Oswald Petersham in A Likely Tale (Globe Theatre, 1956) Panisse in the musical Fanny (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, 1956) The Tunnel of Love (directed, Her Majesty's, 1957) Sebastian Le Boeuf in Hook, Line and Sinker (also adapted, Piccadilly Theatre, 1958) Once More, with Feeling (directed, New Theatre, 1959) Mr Asano in A Majority of One (Phoenix Theatre, 1960) Title role in Mr Rhodes (Theatre Royal Windsor, 1961) The Bishop in A Time to Laugh (Piccadilly, 1962) The Sound of Morley (One-man show, touring Australia 1966–67) Sir Mallalieu Fitzbuttress in Halfway Up the Tree (Queen's Theatre, 1967) Frank Foster in How the Other Half Loves (Lyric, 1970; also North America, 1972, and Australia, 1973) Barnstable in A Ghost on Tiptoe (also co-wrote, Savoy, 1974) Pound in Banana Ridge (Savoy, 1976) Toured Robert Morley Talks to Everyone (1978) Picture of Innocence (co-wrote and toured UK and Canada, 1978) Hilary in The Old Country (Theatre Royal, Sydney, 1980)
Complete filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1935ScroogeRich ManUncredited1938Marie AntoinetteKing Louis XVI1941You Will Remember Tom Barrett/Leslie StuartMajor BarbaraAndrew Undershaft1942The Big Blockade Von GeiselbrechtThis Was Paris Van Der StuylPartners in CrimeJudgeShort, UncreditedThe Foreman Went to France Mayor Coutare of BivaryThe Young Mr. PittCharles James Fox1945I Live in Grosvenor SquareDuke of Exmoor1947The Ghosts of Berkeley SquareGeneral "Jumbo" Burlap1949The Small Back RoomThe MinisterUncreditedEdward, My Son Cameo1951Outcast of the Islands Elmer AlmayerThe African Queen Reverend Samuel Sayer1952Curtain Up Harry Derwent Blacker1953The Story of Gilbert and SullivanW.S. GilbertMelba Oscar Hammerstein IThe Final TestAlexander WhiteheadBeat the Devil Peterson1954The Good Die YoungSir Francis RavenscourtThe Rainbow Jacket Lord LoganBeau BrummellKing George III1955The Adventures of Quentin Durward King Louis XI1956Loser Takes AllDreutherAround the World in 80 DaysGauthier Ralph1958Law and Disorder Judge CrichtonThe Sheriff of Fractured JawUncle Lucius1959The Doctor's Dilemma Sir Ralph Bloomfield-BoningtonThe Journey Hugh DeverillLibel Sir WilfredThe Battle of the Sexes Robert MacPherson1960Oscar WildeOscar Wilde1961The Story of Joseph and His BrethrenPotipharThe Young Ones Hamilton Black1962Go to BlazesArson EddieThe Road to Hong Kong Leader of the 3rd EchelonThe BoysMontgomery1963Nine Hours to Rama P.K. MussadiMurder at the Gallop Hector EnderbyThe Old Dark HouseRoderick FemmTake Her, She's MineMr. Pope-JonesLadies Who Do Colonel Whitforth1964Hot Enough for JuneColonel CuncliffeOf Human Bondage Dr. JacobsTopkapi Cedric Page1965Genghis KhanEmperor of ChinaThose Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines Lord RawnsleyA Study in Terror Mycroft HolmesThe Loved OneSir Ambrose AmbercrombieLife at the TopTiffieldThe Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics NarratorAnimated shortThe Alphabet MurdersCaptain Arthur Hastings1966Tender Scoundrel Lord SwiftHotel Paradiso Henri CotteWay...Way OutHarold QuonsetFinders Keepers Colonel RobertsThe Trygon Factor Hubert Hamlyn1967Woman Times Seven Dr. XavierSegment: "Super Simon"1968Hot MillionsCaesar Smith1969Some Girls Do Miss MarySinful DaveyDuke of ArgyllTwinky Judge Roxborough1970Doctor in TroubleCaptain George SprattCromwellThe Earl of ManchesterSong of NorwayBerg1971When Eight Bells TollSir Arthur Arnford-Jones (Uncle Arthur)1973Theatre of Blood Meredith Merridew1975Hugo the HippoThe Sultan1976The Blue BirdFather Time1978Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?Max Vandeveer1979The Human Factor Dr. PecivalScavenger HuntCharles Bernstein1980Oh! Heavenly Dog Bernie1981LoopholeGodfreyThe Great Muppet CaperBritish Gentleman1983High Road to ChinaBentik1984Second Time LuckyGod1986The WindElias Appleby1987The Trouble with Spies AngusLittle DorritLord Decimus Barnacle
Television