Septimus Edward Norris (March 10, 1911 – December 18, 2002) was an American film actor.
Early years Norris was born in 1911, the son of a prominent Philadelphia gynecologist, who was described in a newspaper article as "a famous surgeon and chief of staff at the city's largest hospital." He grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At age 16, he dropped out of the Culver Military Academy to marry a socially prominent physician's daughter, Virginia Bell Hiller, and took a job as a reporter.
Film
Norris performed in over 70 films during his 20+ year career in Hollywood, including appearing with Lana Turner in her debut film role in They Won't Forget, a film that was based on the Leo Frank case, where Norris starred as the character analogous to Frank. See full filmography below.
Television Norris made his television debut in 1951 with two appearances on Fireside Theater.
During the course of his 12-year span on television he made two guest appearances on Perry Mason: "The Case of the Fiery Fingers" (1958) and "The Case of the Tarnished Trademark" (1962). He ended his film and television career the following year when he appeared on an episode of The Third Man, titled "Ghost Town".
Military service Norris was a flying instructor in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II.
Personal life After Hiller, Norris was married to actresses Ann Sheridan and Lona Andre. On July 21, 1942, newspaper columnist Harrison Carroll reported that Norris "eloped to Arizona Saturday with a new Hollywood beauty who gave her name as Jane Doe." Another newspaper report said, "An affidavit on file testified that the girl's correct name was Jane Doe." The bride's real name was revealed by columnist Jimmie Fidler on July 30, 1942: "The girl Edward Norris married and introduced to reporters as 'Jane Doe' is June Satterlee, ex-night club hatcheck looker. She's to make a picture to be titled Meet Jane Doe." In March 1943, Norris was granted a divorce from Satterlee "after testifying that she married him solely to further her career in pictures." Mickey June Satterlee was the older sister of Peggy Larue Satterlee, known for accusing Errol Flynn of statutory rape, the incident occurring when Peggy was 15 in August 1941. Both sisters were aspiring actresses. Flynn was acquitted of rape in February 1943."Satterlee Family at Flynn Trial", January 1943. Associated Press wirephoto
Norris was an avid shooter and "won many ribbons and trophies in skeet matches throughout the country." He was also a licensed pilot.
Death Norris died on December 18, 2002, at Fort Bragg, California.
Filmography
+ Film Year Title Role Notes1933Queen ChristinaCount JacobUncredited1934This Side of HeavenClarke - Upper ClassmanUncreditedComing Out PartyParty GuestUncreditedParis InterludeReporterUncredited1935One New York NightTomUncreditedNaughty MariettaSuitorUncreditedWagon TrailClay Hartley, Jr.Teacher's BeauRalph WilsonShortMurder in the FleetSleepyUncreditedMad LoveMan Outside Theater of HorrorsUncreditedWoman WantedMan on Phone at PartyUncreditedShow Them No Mercy!Joe Martin1936Tough GuyBudUncreditedSmall Town GirlHarvard Man in CarUncredited The Magnificent BruteHal Howard1937Mama Steps OutFerdie Fisher - the BandleaderSong of the CityGuido RomandiBetween Two WomenDr. BariliThey Won't ForgetRobert Perry HaleBad GuySteve Carrol1938Boys TownJoe MarshNewsboys' HomeFrankie Barber1939Tail SpinSpeed AllenOn TrialArbuckleThe GorillaJack MarsdenFrontier MarshalDan BlackmoreHere I Am a StrangerLester BennetThe EscapeLouie Peronni Scandal Sheet Petty Haynes1940Dr. Ehrlich's Magic BulletDr. MorgenrothSki PatrolPaavo LuukiThe Lady in QuestionRobert LaCoste1941Road ShowEd NewtonBack in the SaddleTom BennettHere Comes HappinessChet MaddenAngels with Broken WingsSteve WilsonDoctors Don't TellDr. Frank Blake1942The Lady Has PlansFrank RichardsA Close Call for Ellery QueenStewart ColeThe Man with Two LivesPhilip BennettThe Mystery of Marie RogetMarcel VigneauxI Live on DangerEddie NelsonSabotage SquadEddie MillerThe Great ImpersonationCaptain Francois BardinetMug TownClinker1943You Can't Beat the LawJohnny GrayNo Place for a LadyMarioWings Over the PacificLt. Allan Scott, USNThe Sultan's DaughterJimmy1944Sing a JingleAbbottCareer GirlSteve DexterMen on Her MindJeffrey WingateShadows in the NightJess HiltonThe Singing SheriffVanceEnd of the RoadRobert Kirby1945Night Club GirlClark PhillipsJungle QueenBob ElliotSerialPenthouse RhythmCharles Henry Holmes Jr.1946Murder in the Music HallCarl LangThe Truth About MurderWilliam Ames CraneDecoyJim Vincent1947HeartachesJimmy McDonald, Evening Telegram Reporter1948Trapped by Boston BlackieIgor Borio1949Forgotten Women Andy EmersonThe Mysterious DesperadoRamon BustamanteThe Wolf Hunters Paul Lautrec1950Killer SharkRamon - crewmanSurrenderWilburBreakthroughSgt. Roy HendersonThe Blazing Sun Doc Larry TaylorHighway 301Noyes Hinton1951I Was a Communist for the FBIHarmonInside the Walls of Folsom PrisonSgt. Cliff Hart1953Murder Without TearsWarren Richards The Man from the AlamoMapes1956The KentuckianRoulette Dealer
References
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