Bill Morey (December 19, 1919 – December 10, 2003) was an American character actor.Harris M. Lentz III
''Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2003: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture''
McFarland, 2004 page 279 He was perhaps best known for portraying Oscar in the 1990s sitcom, '' The John Larroquette Show''.

Biography

Early life

Morey was born on December 19, 1919, in Framingham, Massachusetts. He was a

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

veteran.

Career

Morey began his career in the 1940s, performing on stage and radio. He moved to

Traverse City, Michigan Traverse City ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, Michigan, Grand Traverse County, although it partly extends into Leelanau County, Michigan, Leelanau County. The city's population was 15, ...

, because of the Cherry County Playhouse, where he acted their productions during the 1950s and early 1960s. In addition, he acted in and directed productions at the Civic Theater, the former name of what is now the Old Town Playhouse during the early 1960s. Morey also worked in local radio and television while residing in Traverse City. Morey was awarded the 1970

Joseph Jefferson Award The Joseph Jefferson Award, more commonly known informally as the Jeff Award, is given for theatre arts produced in the Chicago area. Founded in 1968, the awards are named in tribute to actor Joseph Jefferson, a 19th-century American theater st ...

for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in ''Janus'' at the Pheasant Run Playhouse in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. It was there when he was discovered by Michael Ritchie, who cast Morey in his first feature role in '' Prime Cut'' (1972). From then on, Morey moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

in 1974 where he continued to work in film and television until his retirement in 2001.

Personal life and death

Morey was first married to a woman by the name of Chris. They met while both were employed by the WWJ television station in

Detroit Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

. He was also the father of sons Christopher and Michael and daughter Dianne. On December 10, 2003, Morey died of natural causes a week before his 84th birthday in a Santa Monica hospital.

Partial filmography

*'' Prime Cut'' (1972) *''

Death Race 2000 ''Death Race 2000'' is a 1975 American dystopian science-fiction action film directed by Paul Bartel and produced by Roger Corman for New World Pictures. Set in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, the film centers on the murderous Tr ...

'' (1975) - Deacon *'' The Onion Field'' (1979) - Lawyer #1 *''Whitcomb's War'' (1980) *'' Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb'' (1980) - General of the Army

George C. Marshall George Catlett Marshall Jr. (31 December 1880 – 16 October 1959) was an American army officer and statesman. He rose through the United States Army to become Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army under presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. ...

*''This House Possessed'' (1981) - Robbins *'' Some Kind of Hero'' (1982) - Major Ryan *'' Brainstorm'' (1983) - James Zimbach *''Ghost Warrior'' (1984) - Doctor Carl Anderson *''Omega Syndrome'' (1986) - Dr. Lloyd Pearson *'' Real Men'' (1987) - Millard Cunard *'' Elvira, Mistress of the Dark'' (1988) - Mr. Rivers *''

Big Man on Campus ''Big Man on Campus'' (also known as ''The Hunchback of UCLA'' and ''The Hunchback Hairball of L.A.'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1989 comedy film directed by Jeremy Kagan, and written by and starring Allan Katz. It is loosely based on the 1831 nov ...

'' (1989) - Dean Crawford *'' Dad'' (1989) - Hal McCarthy

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Morey, Bill American military personnel of World War II 1919 births 2003 deaths 20th-century American male actors People from Framingham, Massachusetts People from Traverse City, Michigan Male actors from Los Angeles