James W. Morrison (November 15, 1888 – November 15, 1974) was an American actor and author. He appeared in 187 films between 1911 and 1927.

Biography

Morrison was born in

Mattoon, Illinois Mattoon ( ) is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 16,870 as of the 2020 census. The city is home to Lake Land College and has close ties with its neighbor, Charleston, Illinois, Charleston. Both are principal cit ...

, United States, on November 15, 1888. He went to the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

and then the

American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a Private college, private drama school with two locations, one in New York City and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

Vitagraph Studios Vitagraph Studios, also known as the Vitagraph Company of America, was a United States motion picture studio. It was founded by J. Stuart Blackton and Albert E. Smith in 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, as the American Vitagraph Company. By 1907 ...

then hired him for a salary of $25 a week, and he debuted in a 30-minute film of ''

A Tale of Two Cities ''A Tale of Two Cities'' is a historical novel published in 1859 by English author Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. The novel tells the story of the French Doctor Manette, his 18-year-long impr ...

'' released by Vitagraph in February 1911. Morrison was one of the primary actors of Vitagraph from 1911 to 1916. In 1916, Morrison signed a contract with

Ivan Abramson Ivan Abramson (1869 – September 15, 1934) was a director of United States, American silent films in the 1910s and 1920s.Klein, Uru (10 December 2009)Cinema in the time of war, ''Haaretz'' Abramson emigrated to the United States from the Russia ...

's Ivan Film Productions, appearing in seven Ivan melodramas from 1916 and 1918, starting with 1916's '' The Sex Lure''. '' Enlighten Thy Daughter'' (1917) was the most popular of these films. In 1918, Morrison appeared in Vitagraph's '' Over the Top'', which Morrison later said was one of his favorite films. Morrison continued to play roles into the 1920s, last acting in 1926. He later published two novels, ''Road End'' (1927) and ''April Luck'' (1932). He taught speech and drama classes at

Packer Collegiate Institute The Packer Collegiate Institute is an independent college preparatory school for students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Formerly the Brooklyn Female Academy, Packer has been located at 170 Joralemon Street in the historic district of ...

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

for many years. Morrison died in

New York, New York New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harb ...

on November 15, 1974, 86 years to the day of his birth. The Redemption of Dave Darcey

Partial filmography

*''

'' (1911) *''

A Cure for Pokeritis ''A Cure for Pokeritis'' is a 1912 short silent film starring John Bunny and Flora Finch. After Bunny's death in 1915, a re-release was announced with the alternative title ''A Sure Cure for Pokeritis''. The film, a domestic comedy, depicts a wo ...

'' (1912) *''

As You Like It ''As You Like It'' is a pastoral Shakespearean comedy, comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 and first published in the First Folio in 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wil ...

'' (1912) *''

Beau Brummel George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (7 June 1778 – 30 March 1840) was an important figure in Regency England, and for many years he was the arbiter of British men's fashion. At one time, he was a close friend of the Prince Regent, the future King ...

'' (1913) *''

The Battle Cry of Peace ''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...

'' (1915) *'' The Wheels of Justice'' (1915) *'' The Sex Lure (1916) *'' The Enemy'' (1916) *'' Enlighten Thy Daughter'' (1917) *''

One Law for Both ''One Law for Both'' is a 1917 American silent drama film directed by Ivan Abramson. Plot Elga Pulsaki (Rita Jolivet) and her brother Ossip ( James W. Morrison) emigrate to the United States from Russia to escape persecution. Elga marries Norm ...

'' (1917) * '' Over the Top'' (1918) *''

How Could You, Caroline? ''How Could You, Caroline?'' is a 1918 American silent comedy-drama film directed by Frederick A. Thomson, with a screenplay by Agnes Christine Johnston. It stars Bessie Love, James W. Morrison, and Dudley Hawley. The film, filmed in Charlest ...

'' (1918) *''

The Woman Game ''The Woman Game'' is a 1920 silent film society drama directed by William P. S. Earle and starring Elaine Hammerstein and Jere Austin. It was produced and released by Selznick Pictures Corporation. It is a surviving silent held in the Librar ...

'' (1920) *''

Black Beauty ''Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions, the Autobiography of a Horse'' is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was written from a horse as main character's perspective. She wrote it in the last years of her life, during which s ...

'' (1921) *'' Sowing the Wind'' (1921) *'' A Yankee Go Getter'' (1921) *'' Danger Ahead'' (1921) *''

Shattered Idols ''Shattered Idols'' is a 1922 American drama film directed by Edward Sloman and written by William V. Mong. It is based on the 1912 novel ''The Daughter of Brahma'' by I. A. R. Wylie. The film stars Marguerite De La Motte, William V. Mong, Ja ...

'' (1922) *''

Handle with Care Handle with Care may refer to: Film and television * ''Handle with Care'' (1922 film), an American silent film by Phil Rosen * ''Handle with Care'' (1932 film), an American pre-Code film by David Butler * ''Handle with Care'' (1935 film), a Brit ...

'' (1922) *'' The Little Minister'' (1922) *'' Only a Shop Girl'' (1922) *''

The Dangerous Age The Dangerous Age may refer to: * The Dangerous Age (1923 film), an American silent drama film * ''The Dangerous Age'' (1950 film), a Mexican drama film * The Dangerous Age (album), a 2020 album by Kate Ceberano, Steve Kilbey and Sean Sennett Se ...

'' (1923) * ''

The Little Girl Next Door ''The Little Girl Next Door'' is a 1912 American silent short drama directed by Lucius Henderson and written by Philip Lonergan. The film starred William Garwood and Marguerite Snow in the lead roles. Prints of the film are in the Library ...

'' (1923) *''

The Nth Commandment ''The Nth Commandment'' is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Frank Borzage and starring Colleen Moore. It is based on a story, ''The Nth Commandment'', by Fannie Hurst, a well-known novelist of the day. The film's title jests somewha ...

'' (1923) * '' The Man Next Door'' (1923) *'' On the Banks of the Wabash'' (1923) *'' Captain Blood'' (1924) * '' Wreckage'' (1925) * '' The Pride of the Force'' (1925) * '' The Impostor'' (1926)

References

External links

* 1888 births 1974 deaths American male film actors American male silent film actors Male actors from Illinois People from Mattoon, Illinois University of Chicago alumni 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1880s-stub