- Born
- Died
- Birth nameAnita Rose Morris
- Height5′ 6″ (1.68 m)
- Anita Rose Morris was born on March 14, 1943 in Durham, North Carolina, to Eloise (Chappell), who worked in the theater, and James Badgett Morris, a doctor. Among her many roles, the most prominent film role was as Carol Dodsworth in Ruthless People (1986), and for her sensual performance as Carla in the musical "Nine" opposite Raul Julia. While nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony Award as Carla, she lost to her co-star Liliane Montevecchi. Her signature number in "Nine" was "A Call from the Vatican", and she also sang "Simple", late in act two. She was scheduled to perform the former at the Tony Awards in 1982, but the television censors found her outfit too revealing. Her stage work began at the American Mime Theatre, and carried her to Broadway both for "Nine", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Seesaw", "The Magic Show", "Sugar Babies" and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas".
Morris' film work included The Hotel New Hampshire (1984), Absolute Beginners (1986) with David Bowie and James Fox, Ruthless People (1986) with Danny DeVito and Bette Midler, 18 Again! (1988) with George Burns and Charlie Schlatter, Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989) and Radioland Murders (1994), which was her final film role. During the 1980s and 1990s, she played guest roles in sitcoms and dramas, including Miami Vice (1984), Who's the Boss? (1984), Murder, She Wrote (1984), Cheers (1982), Matlock (1986), Melrose Place (1992), Tales from the Crypt (1989) and A Different World (1987). Anita Morris died at age 50 of ovarian cancer on March 2, 1994 in Los Angeles, California. She was interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, North Carolina.
Anita was married to actor and director Grover Dale. Their son is actor James Badge Dale.- IMDb Mini Biography By: A. Nonymous
- SpouseGrover Dale(August 4, 1973 - March 2, 1994) (her death, 1 child)
- Children
- Diagnosed and waging a private battle with ovarian cancer as early as 1980, she lasted nearly 15 years after being told she only had five years at the most.
- She was nominated for the Tony Award as the sultry, scene-stealing mistress in "Nine" (1982), but lost to her co-star Liliane Montevecchi. Jane Krakowski won a Tony Award for recreating Morris' sizzling role in the 2003 revival.
- Miss Morris began her career in the American Mime Theatre where her face was frequently hidden behind masks, limiting her to expression through her body.
- Made her Broadway debut in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" in which she created a major stir by scaling a fifty foot high set.
- Mother of actor James Badge Dale.
- I showed New York that sex on a stage can be fun. I've been a sex symbol all my life, but it doesn't bother me. I can sing, dance and act. What do I have to worry about?
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