Today I attended a funeral for a great friend. His name is Jeff Morris. You may have seen him in one of the many films he has been in. Jeff was becoming an established actor back in the day when Jack Nicholson was just getting started in the business, and Jeff was one of the only people who helped Jack out way back then. To this day, Jack loved and respected Jeff, as many of us did. Jack gave Jeff a small part in many of the films he has done. Jack said a few words today about Jeff, but he broke down and couldn't finish. I said some good things about my friend, but I broke down too. Harry Dean Stanton, and several other great actors were there and told stories about Jeff. I'm not an actor myself, or even in the business. Jeff was my landlord, and good friend. After living in his guest apartment for 17 years, my rent is still only $300, and in his will he left me a year's free rent, to help me get through my last year of school. I've been sobbing uncontrollably for the past 3 days. I loved the man like a father, and I've never felt such a great loss. I can't say enough about good things about him, and I wouldn't even know where to start. I'm just glad he is no longer suffering from cancer. Rest in peace my friend. You will always remain alive in my thoughts.


-Pete


Jeff Morris (I)
Date of birth 1936 (location) Lubbock, Texas, USA

Mini biography
Laconic, "good ole boy" type Texan raised actor with appropriate drawl

Sometimes Credited As:
Jeffrey Morris

Actor - filmography:

Anger Management (2003) .... Porter
About Schmidt (2002) (scenes deleted) .... Farmer at gas station
Susan's Plan (1998) .... Larry Cooper
... aka Dying to Get Rich (2000) (USA: video title)
Blues Brothers 2000 (1998) .... Bob
Too Much Sleep (1997) .... Bartender
Crossing Guard, The (1995) .... Silas
Two Jakes, The (1990) .... Ralph Tilton
Freeway Maniac (1989) .... Ray
... aka Breakdown (1989/I)
Ironweed (1987) .... Michigan Mac
Border, The (1982) .... J.J.
Blues Brothers, The (1980) .... Bob
Goin' South (1978) .... Big Abe, Moon's Old Gang
Gauntlet, The (1977) .... Desk Sergeant
Banjo Hackett: Roamin' Free (1976) (TV) .... Jack O'Spades
... aka Banjo Hackett (1976) (TV)
Magician, The (1973/I) (TV)
Payday (1972) .... Bob Tally
Banyon (1971) (TV) .... Billy
Kelly's Heroes (1970) .... Pvt. Cowboy
... aka Ratnici (1970) (Yugoslavia: Serbian title)
36 Hours (1965) (uncredited) .... Bit Part
Kid Galahad (1962) (as Jeffrey Morris) .... Ralphie (Danzig hood)
Long Rope, The (1961) .... Will Matthews
Paratroop Command (1959) (as Jeffrey Morris) .... Pigpen
Legend of Tom Dooley, The (1959) .... Confederate Soldier
Bonnie Parker Story, The (1958) .... Marvin

Producer - filmography:

Too Much Sleep (1997) (line producer)

Notable TV Guest Appearances:

"Yellow Rose, The" (1983) playing "Jack Fry" in episode: "Chains of Fear" (episode # 1.19) 24 March 1984
"CHiPs" (1977) playing "LeMasters" in episode: "Hot Wheels" (episode # 3.8) 3 November 1979
"Barbary Coast" (1975) playing "Tully" in episode: "Funny Money" (episode # 1.1) 8 September 1975
"Mission: Impossible" (1966) playing "Smiler" in episode: "Underground" (episode # 7.7) 28 October 1972
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Tulsa" in episode: "New Man" (episode # 14.5) 17 October 1972
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Hal" in episode: "He Was Only Seven" (episode # 13.22) 5 March 1972
"Mission: Impossible" (1966) playing "Page" in episode: "The Connection" (episode # 6.14) 18 December 1971
"Mannix" (1967) playing "Grove" in episode: "Murder Times Three" (episode # 5.12) 1 December 1971
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Turk" in episode: "A Deck of Aces" (episode # 12.18) 31 January 1971
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Matthew Brody" in episode: "The Trouble with Trouble" (episode # 12.7) 25 October 1970
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "Dunne" in episode: "Mrs. Wharton and the Lesser Breeds" (episode # 10.17) 19 January 1969
"Death Valley Days" (1952) playing "Morgan Earp" in episode: "After the OK Corral" (episode # 12.23) 28 April 1964
"Ben Casey" (1961) playing "Art Stone" (as Jeffrey Morris) in episode: "The Bark of a Three-Headed Hound" (episode # 3.23) 12 February 1964
"Twilight Zone, The" (1959) playing "Radio Operator" (as Jeffrey Morris) in episode: "The 7th Is Made up of Phantoms" (episode # 5.10) 6 December 1963
"Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957) playing "Ed Garrett" in episode: "The Gold Witch" (episode # 6.31) 5 May 1962
"Zane Grey Theater" (1956) playing "Luke" in episode: "The Reckoning" (episode # 4.15) 14 January 1960

 

Sorry to hear about your friend... There's life after death! Let go, let God.

-Bill

 

You have my sympathy, and I'm sorry for your loss.

My grandfather passed away today and as much as it hurts me for him to go, I am glad he is no longer in pain.

Your friend will be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

Sad news. Nice parting gesture on his part, it would seem to me that you meant as much to him as he did to you. Take care...

 

Pete - Sorry for your loss! Do you have a picture you could post?

 

Pete, I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. It's never an easy thing, even when the person's been sick for a while.

As time goes on, it will get easier. Try to take comfort in the memories.

 

Thanks, everyone. I really appreciate your support. I know I can always count on my friends from S2KI to lift my spirits. So many good people here.

Nick, I can't find any online pics of Jeff (sad) but I'll get my scanner hooked up and post some soon.

The funeral was short and really nice. No religious references, just friends reminiscing about good times.

We were able to get him a plot in a small cemetery in Westwood. I didn't even know it was there. He is surrounded by other actors who he had known, including Walter Matthau and Carol O'Connor. Natalie Wood, Marylin Monroe, and many other notable celebrities are also there.

One cool thing is that his plot is right next to the road. This means I can drive my S2000 right up to his grave and sit and talk to him from my car. He loved my S2000 very much, and never got tired of talking about it. He was always kind of afraid to ride in it, and he thought it was too small for him (he is 6' 2"). After he figured out that his cancer was terminal, he came to me and asked me for a ride in the S2000. It was a very meaningful ride, to say the least.

-Pete

 

Sorry about your friend!

But he's lived a full life (well, sort of) and so his passing isn't tragic at all. EVERYONE dies! As long as someone dies of old age, it's so much better. Wait! He was born in '36, so that would make him 68-ish when he passed away. Is that of old age? Maybe, maybe not. But yeah, sorry about your friend.

Anyway, wow! Jack Nicholson was there? Did you get his autograph?

 

Thanks.

Jeff was actually in great shape before he got cancer, so he would have lived many more years, if he could beat the disease.

I know you are joking, but actually I wouldn't want anyone's autograph. I'm not even impressed with actors as a group. Some of the surgeons I work with are brilliant, and are saving lives on a daily basis. That means a lot more to me, but I don't see the point of having someone sign a piece of paper, so I can stare at it.

-Pete

 

Of course there are people who are much more worthy than actors, like doctors, firefighters, etc. But you don't get autographs to stare at them, you get autographs to put on Ebay. Seriously!