Robert Morse, a two-time Tony award winner also known for his role in “Mad Men,” died at age 90 on Wednesday, his agent confirmed.
Morse’s agent Mark Redanty told USA TODAY in a statement Thursday that the actor “died peacefully at home yesterday after a short illness.” Morse’s son Charlie confirmed the news to ABC7 Wednesday but did not elaborate on his father’s cause of death.
Writer and producer Larry Karaszewski, who worked with Morse on “The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story,” tweeted a tribute to the late Broadway star on April 21.
“My good pal Bobby Morse has passed away at age 90. A huge talent and a beautiful spirit. Sending love to his son Charlie & daughter Allyn. Had so much fun hanging with Bobby over the years – filming People v OJ & hosting so many screenings,” Karaszewski wrote alongside four pictures with Morse.
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Broadway composer David Krane also shared a photo of himself with Morse on Twitter. “He had those cool, clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth,” Krane wrote in the tribute. “Wishing that eternal boy eternal peace in his new forever home. He succeeded without really trying.”
The boyishly handsome Morse first made his name on Broadway in the 1950s, and landed some roles in Hollywood comedies in the 1960s. “I consider myself an actor — shyly,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 1964. “I love acting. It’s a great use of body and mind … With all humility, you hope that you are doing something worthwhile.”
Morse’s career on Broadway led to many accomplishments, including five Tony award nominations.
Morse was already well-established on Broadway, with two Tony nominations to his credit, when he became nationally famous at age 30 as the star of Frank Loesser’s smash 1961 Broadway satire of corporate life, “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” The show won both the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony for best musical.
He won his first Tony for best performance by a leading actor in a musical in 1962 for “How to Succeed,” in which he starred from 1961 to 1965. He later reprized his role as J. Pierpont Finch in the 1967 film adaptation.
Morse earned his second Tony for best actor in a play for his one-man Broadway show “Tru.” . The production had a PBS adaptation titled, “American Playhouse,” for which the actor won an Emmy in 1993.
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Eventually, he navigated to television where he also gained notoriety.
The actor earned five Emmy nominations for his role as Bertram Cooper, a senior partner of an advertising firm, in “Mad Men” from 2007 to 2015.
In 2010, he and his “Mad Men” co-stars received a SAG Award for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.
The actor can also be seen on television shows including “American Crime Story,” “City of Angels,” “All My Children” and more.
Morse would later return to Broadway in 2016 at age 85 for the revival of “The Front Page.”
The prolific actor was born in Newton, Massachusetts. His high school drama teacher influenced him to aspire acting, according to Variety. Morse went on to study acting at New York City’s Neighborhood Playhouse.
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Reviewing his career, Morse told The New York Times in 1989: “Things change. I never got a chance to be in a play or picture where I played a father, or had a family, or where I could feel or show something. The wild child in me never had a chance to grow up.”
He said he had successfully battled alcohol and drug abuse, but added, “I don’t think drinking got in the way of my work. I did my job. It was the other 22 hours I had a problem with.”
Still, he said of his career, “I didn’t think it was going to end or not end. I just plowed on. One day you hear `We love you, Bobby.’ The next day you’re doing voiceovers.”
In addition to his acting career, Morse was a Korean War veteran in the US Navy.
He is survived by five children, a son Charlie and four daughters, Robin, Andrea, Hilary and Allyn.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism