Anita Rose Morris, a talented actress born on March 14, 1943, in Durham, North Carolina, to Eloise Chappell, a theater worker, and James Badgett Morris, a doctor. Her early life was marked by a strong connection to the theater, which would later shape her career.
Morris's most notable film role was as Carol Dodsworth in Ruthless People (1986),showcasing her sensual performance as Carla in the musical "Nine" alongside Raul Julia. Although she was nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony Award for her portrayal of Carla, she ultimately lost to her co-star Liliane Montevecchi.
Her signature number in "Nine" was the iconic "A Call from the Vatican", which she also performed late in act two. However, her stage work was not without controversy, as she was scheduled to perform "A Call from the Vatican" at the Tony Awards in 1982, but television censors deemed her outfit too revealing.
Morris's stage career spanned numerous productions, including "Nine", "Jesus Christ Superstar", "Seesaw", "The Magic Show", "Sugar Babies", and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". She also worked extensively in film, appearing in The Hotel New Hampshire (1984),Absolute Beginners (1986),Ruthless People (1986),18 Again! (1988),Bloodhounds of Broadway (1989),and Radioland Murders (1994),which marked her final film role.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Morris made guest appearances in various 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).
Sadly, Anita Morris passed away on March 2, 1994, at the age of 50, due to ovarian cancer. She was interred at Maplewood Cemetery in Durham, North Carolina. Morris was married to actor and director Grover Dale, with whom she had a son, actor James Badge Dale.
