|
Most children of performers either do
whatever they can to distance themselves from show business or they
wholeheartedly embrace it and attempt to carve out their own niche. As
the son of Greg Morris, who for seven seasons played electronics expert
Barney Collier on "Mission: Impossible," Phil Morris struggled
with this dilemma before opting to pursue a career as an actor. As the
middle child and only son, he began to entertain as a child, often
reciting routines from comedy albums for his family. Following his
graduation from high school, Morris worked as a production assistant on
a never released film ("COM-TAC 303") that featured his
father. Shortly thereafter he embarked on rounds of auditions and bit
roles.
Morris caught a break in 1984 when he signed to play a law student on
the daytime drama "The Young and the Restless." In 1988, he
was cast as the son of his father's character in the short-lived remake
of "Mission: Impossible." Other roles followed such as that of
the ruthlessly ambitious TV reporter in "WIOU"; the title
character, the first black American bicycle racer in the biopic
"Tracks of Glory: The Major Taylor Story"; Steven Dimes in the
mini-series "Jackie Collins' Lucky/Chances" and its sequel
"Jackie Collins' Lady Boss"; and the ship's purser in
"The Love Boat: The Next Wave"; as well as numerous guest
appearances in sitcoms and dramas. His feature credits include
"Star Trek III: The Search for Spock," "Wag the
Dog," "Clay Pigeons," and "3 Strikes."
A 1995 guest role on the sitcom "Seinfeld" as unctuous
attorney Jackie Chiles (who bore more than a passing resemblance to
celebrity lawyer Johnnie Cochran) put Morris on the map. Over the next
three years, the actor made occasional appearances as the bombastic
legal beagle, including one in the series' much-touted finale. Morris
was allowed to reprise the character in TV commercials for Honda in
1999.
Phil Morris will be at the Mega
Martial Arts Weekend Expo hosted by Action Martial Arts Magazine, this
will take place in Atlantic City New Jersey on January 14th to January
16th 2005.
|