Anita Morris
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
A hoofer and actress of stage and screen, Anita Morris is most famous for her role in the Broadway musical "Nine" (1982). Morris also enhanced the NYC productions of "Seesaw" (1973), "The Magic Show" (1974, staged by her husband Grover Dale) "Sugar Babies" (1979, succeeding Ann Jillian) and "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" (1981, playing Miss Mona, the brothel owner). In her glam showgirl incarnation, she graced such features as "Absolute Beginners" (1986), "Aria" (1987) and Tony Richardson's "The Hotel New Hampshire" (1984). Morris provided cameos on several timely series of the moment like "Cheers" (1987), "Miami Vice" (1987) and "Melrose Place" (1992), often as sexy single ladies and moms. She starred in the TV version of "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" (Fox, 1987), taking over the role once held by Bette Midler, and was cast as a sultry matriarch on the soapy miniseries "Trade Winds" (NBC, 1993). Perhaps her most remembered film role was playing the mistress of Danny De Vito in "Ruthless People" (1986).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Film Production - Main (Feature Film)
Misc. Crew (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Music (Special)
Life Events
1971
Broadway debut, chorus member of "Jesus Christ Superstar"
1972
Feature debut, "The Broad Coalition"
1973
First speaking role on Broadway, "Seesaw"; initial collaboration with Tommy Tune
1974
Appeared in "The Magic Show", directed by her husband Grover Dale
1979
Replaced Ann Jillian in the Broadway musical "Sugar Babies"
1980
Diagnosed with ovarian cancer
1981
Played a dancer in "So Fine"
1981
Assumed the leading role of Miss Mona, the brothel owner, in the stage musical "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas", staged by Tune
1982
Breakthrough stage role, cast as Carla, the mistress of film director Guido Contini, in "Nine", a Broadway musical directed by Tommy Tune and based on Fellini's "8 1/2"; created controversy with her costume (a black lace body stocking) as well as her gyrations during her showstopping number "A Phone Call From the Vatican"; received Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical; number banned from being performed as originally staged during the annual telecast of the Tony Awards by CBS
1985
Played Babs Berrenger-DeGava on the short-lived series "Berrenger's" (NBC)
1986
Offered a memorable supporting turn as Danny De Vito's sexy mistress in the comedy "Ruthless People"
1987
Had recurring role as Barbara Whiteman in the Fox TV series version of "Down and Out in Beverly Hills"
1993
Last TV appearance in the NBC miniseries "Trade Winds"
1994
Final film, "Radioland Murders"; released posthumously
Family
Companions
