Born in Cleveland, Morris came to Hollywood in the early 1960s. His acting experience at that time consisted of a few minor roles on the Seattle stage. He found work appearing on Television series such as "The Dick Van Dyke Show" (1961) and "The Twilight Zone" (1959) before being cast in "Mission: Impossible" (1966). Morris played quiet, efficient electronics expert Barney Collier from 1966-1973. After the show ended, Morris continued to appear in other Television series and a couple of Television movies. In 1979, he went to Las Vegas to film the television series "Vega$" (1978) in which he played Lt. David Nelson. He liked the city so much he decided to stay. This series lasted 2 years. In 1981, Morris survived a serious road accident and did not reappear on television for years. In 1989, he appeared in a short-lived remake of "Mission: Impossible" (1988). In 1990, he was diagnosed with cancer.
Father, with Lee Morris , of Phil Morris , Iona Morris and Linda Morris .Shortly before his death, he went to see the Mission: Impossible (1996) movie; he hated it so much that he walked out less than an hour after the film started.Along with Peter Lupus , he is one of only two "Mission: Impossible" (1966) cast members to stay with the series throughout its entire run.Best remembered by the public for his role in "Mission: Impossible" (1966).In 1983, he reprised his "Barney Collier" character in a spy spoof called "Mission Incredible", for an episode of "The Jeffersons" (1975).A lifelong smoker, he was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1990. It was then discovered that he had a brain tumor, which was removed in 1991. In May of 1996 he stated he was cancer free but was found dead in his Las Vegas apartment by a maintenance worker in August of that same year.Fashion, Television, and Costume Designers Guild, most promising newcomer of 1968-1969, he also won an honorary degree from Miles College in 1969.Along with Bill Cosby and Ivan Dixon , he became among the first of America's black TV stars of the late 60s.A serious car accident that resulted in reconstructive plastic surgery severely curtailed his career in 1981. He finally reappeared on television after a long absence with a short-lived remake of "Mission: Impossible" (1988), which also featured his son, Phil Morris , in 1989. Greg had a cameo role.While in Seattle he starred as Walter Lee in a local production of "A Raisin in the Sun". It was very successful and ran for six months going from three performances a week to the Broadway standard of eight. It culminated with four sold-out weekend performances at the now defunct 1600-seat Palomar Theatre. The stage show eventually went to Los Angeles where he found an entry to film and TV.Checking out the Seattle theater scene in the early 1960s, he supported himself as a wine steward. He also worked at the Golden Lion, an upscale restaurant at Seattle's Olympic Hotel, as an Egyptian waiter and wearing a turban.Attended Ohio State University and then the University of Iowa, where he majored in drama but had not graduated by the time he moved to Seattle.Had three children: Phil Morris , Iona Morris and Linda Morris . Each of them have had show business careers. Phil and Iona both became actors and Linda became a film production executive. In early 2000, Iona performed a one-woman show to pay tribute to her father. The show, "For You", used the same title her father had used on a jazz album he released in the 1970s.Morris joined the army after high school, serving from 1952 to 1955. He then returned to his native Ohio where he worked for a time in a post office.His father was a trumpet player who left the family when Greg was three years old. He spent part of his youth in New York, where his mother was a secretary to A. Philip Randolph, the black labor leader who helped found the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.While playing his supporting role as "Lieutenant Dave Nelson" on "Vega$" (1978), he found the filming location in Nevada to his liking -- so much so that he and his wife, Lee Morris , eventually moved to Las Vegas.Following his TV career peak, he refused to play stereotypical black characters and found it difficult to find parts to play or another starring role. These struggles led to eventual problem with alcohol.He was a prominent opponent of Proposition 5, the California Clean Indoor Act of 1978, which would have mandated separate smoking & non-smoking sections in public facilities including restaurants & workplaces. He appeared in ads funded by Californians for Common Sense, a group funded by tobacco companies.
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Jim Phelps is the head of a super-secret government agency ("Impossible Missions"), and is often given secret anonymous covert missions to attempt; quite often they are unmasking of criminals or the rescuing of hostages. He picks his team depending on which tasks need to be done. One thing is vital on an Impossible Mission: the mission must be carried out in entire secrecy, often relying on high-tech equipment and elaborate deceptions.