The Resume

(February 16, 1901-September 11, 1970)
Born in New York City, New York
Birth name was John Chester Brooks Morris
Portrayed criminal-turned-detective Boston Blackie in 14 films (1941-49) and an NBC radio series (1944)
Also appeared in the films ‘The Beloved Traitor’ (1918), ‘Loyal Lives’ (1923), ‘Alibi’ (1929), ‘The Divorcee’ (1930), ‘The Bat Whispers’ (1930), ‘The Big House’ (1930), ‘Red-Headed Woman’ (1932), ‘Public Hero No. 1’ (1935), ‘Three Godfathers’ (1936), ‘Frankie and Johnny’ (1936), ‘Smashing the Rackets’ (1938), ‘Five Came Back’ (1939), ‘The Marines Fly High’ (1940), ‘Wrecking Crew (1942), ‘Double Exposure’ (1944), ‘Unchained’ (1955), ‘The She-Creature’ (1956) and ‘The Great White Hope’ (1970)
Appeared on Broadway in ‘The Copperhead’ (1918), ‘Thunder’ (1919), ‘The Mountain Man’ (1921-22), ‘Advise and Consent’ (1960-61) and ‘The Subject Was Roses’ (1964-66)
Died of an overdose of barbiturates
Coroner unable to determine if the overdose was an accident or suicide

Why he might be annoying:

He dropped out of school at 15 to join the family vaudeville act.
He was an amateur magician who ticked off plenty of professionals when he wrote an article in ‘Popular Mechanics’ revealing the secrets behind several tricks (1947).
He said about starring in the ‘Boston Blackie’ films, ‘After that, a producer wouldn’t put me in an ‘A’ movie even if I paid for the privilege. The only thing I could do was get out and go back to the theater.’

Why he might not be annoying:

He was personally managed by George M. Cohan during his 1920s stage career.
He was nominated for an Oscar for Best Oscar for his first talking film, ‘Alibi.’
He performed magic tricks at over 350 USO shows during World War II.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 65]
• Film Pioneers [Silent Era]
• I Am Vaudeville [M-Z]
• I Attended the Los Angeles Premiere of ‘Gone With the Wind’ [December 28, 1939]
• I Did Not Graduate High School [J-M]
• I Died in 1970 (Ranked: 69)
• I Died in a Hotel Room
• I Died on September 11th (Ranked: 1970)
• I Have Stomach Cancer
• I Was Buried at Sea
• I was Cremated
• I've Got a Secret - Guests [1952-67]
• Jean Harlow's Leading Men
• Known By a Middle Name
• Look at Me, I'm Armed
• Magicians
• Profiles 41006-41250 (Ranked: 41090)
• We Died on the Same Day (Ranked: 19700911)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
In 2017, Out of 25 Votes: 52.00% Annoying