Eileen Patricia Augusta Fraser Morison, known professionally by her stage name of Patricia Morison is a former renowned film, television and Broadway actress and mezzo-soprano singer. Morison is best known for her portrayals as the lead actress in the Broadway musicals ‘Kiss me Kate’ and ‘The King and I’. In a career spanning almost 5 decades, Morison mostly appeared in supporting roles and was known for her trademark beauty and long, luscious, hair.
Morison received some of the greatest reviews of her career for appearing in antagonist roles; that of femme fatales and for playing “the other woman”. She achieved more success in her career in Broadway than she did on the silver screen, since she mostly appeared in “B” films. After retiring from acting, Morison took up a career in painting and holds several exhibitions in and around Los Angeles, California. As of March 2017, Morison is 102 years old.
Early Life and Education
Morison was born on 19 March 1915 in New York City, New York, USA as the only child of Belfast, Ireland born playwright and occasional actor, William Morison who acted under the stage name of Norman Rainey and his wife Selena Fraser Morison who served as a British Intelligence Officer during the First World War. The family moved to USA after Morison was born.
Morison was educated at the Washington Irving High School in New York from where she graduated and enrolled into the Arts Students League at the Neighbourhood Playhouse where she studied acting. She also attended Martha Graham’s dance lessons. Morison worked at the Russeks Department Store in the capacity of a dress shop designer.
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Career Rise
Morison made her acting debut as a stage actress and debuted on Broadway in 1933 with the play ‘Growing Pains’. During the time, she was the understudy for Helen Hayes on all Broadway plays but never got an opportunity to perform. She also starred in the 1938 Broadway musical ‘The Two Bouquets’ during which time she was noticed by Paramount Pictures’ talent scouts who signed her to the label. Morison made her silver screen debut in 1939 with the film ‘Persons in Hiding’. She then appeared in the 1940 romance film ‘Untamed’, essaying the lead role of ‘Alverna Easter’. Morison appeared in several second-tier films in the early years and appeared in an antagonist role in ‘Romance of the Rio Grande’.
Morison appeared in a supporting role in the hit film ‘The Song of Bernadette’ in which she essayed the role of Empress Eugénie. Her other film appearances include the hit films ‘The Fallen Sparrow’, ‘Calling Dr. Death’, ‘Without Love’, ‘Lady on a Train’. She also appeared as an antagonist in films like ‘Dressed to Kill’, ‘Song of the Thin Man’, ‘Tarzan and the Huntress’ etc. Morison received the biggest role of her career in 1948 with the Broadway musical ‘Kiss Me Kate’ in which she played the female protagonist. The play completed 1077 performances in USA and 400 performances in UK in which she also gave the vocals to the songs “So in Love” “I Hate Men,” and “Wunderbar”. In 1954, she appeared as Anna Leonowens in Broadway’s revival of ‘The King and I’. Morison also appeared on several variety shows on TV and had a recurring role in the series ‘The Cases of Eddie Drake’ and continued to appear on Broadway.
Patricia Morison – Young Pictures
Personal Life
Morison was involved in a romantic relationship with American actor Sterling Hayden known for his roles in films like ‘The Godfather’ and ‘The Long Goodbye’. The couple dated for a year from 1941-1942 and eventually split when Hayden married English actress Madeleine Carroll.
Morison has never been married and has no children. She lives in Los Angeles, California and celebrated her 100th birthday on 19 March 1915. As of 2017, Morison is 102 years old.
Patricia Morison – Net Worth
Morison has an estimated net worth of approximately $200,000.