Blakeview: Comedian and 'SNL' original cast member Garrett Morris celebrates 85 this week - NOLA.com

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This week we wish a happy 85th birthday to Garrett Morris, the comedian, actor and New Orleans native who became one of the original cast members of “Saturday Night Live.”

Born at New Orleans’ Charity Hospital on Feb. 1, 1937, Morris lived in Gert Town until he was 6, then moved to Morgan City to live with his grandfather. Morris graduated from Booker T. Washington High School, then studied music and voice at Dillard University, where he graduated in 1958.

After Dillard, he went to New York, trained at the Juilliard School of Music and landed a stint as a singer with Harry Belafonte and the Belafonte Folk Singers. He performed on Broadway and wrote several of his own plays.

Canadian TV producer Lorne Michaels became familiar with Morris’ work and in 1975 asked him to audition for his new late-night NBC variety show “Saturday Night Live.” Morris became the first Black cast member when the show premiered on Oct. 11, 1975.

Editor’s note: The following story originally published in the Jan. 28, 2002, issue of Gambit.

He joined a roster of comedy icons: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and later Bill Murray. Morris would become known for playing such characters as the Dominican Mets player Chico Esquela and starring in the “Weekend Update” segment “News for the Hard of Hearing.”

Morris would later say he was frequently unhappy during his “SNL” run, typecast in smaller, stereotypical roles. Like other cast members, he said he also battled drug addiction during those years. He left the show in 1980.

Other film and TV roles followed, including on “The Jeffersons,” “Martin,” “The Jamie Foxx Show” and “2 Broke Girls.” He remains active in films, TV shows and commercials.

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By 1941, the NOR procession had grown to 100 floats.

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Blakeview: Comedian and 'SNL' original cast member Garrett Morris celebrates 85 this week - NOLA.com
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