Biography
A lush, full-bodied, redheaded hoofer and actress of stage and screen, Anita Morris is most famous for her role as the robustly erotic mistress who sang and writhed in a transparent body suit in the Broadway musical "Nine" (1982). Her tour-de-force performance was censored by CBS for the airing of the 1982 Tony Awards. Morris enhanced the NYC productions of "Seesaw" (1973), "The Magic Show" (1974, staged by her husband Grover Dale) "Sugar …
Career Milestones
1994 | Final film, "Radioland Murders"; released posthumously | |
1993 | Last TV appearance in the NBC miniseries "Trade Winds" | |
1987 | Had recurring role as Barbara Whiteman in the Fox TV series version of "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" | |
1986 | Offered a memorable supporting turn as Danny De Vito's sexy mistress in the comedy "Ruthless People" | |
1985 | Played Babs Berrenger-DeGava on the short-lived series "Berrenger's" (NBC) | |
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 | |
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 | |
1980 | Diagnosed with ovarian cancer | |
1979 | Replaced Ann Jillian in the Broadway musical "Sugar Babies" | |
1974 | Appeared in "The Magic Show", directed by her husband Grover Dale | |
1973 | First speaking role on Broadway, "Seesaw"; initial collaboration with Tommy Tune | |
1972 | Feature debut, "The Broad Coalition" | |
1971 | Broadway debut, chorus member of "Jesus Christ Superstar" | |
| Began performing with the American Mime Theater | ||