Dennis Morgan

Dennis Morgan (born Earl Stanley Morner, December 20, 1908 – September 7, 1994) was an American actor-singer. He used the acting pseudonym Richard Stanley before adopting the name under which he gained his greatest fame. Morgan was born in the village of Prentice in Price County in northern Wisconsin, the son of Grace J. (née Vandusen) and Frank Edward Morner. He was of Swedish descent on his father's side. Morgan started working at MGM as "Stanley Morner". His best roles were in Mama Steps Out (1937) and Song of the City (1937), but mostly did small parts. Morgan signed with Paramount billed as "Richard Stanley". He was in several films in 1938 & 1939 including "Men With Wings (1938). At Warner Brothers Morgan was billed as "Dennis Morgan" and was finally given lead roles in "B movies" such as Waterfront (1939) and No Place to Go (1939). In 1940 he was promoted to "A movies". His best parts were in Kttty Foyle (1940) (on loan to RKO), Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943), God is My Co-Pilot. He was often paired with Jack Carson. After Morgan's contract with Warner ended in 1952 he appeared in sporadic television guest roles. He retired from film work in 1956. In 1983, Dennis Morgan, along with his film pal, Jack Carson, who had died in 1963, was inducted into the Wisconsin Performing Artists Hall of Fame. Morgan died in 1994 of respiratory failure. He was a staunch Republican and a member of the Sierra Vista Presbyterian Church in Oakhurst, California.