Robert Morse Rob Latour/Shutterstock
Robert Morse, who originated the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in Broadway’s How to succeed in business without really tryingHe has passed away. He was 90.
“My good pal Bobby Morse has passed away at age 90,” producer Larry Karaszewski tweetedThursday, April 21. “A huge talent and a beautiful spirit. Sending love to his son Charlie & daughter Allyn. Had so much fun hanging with Bobby over the years – filming People v OJ & hosting so many screenings (How To Succeed, Loved One, That’s Life).”
The late actor’s career spanned over 60 years — starting with his debut on Broadway in the 1960s. After playing J. Pierrepont Finch’s role in the 1961 play How to succeed in business without really tryingMorse won a Tony Award for the performance. He played the role again in the 1967 film adaptation.
He was born in Massachusetts and won his second Tony for his role as Truman Capote, a one-man play. ”I love getting to the theater early, going out on the stage with that one light burning,” he told The New York Times1989. “I find the center of the stage, I find the center of me, and I feel like I belong. It’s my happiest moment.”
Morse, who was transitioning to the small screen as Bertram Cooper’s character, became a fan-favorite. Mad Men. The singer received five Emmy nominations from AMC for his role in the series. He played the fictional character between 2007 and 2015.
After he had finished his time Mad Men, Morse reflected on how Bertram’s final moment spoke to his career. In the show’s final season, Don Draper (Jon Hamm) hallucinated Bertram performing “The Best Things in Life Are Free” from the 1920s. “As simple as it was, it was one of the lovely moments of my life,” Morse gushed to Time2015
Morse continued to appear in screen roles in Fantasy Island, American Crime Story: The People against O.J. Simpson, Corporate, AnimalsAnd Teen Titans Go!
1961 saw the union of the SAG award winner and actress Carole D’Andrea. They divorced in 1981. Morse is survived today by his wife Elizabeth Roberts and their children: D’Andrea, Andrea, Hilary, Charles, Allyn and Robin.
