Garrett Morris Biography

Fast Facts

• He was part of the original cast of the sketch comedy program "Saturday Night Live․"
• Trained in voice at the Julliard School in New York, performing in many stage musicals, studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village, and graduated from Dillard University in 1958
• Morris' propensity for entertaining came at an early age, singing in the church choir with his grandfather at age 5
• His first professional work as a musician was with the Harry Belafonte singers
• Quote: "I'm not a standup comedian․ That's not my thing․ I have great respect for them, because that's fabulous, to be able to stand up there and make people laugh․ That's a great gift․"
• Founded Garrett Morris' Downtown Blues & comedy Club in downtown Los Angeles
• Original cast member and the first African American on sketchy comedy show "Saturday Night Live․"
• Renowned for his characterizations of a retired Latino baseball player Chico, musician Sammy Davis, Jr․ and comedian Richard Pryor on "Saturday Night Live․"
• Worked as a former schoolteacher at New York City's PS 71 and as a postal carrier in Fort Lauderdale, Fla