Funeral services were pending Thursday for Tony and Emmy-winning actor Robert Morse whose more than 60-year career was highlighted by roles in the Broadway musical “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” and the television drama “Mad Men.”
Morse died Wednesday at his home in Sherman Oaks, his agent David Shaul confirmed. He was 90.
Morse won the Tony Award for best performance by a leading actor in a musical in 1962 for his portrayal of ambitious window washer J. Pierrepont Finch in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
Morse reprised the role of Finch in the 1967 film version of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
Morse won a best actor in a play Tony in 1990 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote in the one-man show “Tru.” He won an outstanding lead actor in a miniseries or special Emmy in 1993 for the “American Playhouse” presentation of “Tru.”
Morse is one of four actors to win the best acting Tony awards for play and musical, joining Rex Harrison, Christopher Plummer and Zero Mostel.
Morse received five outstanding guest actor in a drama series Emmy nominations for his role as Bertram “Bert” Cooper, the somewhat eccentric senior partner at the fictional Sterling Cooper advertising agency in AMC’s “Mad Men.”
Morse was born on May 18, 1931, in Newton, Massachusetts. He spent a summer with the Peterborough Players in New Hampshire, went to New York and, after trying and failing to get an acting job, joined the Navy in 1950.
Morse returned to New York following his discharge in 1954 and enrolled in the American Theater Wing. He worked as a rehearsal singer on the CBS musical game show, “Name That Tune.” After an agent heard him sing, Morse landed a role as a wounded soldier in the production of “The Proud and the Profane” in 1956.
Morse made his Broadway debut in 1955 as a clerk in the comedy “The Matchmaker,” written by Thornton Wilder. He reprised his role in the 1958 film version.
Morse’s other film credits included “The Loved One,” “Honeymoon Hotel” and “A Guide For the Married Man.”
Morse starred in the 1968-69 ABC series, “That’s Life,” a hybrid comedy and variety show that received an Emmy nomination for outstanding variety or musical series. As its star, Morse was credited with an Emmy nomination under the rules then in effect.
Morse’s other television credits included “American Crime Story,” “City of Angels,” “Murder, She Wrote” and “Love, American Style.”
Morse supplied voices on many animated series, including “Rugrats”; “Pound Puppies” and his final project, “Teen Titans Go!” where he was the voice of Santa Claus.
Morse is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Roberts, daughters Robin, Andrea Doven, Hilary Allen and Allyn Morse, a son, Charles, a brother, Richard; and five grandchildren.