Actors - Barry Morse

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	Actors - Barry Morse

Barry Morse (born June 10, 1918) is a British-born Canadian actor best known for two television roles: Lt. Philip Gerard on the 1960s series The Fugitive, and Dr. Victor Bergman in the 1975-1976 season of Space: 1999. He is also known for his one-man stage show, Merely Players, which explored the experiences of actors through history.

Morse's acting career spans close to 70 years, and he has dozens of roles to his credit, including radio and TV work for the British Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the American Broadcasting Company. In recent years, he has also become an advocate for senior citizens in his adopted homeland of Canada.

Born to a cockney family, Morse was a 15-year old school dropout and errand boy when he won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. At graduation he starred in the title role of King Henry V, presented as a Royal Command Performance for their majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. This was followed with runs in London's West End and in theatrical productions throughout the United Kingdom. After a short courtship, he married fellow actress Sydney Sturgess on March 26, 1939 during their work together in repertory theatre in Peterborough, England. Morse’s two children were born in 1945 (Melanie) and 1947 (Hayward). In 1951 the family relocated to Canada, working in radio and theatre, as well as acting in the premiere television broadcasts of CBC Television from Montreal.

Morse has performed on Broadway in Hide and Seek, Salad Days, and the lead of Frederick William Rolfe in Hadrian VII. He directed the historic Broadway debut of Staircase starring Eli Wallach and Milo O’Shea, which stands as Broadway’s first depiction of homosexual men in a serious way. He first presented a version of his one man show Merely Players in 1959, with the definitive version debuting in 1984 for a Canadian national tour. Morse is perhaps the only actor to have performed in every play of William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw; two of the greatest playwrights in the English language. He served as Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival of Canada for the 1966 season. Barry Morse has long supported a number of charitable organizations, including the Toronto-based Performing Arts Lodges of Canada, the Royal Theatrical Fund, the London Shakespeare Workout Prison Project, Actors’ Fund of Canada, The Samaritans, BookPALS, and Parkinson’s disease treatment and research. The Parkinson’s cause holds a special place in Barry’s heart as his wife of more than 60 years, Sydney Sturgess, was diagnosed and ultimately succumbed to the illness after a 14 year battle with the disease.

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