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Morgan in 1928
Gene Morgan (born Eugene Kenney; March 12, 1893 – August 13, 1940) was an American actor. He appeared in 111 films between 1926 and 1941.
Background
[edit]Morgan was born Eugene Kenney[1] in Racine, Wisconsin. In his early roles he was cast in westerns.[2][3]
Before Morgan performed in films he worked as a master of ceremonies for stage shows.[1] A newspaper review of his performance in a Fanchon and Marco production in San Bernardino in 1925 said Morgan "keeps the audiences in a continuous uproar of laughter with his brilliant humor and funny antics interspersed with a series of soft shoe dances that bring down the house with applause".[4] By 1928 he was regarded as "Fanchon and Marco's 'ace'" when he made his first appearance at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre.[5]
Morgan's film career began in Hal Roach and Pathe comedies.[1] In 1938, he appeared in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in an uncredited role. That year, he was signed by Republic Pictures.[6]
Personal life and death
[edit]Morgan's wife was named Rachael.[1] On August 13, 1940, Morgan died in Santa Monica, California suddenly of a heart attack.[7][8] (A contemporary newspaper account says that he died on August 15, 1940.[1])
Selected filmography
[edit]- Rogue of the Rio Grande (1930) - Mayor Seth Landport
- Anybody's Blonde (1931)
- Blonde Venus (1932)
- False Faces (1932)
- Hook and Ladder (1932 short)
- Song of the Eagle (1933)
- Men of the Hour (1935)
- Panic on the Air (1936)
- Alibi for Murder (1936)
- End of the Trail (1936)
- Come Closer, Folks (1936)
- The Music Goes 'Round (1936)
- Counterfeit (1936)
- Counterfeit Lady (1936)
- Devil's Squadron (1936)
- Shakedown (1936)
- Make Way for Tomorrow (1937)
- Murder in Greenwich Village (1937)
- Woman in Distress (1937)
- All American Sweetheart (1937)
- Federal Man-Hunt (1938)
- The Main Event (1938)
- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939, uncredited)
- Saps at Sea (1940)
- Meet John Doe (1941, uncredited)
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e "Actor Gene Morgan Dies After Heart Attack". Hollywood Citizen-News. August 15, 1940. p. 9. Retrieved January 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Rainey, Buck (2024-10-18). The Strong, Silent Type: Over 100 Screen Cowboys, 1903-1930. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1524-0.
- ^ Pitts, Michael R. (2015-09-17). Poverty Row Studios, 1929-1940: An Illustrated History of 55 Independent Film Companies, with a Filmography for Each. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-1036-8.
- ^ "Fanchon and Marco Stage Presentation Scores Hit". San Bernardino Daily Sun. June 8, 1925. p. 4. Retrieved January 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Gene Morgan In Premiere Today". Hollywood Daily Citizen. April 20, 1928. p. 4. Retrieved January 23, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Exhibitors Daily Review. Vol. 43. Exhibitors Trade Review, Incorporated. 1938.
- ^ Neibaur, James L. (2018-07-25). The Andy Clyde Columbia Comedies. McFarland. p. 104. ISBN 978-1-4766-3097-7.
- ^ Gene Morgan Dies, Motion Picture Herald. Quigley Publishing Company. August 24, 1940.
External links
[edit]
- Gene Morgan at IMDb
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