# Anita Morris
**Anita Morris** (full name Anita Rose Morris) was an American stage, television, and film actress, dancer, and singer who came to theatrical prominence as Carla in the Broadway musical *[Nine](https://www.edgepedia.org/nine-musical)* in 1982, a performance that earned her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award. She worked on Broadway from 1971 onward and appeared in films including *Ruthless People* and *The Hotel New Hampshire* before her death in 1994 at age 50.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1943, Durham, North Carolina, USA[1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) |
| Died | March 2, 1994, Los Angeles, California, of ovarian cancer[1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) |
| Signature role | Carla in the original Broadway production of *Nine* (1982–1984)[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) |
| Awards | Tony Award nominee, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (1982, *Nine*); Drama Desk Award winner, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (1982, *Nine*)[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) |
| Broadway span | *Jesus Christ Superstar* (1971) through *Nine* (1982), with five additional credited productions[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) |
| Family | Married director Grover Dale in 1973; son James Badge Dale, born 1978[1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people) |
| Screen work | About 37 acting credits listed by TV Guide, spanning film and television[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anita-morris/credits/3000047893/) |
## Early life and training
Morris was born in [Durham, North Carolina](https://www.edgepedia.org/durham-north-carolina), to J. B. Morris and Eloise Morris, with two brothers, Byron and Douglas.[1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people) She began her career in the American Mime Theater before moving into Broadway work.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/morris-anita-1943-1994)
## Broadway career
Morris made her Broadway debut in the original production of *Jesus Christ Superstar*, which ran from October 1971 to July 1973, performing as a Leper, Reporter, Apostle Woman, and Temple Lady.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) She followed it with *Seesaw* in 1973, where she played a Citizen of New York and also served as assistant to [Grover Dale](https://www.edgepedia.org/grover-dale), whom she married that year.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) • [1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people)
**Featured roles.** In *The Magic Show* (1974–1978) she created the role of Charmin.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) She joined *Sugar Babies* as a replacement in the title role of Anita in March 1980, and later replaced in the starring role of Mona Stangley in *The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas* from November 1981 to March 1982.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) She also appeared in *Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don't You Ever Forget It*, a musical that never officially opened.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750)
**Nine.** Morris created the role of Carla in the original Broadway production of *Nine*, which ran from May 1982 to February 1984.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) The performance brought her a 1982 Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and the 1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) Encyclopedia.com's biographical dictionary entry identifies *Nine* as the point at which she came to theatrical prominence.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/morris-anita-1943-1994)
## Film and television
Morris's film roles included Ronda Ray in *The Hotel New Hampshire* (1984), Mrs. Wynic in *Maria's Lovers* (1984), Carol Dodsworth in *Ruthless People* (1986), Malvina Kerch-Turner in *Blue City* (1986), Dido Lament in *Absolute Beginners* (1986), Jezebel in *[A Smoky Mountain Christmas](https://www.edgepedia.org/a-smoky-mountain-christmas)* (1986), Madeline in *18 Again!* (1988), Miss Missouri Martin in *Bloodhounds of Broadway* (1989), Dr. Jane in *Martians Go Home* (1990), and Claudette Katsenback in *Radioland Murders* (1994).[5](https://www.moviemeter.com/celebrities/159753/anita-morris/filmography) The French database AlloCiné lists her *Aria* (1987) role as Phoebe in the 'Rigoletto' segment.[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-52173/filmographie/)
On television she played Babs Berrenger in the 1985 drama *Berrenger's*, and made guest appearances on series including *Cheers* (as Madeline Keith, 1982), *Miami Vice*, *Murder, She Wrote*, *Matlock*, *Who's the Boss?*, *A Different World*, *Major Dad*, and *Tales from the Crypt* (as Fuchsia Monroe, 1991).[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anita-morris/credits/3000047893/) • [5](https://www.moviemeter.com/celebrities/159753/anita-morris/filmography) Her last television role listed by AlloCiné is Stella Rivers in the first season of *Melrose Place* (1992).[6](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-52173/filmographie/)
## Death
Morris died of ovarian cancer in Los Angeles on March 2, 1994, according to IBDB and the [MyHeritage](https://www.edgepedia.org/myheritage) biographical summary.[1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people) • [2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) The *Dictionary of Women Worldwide* entry reproduced by Encyclopedia.com gives the death date as March 3, 1994, a one-day discrepancy between the sources.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/morris-anita-1943-1994) Her marriage to Grover Dale lasted from 1973 until her death.[2](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750) Their son, [James Badge Dale](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-badge-dale), born in 1978, became an actor.[1](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people)
## References
1. [Anita Morris, Biographical Summaries of Notable People, MyHeritage](https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-331588/anita-morris-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people)
2. [Anita Morris, Broadway Cast & Staff, IBDB (Internet Broadway Database)](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/anita-morris-53750)
3. [Anita Morris List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/anita-morris/credits/3000047893/)
4. [Morris, Anita (1943–1994), Dictionary of Women Worldwide via Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/morris-anita-1943-1994)
5. [Filmography Anita Morris, MovieMeter](https://www.moviemeter.com/celebrities/159753/anita-morris/filmography)
6. [Anita Morris : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-52173/filmographie/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Mo to N*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license