Hunter and Black History Month

February is Black History Month and in celebration of the month, I would like to profile a few of the African American characters that were on Hunter but were often overlooked. Below is the biography for Garrett Morris, also known as our beloved, "Sporty James."
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GARRETT MORRIS:

Birthday: February 1, 1937
Birth Place: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA


Another of Julliard's illustrious alumni, Garret Morris' first significant professional job was as performer and arranger with the Harry Belafonte singers. Morris went on to appear in such Broadway productions as Porgy and Bess, Hallelujah Baby, and Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death. He also wrote two plays, The Secret Place and Daddy Picou and Marie LeVeau. His first film gig was as a makeup artist on This Property is Condemned (1967); he made his movie acting bow in 1970. After a season's worth of supporting appearances on the 1973-74 sitcom Roll Out, Morris was hired as one of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players on NBC's Saturday Night Live. After his SNL stint, Morris could be seen in film supporting roles, most amusingly as "Famous Amos" takeoff Chocolate Charlie in the otherwise indifferent 1985 horror film The Stuff. He also made a return visit to Broadway, starring in I'm Not Rappaport. Back on TV, Garret Morris was seen regularly as Stan Kemrite on Martin (1992-1994) and on the weekly sitcoms of Ellen Cleghorne and Jamie Foxx.

Filmography

Starring Roles:
The Jamie Foxx Show (1996) - Uncle Junior King
Cleghorne! (1995) - Sidney Carlson
Martin (1992) - Stan
HUNTER! (1984) - Arnold "Sporty James (1986-1989)
It's Your Move (1984) - Principal Dwight Ellis
Saturday Night Live (1975) - Himself (Seasons 1-5)

Guest Starring Roles

Saturday Night Live - Himself - Brittany Murphy/Nelly (2002)
TV Tales - Himself [archive footage] - Saturday Night Live (2002)
The Hughleys - Father Roberts - I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas (2001)
According to Jim - Lewis - The Turkey Bowl (2001)
Justice League - Al McGee - In Blackest Night (1) (2001)
Static Shock - Preacher - Child's Play (2000)
City of Angels - Frank Hollister - Prototype (2000)
Good vs Evil - Himself - Sunday Night Evil (1999)
Saturday Night Live - Himself - 25th Anniversary Special (1999)
Space Ghost Coast to Coast - Himself - Cahill (1998)
Boston Common - Sammy Sutherland - I.D. Endow (1997)
Minor Adjustments - Willie - The Ex-Files (1995)
Martin - Stan Winters - C.R.E.A.M. (1995)
The Wayans Bros. - Uncle Leon - The Poppa-Cabana (1995)
The Wayans Bros. - Himself - Goop-Hair-It-Is (1995)
ER - Edgar Luck - ER Confidential (1994)
Saturday Night Live - Himself - 15th Anniversary Special (1989)
Married ... with Children - Russ - Requiem for a Dead Barber (1989)
Who's the Boss? - Officer Audett - Sam's Car (1988)
Married ... with Children - Russ - The Poker Game (1987)
227 - Bob Winslow - The Working Game (1987)
The Love Boat - - The Will/Deja Vu/The Prediction (1986)
Scarecrow and Mrs. King - Asam Ali Shamba/Prime Minster - The Wrong Way Home (1985)
The Twilight Zone (1985) - Jake - Dealer's Choice (1985)
It's Your Move - Dwight Ellis - Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (1985)
It's Your Move - Dwight Ellis - The Experts (1985)
Hill Street Blues - Derelict - Passage to Libya (1985)
Murder, She Wrote - Lafayette Duquesne - Murder To a Jazz Beat (1985)
Hill Street Blues - Derelict - Davenport in a Storm (1985)
Hill Street Blues - Derelict - Dr. Hoof and Mouth (1985)
It's Your Move - Dwight Ellis - Top Dog (1984)
The Jeffersons - Jimmy - In the Chips (1984)
The Jeffersons - Jimmy - Mission: Incredible (3) (1983)
The Jeffersons - Jimmy - Mission: Incredible (2) (1983)
The Jeffersons - Jimmy - Mission: Incredible (1) (1983)
The Jeffersons - Jimmy - True Confessions (1983)
Diff'rent Strokes - Santa Claus/Mr. Jones - Santa's Helper (1982)
Saturday Night Live - Himself - Walter Matthau/Garrett Morris (1978)
Black Scorpion - Argyle - Black Scorpion

Co Starring Roles

Hunter - Arnold "Sporty" James - Presumed Guilty (1988)