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(The following information was compiled from a variety of sources including websites, magazine articles and guest appearances by Rob on talk shows. I assert no copyright over any of the following information.) |
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Name:
Robert Alan Morrow
Renamed ‘Rob Morrow’ by Michael Bennett who directed him in the off Broadway play ‘Third Street’. He was renamed because Bennett felt his full name took up too much room on the poster.
Born:
21 September 1962 in New Rochelle, New York
Parents:
Father: Murray Morrow (an industrial lighting manufacturer) Mother: Diane Morrow
Rob’s parents divorced when Morrow was nine and living in Hartsdale, New York. Rob moved to Florida with his father. He moved back to New York (Manhattan) in 1979 at the age of 17 to study acting.
Siblings:
1 older sister, Carrie Morrow
Education:
Rob dropped out of school to pursue acting. He realised he want to be an actor when he saw the movie ‘Grease’ while living in Florida. Somewhere in the middle of it he had an epiphany. He walked out of the theater and told his friend, ‘You know, I want to be an actor,’ as though he’d always been thinking about it. He did, however, return to school to finish his GED. He attended college for a short time before dropping out to focus on his acting career.
Religion:
He is a Secular Jew, but is proud of his Judaism and has great respect for it
Spouse:
Married fellow actress Debbon Ayer in the fall of 1998. They were engaged for 6 months. (This is the first marriage for Rob but the second marriage for Deb).
Interestingly, they actually first met 16 years earlier when both worked for the late director, Michael Bennett – Deb was working as Bennett’s receptionist while Rob was working as his production assistant on Dream Girls (Bennett later cast Rob in Third Street). It wasn’t until many years later that they began dating.
Rob and Deb (see galleries for many more pics of the happy couple):
Children:
1 daughter, Tu Simone Ayer Morrow, born 25 April 2001.
Tu is the light of Rob’s life (lucky girl!). You only need to listen to him talk about her to realise that. Her name (“Tu Morrow”) tends to be a topic of fascination when he is interviewed. For instance, on The Ellen Show on 27 April 2005, the following conversation took place:
ED: But let me ask you this because I’ve heard before—your daughter—she—her name—I can’t believe this. What is your daughter’s name? RM: Her name is Tu Morrow. ED: So your last name is Morrow; her first name is Tu. RM: That’s correct. T-u. Tu Simone Morrow. Who just celebrated her fourth birthday on Sunday and it was a great day. ED: So Tu—so Tu is four. RM: Tu is four. [smiles] Her birthday—her birthday cake said, um, Happy F-o-u-r T-u. Happy Four Tu. ED: So when you sing Happy Birthday to Tu, do you say…? RM: That’s right. ED: Happy Birthday to Tu. RM: Exactly. ED: And does Tu like her name? RM: Tu loves her name. ED: Uh-huh? RM: Although she has a resistance to the song “The Sun Will Come Up [Out] Tomorrow.” Which I can’t figure out why because like, we listen to the Annie soundtrack—for some reason it’s always on—and yet, y’know, whenever that song—I get kind of sentimental [smiles] and I’m like, y’know, I want to sing it with her, and she’s like, “No, not that song!” She’ll never, you can’t ever listen to that song. So maybe there’s something, maybe we’ll see. That’s why we gave her Simone. ED: Simone’s a pretty name. She may use that later on. RM: Tu Morrow’s a great name. ED: She may not want the Tu Morrow thing. It’s cute, and you’ve had a good laugh, you and your wife— RM: No, no, no! She’s gonna be full of uh comebacks and rejoinders so if anyone gives her a hard time she’ll be ready. ED: Alright. Cause my real name—my last name is not DeGeneres. My real name is El Pollo Loco, actually. RM: [laughs] ED: Uh, and your wife, by the way, her name is Deb. What’s her last name? RM: Debbon. D-e-b-b-o-n. Debbon. Deb as well. ED: Uh-huh. And her last name? ED: Debbon Ayer. RM: That’s right. ED: I know, I heard that before and I didn’t believe it. RM: She is debonair. She comes with her own concept. ED: Yeah.
Early jobs:
Supported himself as a waiter and balloon messenger in his earliest acting days.
Professional history: 1980s · Made professional stage debut in the early 1980s in "Ragged Dick", a gay-themed Off-Broadway musical 1983 · Worked as Michael Bennett's assistant for the Los Angeles stage production of "Dreamgirls" · Cast as John in the off Broadway play ‘Third Street’ by the play’s Director, Michael Bennett. Third Street was one of 4 plays that were part of the 1983 Young Playwrights Festival. The play opened on April 13 1983. There were 19 performances, with the final one held on 1 May 1983. 1985 · Made feature film debut as Ben in teen sex comedy, "Private Resort", in which he played a leading role alongside Johnny Depp 1986 · Co-founded the theater group Naked Angels; appeared in 35 stage productions, including "The Return of Pinocchio" (1986), "Aven'U Boys" (1989) and Jon Robin Baitz's "The Substance of Fire" (1990) 1987 · Made earliest TV appearances in small guest spots on the sitcom, "Everything's Relative" and the detective series, "Spenser: For Hire" 1988 · Debut as a TV series regular, played bartender Marco Bellini on short-lived NBC drama series, "Tattinger's" 1990 · Turned down chance at a role in proposed CBS series, "The Antagonists" to appear in the play "The Substance of Fire" in a part written specifically for him (the family's son, Aaron) 1990 - 1994 · Rob went on to achieve fame in 1990 as Dr. Joel Fleischman, the misplaced general practitioner of Cicely, Alaska, on CBS' Northern Exposure. 1993 · Rob wrote and made his directorial debut with the short film The Silent Alarm (1993), which premiered at the 1993 Seattle Film Festival and shown at festivals around the world and in rotation on Bravo. The film was about a child reacting to his divorced mother's new relationship. 1994 · Returned to feature-length films after nine years to co-star as Dick Goodwin in "Quiz Show" 1995 · Bowed out of the cast of the feature remake of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" (1996) after helmer Richard Stanley was fired; part went to English actor David Thewlis 1996 · Cast as Albert Brooks' successful brother, Jeff Henderson, in the comedy "Mother" · Played attorney, Rick Hayes, in feature film "Last Dance" starring Sharon Stone as a death-row inmate. 1997 · Starred in short-lived London stage production of "Birdy" · Directed an episode of TV series “Oz” (episode "Laws of Gravity" 2002) 1998 · Returned to TV to play John Wilkes Booth in "The Day Lincoln Was Shot" (TNT) · Starred as Matthew Heller in TV movie Only Love with Marissa Tomei · Starred as Ben in the independent feature "Into My Heart" with Claire Forlani; released theatrically in 2000 1999 · Starred in short-lived TV series, Nearly Yours 2000 · Starred as Ryan Keene in the independent feature ‘Labor Pains’ with Kyra Sedgwick and Mary Tyler Moore · Starred as Jeff in the independent feature Other Voices with Stockard Channing and Campbell Scott · Starred as Jonathan Neumann in the Showtime fact-based drama "The Thin Blue Lie" · Starred as Daniel Lenz in TV movie, Sam the Man 2001 · Feature film directorial debut, "Maze" (filmed in 1999) which he co-wrote; also had lead role as a painter with Tourettes Syndrome [click here to see trailer – you must have Real Player installed] · Starred as Dr. Richard Feldman in a TV movie, Jenifer, about a woman with ALS [note: Rob is on the Board of Directors of Project ALS. Co-founded by Jenifer Estess, who was diagnosed with ALS in 1997] 2002 · Rob starred as Dr. William Minor in a short drama Night's Noontime, based on a true story of two 'remarkable lunatics' trying to find the meaning of the word 'art' while confined in a mental asylum. · Cast as James Ellerby in the drama feature "The Emperor's Club" [click here to see trailer – you must have Real Player installed] · Starred as Josh Goldstein in feature film, The Guru · Returned to series TV as Kevin Hunter in the Showtime drama "Street Time" 2003 · Directed 3 episodes of the CBS drama "Joan of Arcadia" (episodes 119 "Do the Math", 202 "Out of Sight" and 205 "Election, The") 2004 - 2005 · Rob was the voice of the Moving You Forward ad campaign for Toyota 2005 - · Cast as Don Eppes, an FBI agent who recruits his brother, Charlie (David Krumholtz), a mathematician to help the FBI solve crimes in the CBS drama "Numb3rs". The show premiered on Jan 23, 2005 (and then settled in on Friday nights 9/10pm slot. From two very different perspectives, the brothers take on the most confounding criminal cases. Although their father, Alan (Judd Hirsch), is pleased to see his sons working together, he fears their competitive nature will lead to trouble. Charlie's colleague, physicist Dr. Larry Fleinhardt (Peter MacNicol), urges Charlie to focus more on his university studies than on FBI business. Inspired by actual events, NUMB3RS depicts how the confluence of police work and mathematics provides unexpected revelations and answers to the most perplexing criminal questions. · Co-starred as Miles in Henry Jaglom's "Going Shopping" with Victoria Foyt, Lee Grant and Bruce Davison [click here to see trailer – you must have Real Player installed]
Other stage performances include leading roles in Chaim Potok's musical adaptation of The Chosen, Michael Bennett's Scandal, Soulful Scream of the Chosen Son, The Boys of Winter, and Slam.
Rob’s other interests: · Morrow was a co-founder of the Naked Angels theatre company in NYC as well as its offshoot the New York Stage and Film Company where he developed his first short film, "The Silent Alarm" (1993).
· In 1994, Rob opened the healthy, dairy-free Josie's Restaurant and Juice Bar with his childhood friend and chef, Louis Lanza, in the Upper West Side of New York City. Much like the hot spots of Cicely, Alaska, Josie's accommodates a range of possibilities and personalities (e.g., meat-lovers can enjoy a meal with a macrobiotic, dairy-free friend -- or foe) in a colorful and harmonious atmosphere ('50s retro with a slick '90s edge). Josie's lovingly caters to the health-nut, but forget about bland granola and soymilk -- the menu features a mouth-watering palette of treats from ginger-grilled calamari to three-grain veggie burgers, dairy-free wild mushroom ravioli, and organic wine. Cook along with the former doc, as Rob Morrow shares his favorite selections from Josie's and some recipes soon to be featured in Louis Lanza's new cook book, Totally Dairy-Free Cooking. Don't worry, just because you're cooking fancy food, we won't think you're a descendent of French aristocracy. [Josie's Restaurant and Juice Bar is located at 300 Amsterdam Avenue (74th Street), New York, NY 10023.]
· Rob is on the Board of Directors of Project ALS. Co-founded by Jenifer Estess, who was diagnosed with ALS in 1997, Project ALS is committed to funding the research necessary for finding effective treatments and a cure for people living with ALS, a fatal neuromuscular disease.
Other Tidbits: · Two years into Northern Exposure Morrow threatened to quit if he wasn't given a substantial pay hike; but when September rolled around, Morrow was back as Dr. Fleischman. The following is quoted from an article ‘Morrow stung by contract “Exposure”’ by Greg Braxton in the LA Times on 27 July, 1992:
News stories reported that he was seeking to increase his salary of about $20,000 per episode to $45,000 and that he staged a 12-day strike when his demands were not met. Universal filed a breach-of-contract suit against him, and rumors that he might be replaced began circulating. Saying he was stung by the "erroneous" reports, Morrow made a house call to Los Angeles late last week from the show's Washington state location to counter the perception that he was greedy and unappreciative about a show that turned him from a struggling unknown into a star. He also said he received support from his co-stars and that the dispute has not resulted in any tension on the set. "I would say about 75% of what was reported was erroneous in terms of figures and requests," Morrow said as he munched a pepper-laden salad near the pool of the St. James Club in West Hollywood. "I mean, I didn't miss one single day of work. Not a minute. I was characterized as someone who was not grateful or was biting the hand, which was so off the mark. There were many extenuating circumstances." Morrow and officials for Universal and CBS have refused to discuss specifics of the settlement, or how much of a raise Morrow received, but Morrow said all parties are pleased. But when asked if he had been prepared to leave the show if no agreement could be reached, Morrow paused. "I don't know if I should talk about it," he said quietly. He said that he never told the studio he would walk out but that "the inference that I was very serious was there. I guess that was implied through my attorneys." In Morrow's case, the situation was difficult for producers and the studios because of the nature of the show. When the series started out, it was largely about Fleischman and his "fish-out-of-water" predicament. But it has evolved into more of an ensemble drama, although Morrow remained an important part of the ensemble. "If Rob had not reported back to work, it would have created production problems," said co-executive producer Joshua Brand. "I was distressed professionally and personally. I do think the series could have survived without Rob, just as it would survive without me or other people here. It's not a single-lead show. But I wasn't hoping to find out if I was right or wrong." As he discussed his dispute, Morrow seemed to have left his days as a struggling New York-based actor far behind him. He also appeared to be the complete opposite of Fleischman. His outfit, from his small-brimmed fedora to his intricate leather sandals, was black. His left ear was adorned with two earrings--one dangling, one a diamond stud. Only a few years ago, Morrow probably would not have been seen inside the swanky St. James Club. His biggest credits before "Northern Exposure" were a Johnny Depp film, "Private Resort," and a role in the 1988-89 NBC series "Tattingers." He was so deeply in debt and unable to make ends meet as an actor, but agreed to lower his asking price when he was offered "Northern Exposure." He said he made a long-term commitment because of his belief in the series. Explaining why he took such a hard line soon after the turning point of his career, he said, "You have to look at the whole history of television, you have to look at the nature of a television contract, what the life of an actor is like as far as the uncertainty. You have to look at where I was when I made the contract." In addition, he said, he is so closely identified by the public with Fleischman that he may have difficulty getting work for a while after the series came to an end. Most of all, Morrow insisted, he he felt he had to renegotiate a contract that he considered something of a "Faustian pact" that he made when he was first offered the show, which premiered in 1990. "Everyone entered into the show the sense of taking a personal risk," Morrow said. "I believe in that. I really strongly believe in sacrifice and in being a team player. If you believe in something and it hits, you get rewarded in the back end. If it doesn't, that's life." He added, "This wasn't a case of an actor saying, 'I'm a big star now, the show's a hit, give me whatever I want.' It was not about that. I just wanted to be brought up to at least the low side of someone who does what I do. I'm nowhere near the excessive level. Not even close." He argued that his salary should not be considered out of context from the rest of his career. "If you amortize what I've made over the last 11 years, the figure is not all that impressive," Morrow said. "Plus now I have agents, I have publicists, I have accountants. I have, like, a company. That's easily 20% off the top." Morrow noted that he still receives less that many television stars. "There are performers who get $100,000 to $600,000 per episode, and they work less of workweek than I do." Mark Linn-Baker and Bronson Pinchot of ABC's "Perfect Strangers" make about $70,000 per episode. Ted Danson of NBC's "Cheers" reportedly makes about $250,000 per episode. In 1985, it was reported that Gavin MacLeod was making about $58,000 an episode for "The Love Boat" while John Forsythe of "Dynasty" was making roughly $62,500 per episode. At the high end, Tom Selleck was making about $200,000 for an episode of "Magnum, P.I." Morrow is just the latest in a long line of celebrities who became stars in a successful series and then demanded more money. Michael Chiklis, star of ABC's "The Commish," was also threatening to walk off his show if his salary were not raised. He reportedly withdrew his demand when officials threatened to take the show off the air. Brand said that he spoke to Morrow briefly only when it looked as though there would be an impasse in the bitter dispute. "I just wanted to tell him that whatever happened, I thought it would be hurtful for the show," Brand said. "But I told him, not as a producer, but as a friend, that I thought it would be unfortunate for him, and that several years from now, he would question whether he was happy that he left the show." So far, the controversy does not seem to have affected the atmosphere on the set between cast members, Brand said. Janine Turner, who portrays Maggie, an independent bush pilot who is reluctantly attracted to Fleishman, said, "I feel that Rob and I have a respectful and rewarding relationship together.... We all have a lovely ensemble family bond and chemistry. I would hate to see that messed up. As far as I'm concerned, this will not strain things." Morrow said that he didn't sense misgivings on the first day of shooting. "I think people are supportive. I think we're all in the same boat up here. They benefited from me taking a stand." Right now, Morrow just wants the episode to blow over. "I'm just someone who loves to act; I hope people like my work. I feel really fortunate to be making a living at what I chose, and I hope that's how people think of me."
· In his spare time Rob he enjoys his long-time hobby of photography and has developed a new and unlikely obsession, golf, a sport he grudgingly learned in order to realistically portray the golf-obsessed Dr. Joel Fleischman. During the run of Northern Exposure, Morrow shot many behind-the-scenes photographs and published them in Northern Exposures, Morrow shares some of his favorite photos perfectly capture the surreal quality of this imaginative show and, along with the introduction and warm and personal reminiscences Rob has written, Northern Exposure offers a unique mix of real life and make believe that fans will love.
· There was a scene in Northern Exposure where the men of Cicely, in an annual ritual, greet the spring thaw with a joyful, naked run through the streets. Apparently Rob actually did do that scene in the buff! The following quote comes from Barry Corbin’s official website (Barry played Maurice in Northern Exposure)
"I was wearing pants," Corbin recalls. "I took my shirt off, wore my shoes and trousers, and they were shooting from the stomach up. It was the last shot before lunch. Then we broke for lunch and all hell broke loose. I was over putting my shirt on and I heard someone screaming but didn't pay attention. Then when I had my tray for lunch, I saw the police there. I think there was one or two of the actors that ran naked," including Morrow, as it turned out. "Some of them thought, 'That's narrow minded, they wanna arrest us.' I said 'No, it's not: they woulda arrested us in Los Angeles just the same!'
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FAST FACTS
· Rob has a scar on the left side of his face (near his mouth). [Unfortunately I don’t know the story behind it]
· When he’s not working Rob wears 2 earrings (usually blue studs) in his left ear.
· Rob has a tattoo on his ankle. Apparently it is a symbol for Achilles and looks like a shell. (As far as I know it’s never appeared in any photos, so I can’t show you what it looks like.)
· On 15 June 2005 Rob won the celebrity “Golden” dad award for being such a great dad to his daughter, Tu.
· In his youth Rob shared a cheap apartment with two other young aspiring actors including Toby Parker, brother of Sarah Jessica Parker.
· His mother thought he was gay because he waited so long to get married. However Rob feels he got married at the perfect time (he was quoted as saying that if he were a minute younger he wouldn’t have been ready and if he were a minute older he wouldn’t have had the energy for his daughter).
· Rob has a habit of biting his lower lip (see pic on left with his wife). He does it a lot in “Numb3rs”. (Personally I find it very sexy ;) )
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