Morgan Conway
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Morgan Conway (March 16, 1903 in Newark, New Jersey โ November 16, 1981 in Livingston, New Jersey) was an American actor, best known for his portrayals of Dick Tracy. Born Sydney Conway, he was educated at Columbia University in New York City. He arrived in Hollywood just in time to get on the ground floor of the industry's burgeoning labor movement. Conway was one of the founding members of the Screen Actors Guild. His first film appearance was in the 1934 film Looking for Trouble. For many years he freelanced, working for various studios in bits or supporting roles. His most familiar appearance from this period is probably in Charlie Chan in Reno (1939). By the mid-1940s he was a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures, and he was chosen to portray Chester Gould's comic-strip detective Dick Tracy in a pair of feature films: Dick Tracy and Dick Tracy vs. Cueball. RKO's earliest publicity photos posed Conway in profile, hoping to emulate Gould's square-jawed caricatures. Although this screen Tracy didn't resemble the print Tracy physically, Conway's dramatic interpretation was faithful; he gave the role an understated, businesslike quality totally in keeping with a police procedural. Morgan Conway is considered by many (including Dick Tracy writer Max Allan Collins) to be the best screen Dick Tracy. Morgan/Sydney Conway left the motion picture industry and returned to New Jersey, where he died of lung cancer at the age of 78.
Known For
Credits
- 2023 ยทDick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms Inas Dick Tracy (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 1946 ยทVacation in Renoas Joe
- 1946 ยทDick Tracy vs. Cueballas Dick Tracy
- 1946 ยทBadman's Territoryas Captain William 'Bill' Hampton
- 1946 ยทThe Truth About Murderas Lester Ashton
- 1945 ยทDick Tracyas Dick Tracy
- 1943 ยทJack Londonas Richard Harding Davis
- 1943 ยทCanyon Cityas Craig Morgan
- 1943 ยทTornadoas Gary Linden
- 1942 ยทBells of Capistranoas Stag Johnson
- 1942 ยทA Desperate Chance for Ellery Queenas Ray Stafford
- 1940 ยทMillionaires in Prisonas James Brent
- 1940 ยทA Fugitive from Justiceas 'Julie' Alexander
- 1940 ยทBrother Orchidas Philadelphia Powell
- 1940 ยทThe Saint Takes Overas Sam Reese
- 1940 ยทFlorianas Kingston
- 1939 ยทPrivate Detectiveas Nat Flavin
- 1939 ยทSued for Libelas Albert Pomeroy
- 1939 ยทTelevision Spyas Carl Venner
- 1939 ยทThe Spellbinderas Mr. Carrington
- 1939 ยทGrand Jury Secretsas Thomas Reedy
- 1939 ยทCharlie Chan in Renoas George Bentley
- 1939 ยทSecret Service of the Airas Henchman Ed Powell
- 1939 ยทWings of the Navyas Tommy - Duty Officer
- 1939 ยทBlackwell's Islandas Steve Cardigan
- 1939 ยทNorth of Shanghaias Bob Laird
- 1939 ยทOff the Recordas Lou Baronette
- 1938 ยทIllegal Trafficas State's Attorney Ryan
- 1938 ยทCrime Ringas Ray Taylor
- 1938 ยทSinners in Paradiseas Harrison Brand
- 1938 ยทThe Nurse from Brooklynas Inspector Donohue
- 1934 ยทHappy Landingas Frank Harland
- 1934 ยทLooking for Troubleas Dan Sutter