Versatility was comic's long suit

LOS ANGELES — Howard Morris, the diminutive comedic actor who provided memorable support for Sid Caesar on the landmark "Your Show of Shows" in the 1950s and later played rock-throwing hillbilly Ernest T. Bass on "The Andy Griffith Show," has died. He was 85.

Mr. Morris, who had heart problems in recent years, died May 21 at his home in Hollywood, said his son, David, who was with him when he died.

Mr. Morris worked as an actor, director and voice-over artist during a 60-year show-business career. He directed feature films including the comedies "With Six You Get Eggroll," starring Doris Day; "Who's Minding the Mint?," starring Jim Hutton; and "Don't Drink the Water," starring Jackie Gleason.

Mr. Morris also directed numerous television episodes, including the pilot for "Get Smart," and was a Clio award-winning director of commercials.

As a voice-over artist, he was the longtime voice of the Qantas Airlines koala. He also provided the voice of Gerald McBoing-Boing in Columbia cartoons in the '50s, and he was the voice of television's Atom Ant in "The Atom Ant Show," Beetle Bailey and General Halftrack in "Beetle Bailey and His Friends," and Jughead Jones and Big Moose Mason in "The Archie Show."

As a character actor, Mr. Morris appeared in the films "Boys' Night Out," starring Kim Novak; Jerry Lewis' "The Nutty Professor"; and Mel Brooks' "High Anxiety," "Life Stinks" and "History of the World: Part I."

Mr. Morris first came to national attention when he joined Caesar, Imogene Coca and Carl Reiner on "Your Show of Shows," the live, 90-minute comedy-variety program that ran on NBC from 1950 to 1954.

"The thing about Howie that's most interesting is the extent of his talent," Reiner said Monday, noting that Mr. Morris could do everything from slapstick to Shakespeare.

Mr. Morris landed his first job with Caesar in 1949 on "The Admiral Broadway Revue," the Caesar and Coca TV program that preceded "Your Show of Shows." Reiner gave him his first directing job — on "The Dick Van Dyke Show."

Mr. Morris was working on Broadway in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," starring Carol Channing, when he joined "Your Show of Shows" in the fall of 1951.

"He was very good at physical stuff, and he was a very nice man — no arguments," Caesar said. "He was so fast and loose that you could put him into any position. And he worked with you; he really did."

That probably never was more evident than in Mr. Morris' favorite sketch — a spoof of Ralph Edwards' "This Is Your Life," in which Caesar played the world's most reluctant surprise honoree and Reiner was the bow-tie-wearing host. Mr. Morris played Caesar's long-lost Uncle Goopy.

"The script says Uncle Goopy is desperately in love (with his nephew) and they kiss and hug," Reiner said. "Well, kissing and hugging practically became a whole sketch."

Indeed, Mr. Morris became so caught up playing the emotionally overwrought Uncle Goopy that he latched onto Caesar's leg and wouldn't let go — even as Caesar walked around. And when Reiner finally broke them apart, weeping Uncle Goopy leaped from the couch to get back on Caesar's leg.

"The decibel of laughter was the most I ever heard from a sketch," said Reiner, adding that no one knew the audience "would go nuts" over the bit.

Mr. Morris also was a regular on "Caesar's Hour," from 1954 to 1957, and he later co-starred in the "The Sid Caesar, Imogene Coca, Carl Reiner, Howard Morris Special," which won two Emmys in 1967.

Born in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1919, Mr. Morris was the son of a rubber-company executive who died of a heart attack soon after losing his job during the Depression. An only child, Mr. Morris helped support his mother, who had played organ in silent-movie theaters, where young Mr. Morris developed a flair for mimicking.

He earned a scholarship to New York University but left to serve in the Army during World War II.

After the war, he made his Broadway debut in what was known as the "GI Hamlet."

In addition to his son, the five-times divorced Morris is survived by his daughters, Gabrielle, Kim and Devra; and three grandchildren.