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Tony award winner and 'Mad Men' star Robert Morse dies at 90

Actor Robert Morse pictured at the Emmy Awards in 2014.
Frazer Harrison
/
Getty Images
Actor Robert Morse pictured at the Emmy Awards in 2014.

Actor Robert Morse, who started his career on Broadway and then became a 'Mad Men' star, has died at 90. The news was confirmed by Jordan Bell of the talent agency BRS/Gage, who said via email that Morse "died peacefully at home after a brief illness."

On Broadway, Morse originated the role of J. Pierrepont Finch on How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, for which he won a Tony Award. Six years later, in 1967, he starred in the film version of the same musical. Morse also won a Tony Award for his 1990 one-man show Tru, in which he played Truman Capote. He was nominated for three other Tony Awards throughout his career.

Younger audiences, however, will recognize him from the AMC TV hit Mad Men, in which he played Bertram Cooper, advertising mogul and founding partner of Sterling Cooper. The role landed him five Emmy nominations.

Larry Karaszewski, writer-producer and a vice president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expressed his condolences on Twitter. "A huge talent and a beautiful spirit. Sending love to his son Charlie & daughter Allyn. Had so much fun hanging with Bobby over the years - filming People v OJ & hosting so many screenings (How To Succeed, Loved One, That's Life)," he wrote.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Corrected: April 21, 2022 at 12:00 AM EDT
An earlier version of this story said Robert Morse's role in Mad Men was Bertman Cooper, but the correct name was Bertram Cooper.
Miranda Mazariegos
Miranda Mazariegos is NPR's 2021-2022 Reflect America Fellow. She has worked with NPR's history podcast Throughline and with Weekend All Things Considered. She is now doing a rotation with the Culture Desk.

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

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Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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