Gary Morton

Gary Morton, born Morton Gary Goldaper on December 19, 1924, in New York City, was an American stand-up comedian, Broadway performer, and television producer. The son of Morris Goldaper and Rose Greenfeder Goldaper, he grew up in the Bronx and had one sister, Helen. He died on March 30, 1999, of lung cancer in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 74.

Morton built his early career as a stand-up comedian working the hotels and resorts of the Borscht Belt in upstate New York. In 1956, he appeared on Broadway in the musical Mr. Wonderful, a credit that placed him among the performers of that production during its run. His work in nightclub and resort comedy kept him occupied primarily in the evenings, a schedule he later noted had prevented him from watching the television series I Love Lucy during its original run.

Morton's first marriage was to actress Susan Morrow on December 17,1953. The couple separated in August 1954, and the marriage was annulled in Los Angeles on July 11, 1957. In 1960, he met Lucille Ball in New York City, several months before she opened on Broadway in the musical Wildcat. The two married on November 19, 1961, at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City, with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale officiating. Morton, who was 13 years younger than Ball, signed a prenuptial agreement ahead of the wedding.

Following their marriage, Morton became closely involved in the management of Ball's career. During Ball's tenure as head of Desilu Productions, Morton and his brother-in-law Fred Ball served on the studio's board of directors. Morton's role at Desilu drew scrutiny from several quarters, including from Herbert F. Solow and Robert H. Justman, who documented their dealings with him during the production of the original Star Trek television series in their 1996 book Inside Star Trek: The Real Story. Producer Grant Tinker also offered recollections of Morton's time at the studio. A particular point of criticism was Morton's authorization of a three-quarter-scale replica of a European-styled street on the studio lot, which, according to Desilu and Paramount financial records cited by Solow and Justman, was never used for any television or theatrical production before being demolished in 1977.

After Gulf+Western acquired Desilu in 1967, Morton assisted Ball in establishing Lucille Ball Productions, which gave her greater independence in television production. He served as executive producer of Ball's series Here's Lucy, which ran from 1968 to 1974, and as co-executive producer of her 1986 series Life with Lucy. In addition to his producing responsibilities, Morton warmed up studio audiences before Ball's appearances and took on occasional bit parts in her television series. He also appeared in films, including a role as the fictional Borscht Belt comedian Sherman Hart in the 1974 film Lenny. On February 15, 1983, Ball and Morton entered a film and television partnership with 20th Century-Fox, under which Fox provided Ball access to theatrical films, plays, made-for-television movies, a mini-series format, and a sitcom.

Morton remained married to Ball until her death in 1989. In 1996, he married Susie McAllister.