Career
Born in 1912 in New Orleans, Morrison fell into show business because a child actor being used for a film could not be persuaded to do anything but howl. Morrison"s father added "Sammy" to his son"s moniker. Morrison ultimately appeared in two-reel silent comedies opposite both Harold Lloyd and Snub Pollard, two of the era"s biggest comedians.
He was the first African American actor to be signed to a long-term contract, signing with comedy producer Hal Roach in 1919.
When Roach conceived his Our Gang series, featuring child actors in a natural juvenile setting, in 1921, Sammy was the first child recruited. Morrison left the series in 1924 to work in vaudeville, where his talents were featured on the same bills with such up-and-coming acts as Abbott and Costello and Jack Benny.
From the beginning, Morrison tapped into his experiences growing up on the East Side of New York to shape the character of "Scruno." He spent three years with the gang before leaving to pursue other opportunities, often doing promotional stints with Huntz Hall and Bobby Jordan. Morrison left the Kids when he was offered an opportunity to work with the Step Brothers act, a prominent black stage and film dance acting
He was drafted into the army during World World War World War II After being discharged, he was offered a part in The Bowery Boys series that was just being launched, but he declined the offer.
Morrison made mention of this in interviews, saying he "didn"t like the setup."
Morrison eventually left show business and ended up working for an aircraft-plant making parts for aircraft (or perhaps "missile work"), apparently doing very well financially. In later years, Morrison appeared in a guest spot on Good Times. Morrison died of cancer in Lynwood on July 24, 1989.
He is interred at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood California.