The last year has been filled with a great deal of bad news when it comes to famous folks passing away, and we now have yet another tragedy to face. Actor Robert Michael Morris has died. The Comeback star was 77 years old at his time of passing.
Robert Michael Morris is best known for his role as Mickey Dean on both seasons of HBO's The Comeback, where he played lovable hairdresser and reliable friend Mickey Deane. He crafted a dynamic with leading lady Lisa Kudrow that was positively delightful from beginning to end, appearing with her in both the original 13-episode first season in 2005 and the 8-episode revival in 2014. Kudrow has been open about a willingness to return for yet another season; if The Comeback does return, Valerie Cherish will sadly be without her pal Mickey. Deadline reports that Morris' cause of death has not yet been released to the public.
He began his career as an actor when he became a member of the Catholic University Repertory Company. Rather than pursuing stardom, Robert Michael Morris chose to become a theater teacher, imparting his knowledge on students in colleges and high schools across the country. Eventually, he moved to New York City to try his hand at professional acting, appearing in commercials and off-Broadway shows.
His big break into showbiz actually came as a result of his efforts as a teacher. Former student Michael Patrick King -- who has since become an Emmy-winning TV creator, writer, and director -- reached out to his teacher with a role in the first season of The Comeback. The role was written by King and Lisa Kudrow specifically with Robert Michael Morris in mind, so it's not a huge surprise that he was such a fit for the role of Mickey. In the wake of Morris' death, King has said that he "was an inspiration to write for and be around." For her part, Kudrow shared a message about what Morris meant to her on Twitter, posting this:
For a man who only entered the showbiz game in 2005, Robert Michael Morris seems to have made quite an impression on those around him. After making his TV show debut with The Comeback, Morris went on to guest star in a number of major comedies, including Will & Grace, Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, and Running Wilde. His last TV appearance before his passing was in a 2016 episode of The Middle.
If you're now in the mood to see Robert Michael Morris in action as Mickey, the first season of The Comeback is currently available streaming for Amazon Prime members. We here at CinemaBlend send our thoughts and condolences out to his family, friends, and loved ones in the wake of his death.
