Black Hollywood Icon Garrett Morris To Be Honored With Star On The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

A treasure in Black Hollywood in Garrett Morris is set to be commemorated by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

According to Vibe, the ceremony is set for 11:30 a.m. Thursday, which happens to be the man’s 87th birthday.

“Garrett Morris is a true entertainment icon and is ready for Prime Time on the Walk of Fame!” Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in a statement. The guest speakers will be director-producer Oz Scott and actress Tichina Arnold amid the celebration.

While Morris is well known for being in sitcoms like The Wayans Bros and Martin, he started as a Juilliard-trained artist and performed with Harry Belafonte Singers for a decade while also branching out into acting. He also has appearances in Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, which include Porgy and Bess, Show Boat, Aint’ Supposed to Die a Natural Death, and The Great White Hope.

He was also in The Jamie Foxx Show, The Jeffersons, Scandal, All of Us, Grand Crew, Self-Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker, and most recently, 2 Broke Girls and he was also one of the original Saturday Night Live stars.

Additionally, in the segment News for the Hard of Hearing, Morris’ spot-on, hilarious impersonations of Id Amin, James Brown, Sammy Davis, Jr. Bob Marley and Muhammad Ali made him very well-known to generations of viewers.

Also, the New Orleans native is an activist who was instrumental in desegregating the Actor’s Equity. He’s also part of the Black Arts Theater movement with poet-playwright Amiri Baraka.

An owner and operator of the Los Angeles Blues and Comedy Club, Morris was previously recognized in 2007 by former mayor of L.A. Antonio Villaraigosa for his contributions to the Black community.

Garrett first broke on the big screen in the 1970s thanks to small roles in Carol Reiner’s Where’s Oppa? and Sidney Lumet’s The Anderson Tapes., according to Walkthefame. Other credits were Jackpot, Connecting Dots, The Salon, Frank, Cooley High, Who’s Your Caddy?, Comeback, Bedreidden, Sonney Dreamweaver, Pickin’ & Grinnin’, Valley Of The Sun, Pawn Shop, and Marvel’s Ant-Man.