How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying - Cast

Robert Morse(1931-)

Robert Morse was born in Newton, Massachusetts in 1931. He began his professional acting career at the age of 18 when he got his first part in the Broadway play, "On the Town." He did not receive attention, however, until 1955 with his performance in the Broadway version of "The Matchmaker." Three years later, Morse received his first of five Tony nominations for his performance as a Supporting Actor in a Drama in "Say, Darling."

Although Morse began his career as a dramatic actor, his next three Tony nominations were for musicals - 1959 for "Take Me Along," 1961 for "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying" (winner of award) and 1973 for "Sugar." In 1990, Morse returned to Broadway in a drama and he won his second Tony award for his performance as Truman Capote in "Tru." Two years later, he recreated the role for PBS' American Playhouse and he was awarded the Emmy award for his performance.

Morse appeared in his first movie, "The Proud and Profane," in 1956 but it was his repeat of his role in the movie version of "The Matchmaker" in 1958 that received acclaim. Morse made five more films from 1963 to 1967. He then recreated his Tony award winning performance as J. Pierpont Finch in the movie version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying." Morse's film career ended after he made three additional films from 1967 to 1970.

Morse has appeared frequently on television, including having his own short-lived, one season series, "That's Life," in 1968. From 1954 to 2008, Morse appeared on television series, daytime soap operas and made-for-TV movies.

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Michelle Lee(1942-)

Michelle Lee Dusick, the daughter of a prominent Hollywood makeup artist, was born in Los Angeles, California in 1942. She began acting for her friends and family while still a young child. By junior high school, she was appearing in school plays and singing at school assemblies.

Lee continued singing in high school and she became the lead singer with her high school band. Her singing talent led to her first role on Broadway in "Vintage '60" shortly after graduating from high school.

After high school, Lee had a small part in "Bravo Giovanni," also on Broadway. Her first real break came, however, at the age of 19 when she took over the female lead role in the Broadway production of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying."

Lee did not appear in films until she recreated the role of Rosemary in the movie version of "How to Succeed" in 1967. The following year, she appeared in the highly successful movie, "The Love Bug." Lee appeared in only two more films - "The Comic" in 1969 and "Along Came Polly," twenty-five years later in 2004.

Lee's greatest successes have been on television. Although her first role was in a 1961 episode of "Dobie Gillis," she only began appearing frequently on television after 1969. She appeared on TV series, variety shows, game shows, and made-for-TV movies, but it was her recurring role as Karen on "Knot's Landing" that gave Lee steady employment from 1979 to 1993.

Lee returned to Broadway twice after "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying." In 1973, she appeared in the musical play, "Seesaw," and she received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Her last Broadway appearance was in 2000 in "Tale of the Allergist's Wife."

Official website: www.michelleleeonline.com

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Rudy Vallee(1901-1986)

Hubert Prior Vallee, born in Vermont in 1901, started his musical career when he was in high school and he learned to play the saxophone and drums. After high school, he became a clarinet and saxophone player in bands in New England. In 1924, he moved to London to play for two years in the "Savoy Havanna Band."

Vallee returned to the US in 1925 to attend Yale University and study philosophy. While at Yale, he started his own band, "Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut Yankees."

Vallee, to expand his career, took singing lessons and, in 1928, he received a recording contract and, at the same time, started singing on the radio. He became very popular, especially with women. Vallee continued performing on radio throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He had his own successful radio program, "The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour."

Vallee made his film debut in 1929 with "The Vagabond Lover." From 1926 to 1949, he appeared in 26 films. Vallee made only seven additional movies after 1949, with his last film, "Proprietor," in 1975.

In addition to radio, movies and some Broadway roles, including J. B. Biggley in the original stage version of "How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying," Vallee occasionally appeared on television in variety shows and series.

Official website: www.rudyvallee.com

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