He had eight siblings. Two of his sisters became professional dancers, and a brother, Wolfe Morris, became a character actor. His niece Shona Morris, Wolfe's daughter, also became an actress.
He attended Portsmouth Municipal College, and regularly took part in the Portsmouth Guildhall annual festival of music and drama. He won a scholarship to study at Rada in London.
His professional debut was in "The Winter's Tale", in the junior role of Clown, at the Regent's Park theater in May 1944. His West End debut was in "Fly Away Peter", a family comedy at the King's theater, Hammersmith, in May 1947.