As plain-looking as his name, James Morrison was nevertheless one of America's first screen stars. With some experience in vaudeville and stock companies, in 1912 Morrison became one of the Vitagraph company's first matinee idols, starring in countless one and two-reel melodramas and remaining with the company for six years. He returned to Vitagraph often as a freelance actor as well, appearing for the company as late as 1924, when he played Jeremy Pitt in Captain Blood. He retired from the screen the following year.