LOS ANGELES—On Feb. 1, his 87th birthday, Garrett Morris, television icon and trailblazer in the entertainment industry, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Mr. Morris was one of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live, and its first Black cast member. He also held starring or recurring roles in the television sitcoms The Jeffersons, The Jamie Foxx Show and, more recently, 2 Broke Girls. Over the span of his acting career, he has appeared in over 60 television roles and 40 films.
Mr. Morris first encountered Nam-myoho-renge-kyo in the 1970s at the introduction of his friend and fellow actor Art Evans and his wife, Babe. After taking up Buddhism in earnest in 2001, he transformed many aspects of his life, including overcoming addiction and establishing a rhythm of “positivity, self-control and happiness” through chanting morning and evening. His experience ran in the March 10, 2023, World Tribune.
Today, Mr. Morris continues to act, and, originally a trained musician, often performs in Los Angeles, where he shares with audiences about Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and his mentor in life, Ikeda Sensei. He actively engages in his local SGI-USA district, where he frequently brings young people he’s introducing to Buddhism. For those around him, Mr. Morris continues to serve as a model of perseverance and actual proof of the power of faith.
—Prepared by the World Tribune staff
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