Know Your LGBT History - Christopher Morley, the crossdressing assassin

Christopher Morley is an actor who specialized in crossdressing roles in the 70s and 80s.

To me, two performances come to mind. One I thoroughly enjoyed while the other one was kind of mean-spirited


Magnum P.I. was a popular 80s television show about a detective living in Hawaii. It made Tom Selleck a television legend. And some of the episodes were original such as this one from the second season, The Jororo Kill.

In it, Magnum is trying to stop an international assassin from completing his mission. This assassin, masterly portrayed by Morley, specializes in female impersonation.

Why am I not insulted by this episode? Simply because Morley's character isn't stereotypical. He is a cold blooded killer driven because he is a master at what he does:





In contrast, the killer he played in motion picture Freebie and the Bean (1974) is probably remembered for his death scene. Yes he was evil but was it necessary for him to be shot so many times? But at least his karate moves were cool:




Past Know Your LGBT History postings:
 
Know Your LGBT History - Midnight Cowboy

Know Your LGBT History - Dracula's Daughter

Know Your LGBT History - Blacula

Know Your LGBT History - 3 Strikes

Know Your LGBT History - Paris Is Burning

Know Your LGBT History - The Women

Know your LGBT History - Soul Plane

Know Your LGBT History - The Player's Club

Special Know Your LGBT History - Fame

Know Your LGBT History - Welcome Home, Bobby

Know Your LGBT History - Barney Miller

Know your lgbt history - The Jerry Springer Show

Know your lgbt history - Martin Lawrence and that 'gay guy' on his show

Know your lgbt history - The Ricki Lake Show

Know your lgbt history - Which Way Is Up

Know your lgbt history - Gays in Primetime Soaps

Know your lgbt history - Boys Beware

Know your lgbt history - The Boondocks

Know your lgbt history - Mannequin

Know your lgbt history - The Warriors

Know Your LGBT History - New York Undercover

Know Your LGBT History - Low Down Dirty Shame

Know Your LGBT History - Fortune and Men's Eyes

Know your lgbt history - California Suite

Know your lgbt history - Taxi (Elaine's Strange Triangle)

Know your lgbt history - Come Back Charleston Blue

Know your lgbt history - James Bond goes gay

Know your lgbt history - Windows

Know your lgbt history - To Wong Foo and Priscilla

Know your lgbt history - Blazing Saddles

Know your lgbt history - Sanford and Son

Know your lgbt history - In Living Color

Know your lgbt history - Cleopatra Jones and her lesbian drug lords

Know your lgbt history - Norman, Is That You?

Know your lgbt history - The 'Exotic' Adrian Street

Know your lgbt history - The Choirboys

Know your lgbt history - Eddie Murphy

Know your lgbt history - The Killing of Sister George

Know your lgbt history - Hanna-Barbera cartoons pushes the 'gay agenda

'Know your lgbt history - Cruising

Know your lgbt history - Foxy Brown and Cleopatra Jones

Know your lgbt history - I Got Da Hook Up

Know your lgbt history - Fright Night

Know your lgbt history - Flowers of Evil

The Jeffersons and the transgender community