Garrett Morris on ‘Saturday Night Live’ Dec. 9, 1978; Lamorne Morris in Santa Monica, California, on Jan. 14, 2024.Photo:NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Alberto Rodriguez/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images; Alberto Rodriguez/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Lamorne Morrishas some big shoes to fill — but he’s ready.
At the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles on Sunday, originalSaturday Night Livecast memberGarrett Morristold PEOPLE about the advice he gaveNew Girlalum Lamorne (no relation) about playing him in the upcomingSNLfilm, titled1975.
“We talked about it. He has to be a guy who’s dealing with some young people,” said Garrett, 87, who was one of the honorees at the Sunday evening event. “When I was inside in that life, I was 39 years old and the rest [of the cast], they had just come out of high school and college.”
“The Black thing is you take longer to do what the younger White people do, and you usually have to do it two or three times as good,” he continued, adding of his conversation with the “wonderful” Lamorne, 40, “We talked about that and he already told me he’s going to play it like that — an older Black guy who’s dealing with these younger guys. I said, ‘Wow, man.’ "
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.
Garrett Morris at the American Black Film Festival Honors in Los Angeles on March 3, 2024.Leon Bennett/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Leon Bennett/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
Asked about his early days as a player onSNL, Garrett told PEOPLE that what he remembers most is “fighting to get somebody to write for me,” adding that “it was very hard” and “took me a long time to get a couple of people to actually write for me.”
“Chevy Chasedid, a guy named Alan Zweibel did,” he continued. “But it took a little time to make that happen, because some of the writers were — strangely enough, in the show that was advanced and most people got it on the racial level, some of the writers were not as progressive as they should be.”
Of being honored at Sunday’s event, Garrett said he feels “full” and that it’s “great that the ABFF has done this for me.”
“And the fact that I’m on stage withJeffrey Wright,Taraji Hensonand[Mara Brock] Akil. People have watched their careers, so I’m just happy to be here,” he added.
Garrett Morris being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles on Feb. 1, 2024.John Salangsang/Shutterstock
John Salangsang/Shutterstock
Garrett was honored with astar on the Hollywood Walk of Fameon Feb. 1 — his 87th birthday! — and joked to PEOPLE at the ceremony that despite not receiving the honor until he was 87 years old, “Whenever it comes is all right. I’m grateful.”
“Michael B. Jordancould play me,” Garrett joked before the casting news was announced.
Nearly 50 years after he rose to fame onSNL, Garrett told PEOPLE he’s nothing but grateful for everything, and hopes to tell his full story in an autobiography.
“I’m working on it now,” he said, adding, “There’s a lot more to talk about!”
source: people.com
