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- Gary Morton (born Morton Goldaper; December 19, 1924 – March 30, 1999) was an American stand-up comedian whose primary venues were hotels and resorts of the Borscht Belt in upstate New York. He was born in New York City. Later, he was a producer and studio executive, in association with his second wife, Lucille Ball.
Morton married actress Susan Morrow on December 17, 1953. In August 1954, they separated and finally on July 11, 1957, his marriage to Morrow was annulled in Los Angeles.
In 1960, Morton met Lucille Ball in New York City a few months before she opened on Broadway in the musical Wildcat.[1][2] Morton claimed he was always busy working nights, so had not seen the beloved series I Love Lucy. They were married on November 19, 1961 at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City.[1] Morton signed a prenuptial agreement to stifle rumors that he was a gold digger. Morton was 13 years younger than Lucille Ball.
Morton became closely involved in the management of his wife's career, from the time of their marriage in 1961 throughout the remainder of her career. During Ball's solo years as the titular head of Desilu Productions, Morton and his brother-in-law, Fred Ball, served on the studio's board of directors in various capacities.
In 1996, Morton married Susie McAllister. On March 30, 1999, he died of lung cancer at the age of 74 in Palm Springs, California.
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