Morgan attended Trinity School, Riverview Military Academy1 and graduated from Columbia University with a law degree. However, after almost two years' practicing, he abandoned the world of jurisprudence2 for the vocation of journeyman actor, having already appeared in Columbia's annual Varsity Show. In 1905, billed as Raphael Kuhner Wupperman, he appeared in The Khan of Kathan, that year's variety show.3
His first role on the stage came in The Bachelor in 1909 and, in 1913, he joined the Summer stock cast at Denver's Elitch Theatre.4 Later he played John Marvin in the 1918 hit play, Lightnin' . Morgan made his debut in silent films in 1915, appearing in several productions made on the East Coast. In the early talkie era, he played such leading roles in such productions as Strange Interlude in 1932 and Rasputin and the Empress also in 1932.
A member of Equity in his younger days, Morgan was a founding member of the Screen Actors Guild. He would serve as its president twice.5
One of his roles was in the 1942 serial Gang Busters, in which he played a brilliant surgeon turned master criminal. Morgan later worked in both radio and television, frequently in religious dramas filmed for Family Theater.
Morgan has a star in the Motion Pictures section of the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1617 Vine Street. It was dedicated February 8, 1960. The Screen Actors Guild honored Morgan by naming an award after him that is awarded by the L.A. Local Honors and Tributes Committee each year, with the inscription stating, "Devotion to the cause of actors, courage to fight for the right and sacrifice of self for others."67
Morgan died on June 11, 1956, aged 72, of a lung ailment.89
"Ralph Morgan, Veteran Actor, Dies At Age 72". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. June 12, 1956. Retrieved March 24, 2016. https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19560612&id=BTEeAAAAIBAJ&pg=4562,1972012&hl=en ↩
Henderson, Jessie (January 22, 1933). "True Actors Can't Quit Job, Says Morgan". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Utah, Ogden. The Ogden Standard-Examiner. p. 26. Retrieved March 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4715202/the_ogden_standardexaminer/ ↩
"The Columbia Show". New-York Tribune. New York, New York City. The New York Tribune. March 14, 1905. p. 7. Retrieved March 23, 2016 – via Newspapers.com. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4715085/newyork_tribune/ ↩
Lawrence., Dier, Caroline (1932). The Lady of the Gardens, Mary Elitch Long. Hollycrofters, Inc. p. 124. OCLC 610573509.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) http://worldcat.org/oclc/610573509 ↩
https://www.sagaftra.org/ralph-morgan https://www.sagaftra.org/ralph-morgan ↩
"Frank Morgan". Hollywood Walk of Fame. Retrieved March 24, 2016. http://www.walkoffame.com/ralph-morgan ↩
https://www.sagaftra.org/recognizing-service-ralph-morgan-award https://www.sagaftra.org/recognizing-service-ralph-morgan-award ↩
"RALPH MORGAN, 72, ACTOR, DIES HERE; Stage and Screen Performer Was Seen in 'Rasputin' Film and in 'Strange Interlude'". The New York Times. June 13, 1956. https://www.nytimes.com/1956/06/13/archives/ralph-morgan-72-actor-dies-here-stage-and-screen-performer-was-seen.html ↩