Gary Morton (born Morton Gary 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, the son of Morris Goldaper and Rose Greenfeder Goldaper, and had a sister, Helen. Later, he was a producer and studio executive, in association with his second wife, Lucille Ball.
Personal life
Morton married actress Susan Morrow on December 17, 1953. They separated in August 1954 and the marriage was annulled in Los Angeles on July 11, 1957.
In 1960, Morton met Lucille Ball in New York City a few months before she opened on Broadway in the musical Wildcat. Morton said he was always busy working nights and had therefore not seen the popular series I Love Lucy. They were married on November 19, 1961, at the Marble Collegiate Church in New York City by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale.
Morton was married to Ball until her death in 1989. In 1996, Morton married Susie McAllister. On March 30, 1999, he died of lung cancer at the age of 74 in Palm Springs, California.