Lamorne Morris grew up idolizing the first Black ‘SNL’ star. Now, he’s playing him in a movie.

Fresh off an Emmy win, Lamorne Morris talks about playing one of his comedy idols — who happens to share his last name — in a new film about "Saturday Night Live."

Growing up, Lamorne Morris enjoyed Garrett Morris’ performances as Martin’s boss on “Martin” and as Uncle Junior on “The Jamie Foxx Show.” His only knowledge of the trailblazer at the time was that they shared the same last name.

“When I was a kid, I used to tell people he was my dad,” he told NBC News.

He launched his own comedy career at Second City, considered a “Saturday Night Live” training ground, in his native Chicago. There, Morris, who grew up watching the Will Ferrell-Tina Fey era of the pop culture staple, learned that Garrett Morris was an original cast member on the series. Morris did the expected and tried out for the show.

“I auditioned for ‘SNL’ and did not get it. But here we are full circle,” he said, referencing his role as the man with whom he shares a last name in the new film “Saturday Night.”

Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris in "Saturday Night."Sony Pictures EntertainmentJason Reitman’s film isn’t a sweeping biopic of the show currently in its 50th season. Instead, it centers on the behind-the-scenes chaos that almost prevented creator Lorne Michaels’ iconic sketch-comedy variety series from making its debut in 1975.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/lamorne-morris-saturday-night-live-garrett-morris-rcna173537

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