Desmond Morris died on 20 April, according to his son Jason Morris. The zoologist, author, artist, and television presenter was born on 24 January 1928 in Purton, near Swindon. He studied zoology at Birmingham University, which provided the academic foundation for his diverse professional pursuits.
Morris became the curator of mammals at London Zoo, according to major media reports. His television career included hosting the ITV programme Zoo Time until 1959, where he scripted and hosted around 500 episodes. He later presented the BBC Two programme Life in the Animal World, expanding his role in natural history broadcasting.
He was a great man and an even better father and grandfather, who lived a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity.
Beyond his scientific and media work, Morris was a surrealist painter who exhibited his work worldwide alongside artists such as Joan Miró. He was a key figure in the 1950s British Surrealist movement, according to major media reports, integrating his artistic vision with his zoological background. In his later years, Morris lived in Ireland since his wife Ramona died in 2018.
According to major media reports, he was still writing and painting right up until his death. Jason Morris described his father as a great man and an even better father and grandfather, who lived a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity, according to BBC News - Entertainment. According to Daily Mail - News, Jason Morris similarly emphasized his father's enduring creativity, noting he remained active in writing and painting until his death.
His was a lifetime of exploration, curiosity and creativity. A zoologist, manwatcher, author and artist, he was still writing and painting right up until his death. He was a great man and an even better father and grandfather.
The exact cause of Desmond Morris's death has not been disclosed, and the specific location in Ireland where he died remains unclear. It is also unknown whether he had any other surviving family members besides his son Jason. Details about his later career projects or unpublished works have not been made public.