| Birth Name: | Louis A. Morelli |
| Birth Date: | May 26, 1929 |
| Birth Place: | Highland Park, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Yearsactive: | 1960 - 1962 |
| Parents: | Catherine De Angelis Angelo Morell |
Trax Colton (born Louis A. Morelli; May 26, 1929) is an American former motion picture actor who appeared in two films as a contract player for 20th Century Fox between 1960 and 1962.[1]
Colton was born on May 26, 1929, in Highland Park, New Jersey, to Catherine De Angelis and Angelo Morelli, both of Italy. He had a sister, Martha Morelli.[2] He was working as a used car salesman when he was discovered by Henry Willson, a Hollywood talent agent who had discovered Rock Hudson, Tab Hunter, Clint Walker, and Rory Calhoun, who changed his name to Trax Colton.[3]
Colton signed an exclusive contract with 20th Century Fox in 1960 and was given a small part in the film adaptation of The Marriage-Go-Round (1961), starring Susan Hayward and James Mason. Soon thereafter, he was given a lead role in It Happened in Athens, a comedy plotting the adventures surrounding a winner at the first modern Olympic games in 1896. He played Spiridon Loues, a Greek shepherd who enters the Olympics as a runner. It co-starred sex symbol Jayne Mansfield, whom Colton had a brief affair with during filming.[4] [5] After the picture wrapped, Hollywood columnist Mike Connolly said in a 1961 column that Colton was Fox Studios' new "combination Rudolph Valentino - Ty Power".[6] In March 1961 Dorothy Kilgallen wrote that "his only other screen credit to date was a tiny role in Marriage-Go-Round but the female reaction around the nation was enough to give him a bigger chance" and speculated that Colton "may be our next matinee idol".
In November 1961, he screen tested for a film entitled Celebration for the part of a man who convinces Joanne Woodward to perform in a pornographic film.[7] Celebration had been the film's working title, it was eventually produced in 1963 as The Stripper with Robert Webber in the role.[8]
It Happened in Athens was released in 1962, but by that time, Colton had been released from his studio contract and stopped making movies.[1]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | The Marriage-Go-Round | Crew Cut / Party Guest | ||
| 1962 | It Happened in Athens | Spiridon Loues | (final film role) |
