Peter Alan Morton (born August 7, 1947) is an American businessman. He is the co-founder of the Hard Rock Café (along with Isaac Burton Tigrett), a chain of casual dining restaurants.
Early life and education
Morton is the son of Arnie Morton, founder of the Morton's Steakhouse chain.[1] His father was of Jewish descent.[2] In 1969, he graduated from the University of Denver with a B.S.B.A. in restaurant and hotel management.[3] His twin sister is Pam Morton; and his half-brother is restaurateur and businessman Michael Morton. He was a member of the Phi Sigma Delta fraternity.
Career
Morton's first Hard Rock Cafe opened near Hyde Park Corner in London. The chain began global expansion in 1982 when Morton and his partner, Isaac Tigrett, agreed to develop their own cafes in various cities. Morton (Hard Rock America) opened Hard Rocks in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston, Las Vegas; San Diego, La Jolla, and Newport Beach, California; Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; among others. In 1995, The Rank Organisation (now The Rank Group) acquired the cafes owned by Morton, but Morton retained the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.
In May 2006, Morton sold the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to New York-based Morgans Hotel Group. The sale included the rights to the Hard Rock Hotel brand West of the Mississippi River which includes Texas, California, Australia and Vancouver, British Columbia. Morton later founded Morton's Restaurant in Los Angeles.
Personal life
His first wife was Paulene Stone, the widow of actor Laurence Harvey[4] and later wife of actor Mark Burns. They had one son, Harry Morton (1981–2019), the founder of Pink Taco restaurants.[5] His former stepdaughter with Stone was Domino Harvey, the subject of the October 2005 film Domino starring Keira Knightley and directed by Tony Scott. They divorced in 1986.
In 1990, he married Tarlton Pauley (1962–2017); they had two children, before divorcing in 1997.[6][7]
Community involvement
Morton is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA)[8] and sits on the board of trustees for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).[9] After Morton made a donation to UCLA, the building at 200 UCLA Medical Plaza was renamed the Peter Morton Medical Building.[10]
External links
References
- People: "Happy Days Are Here Again as Peter Morton Opens a Hot Spot That Makes Hollywood Hanker for the '50s" By Wanda McDaniel February 21, 2013^
- HPHS Jewish 'Fame and Fortune' Alumni Chicago Jewish Historical Society, Fall 2007^
- University of Denver Alumni Relations Bulletin: "Daniels Lunch and Learn with Peter Morton" March 1, 2013^
- The Guardian: "The man who feeds Hollywood" March 8, 2003^
- Maria Pasquini. Restaurateur Harry Morton, 38, Found Dead in Beverly Hills Home by Younger Brother People.com, November 24, 2019, retrieved November 24, 2019^
- Kim Christensen. Hard Rock founder is sued by ex-wife Los Angeles Times, January 10, 2007^
- Tarlton Pauley Morton, 55, of Beverly Hills, CA, passed away suddenly on October 26, 2017. Devoted mother of Matthew Morton, and Grace Morton. Los Angeles Times, November 22, 2017^
- The Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees retrieved June 21, 2011^
- About NRDC: Board of Trustees retrieved June 21, 2011^
- Moster, Roxanne. Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Owner Peter Morton Makes Significant Donation; 200 UCLA Medical Plaza Renamed the Peter Morton Medical Building UCLA Newsroom (University of California at Los Angeles), November 20, 2003, retrieved June 21, 2011^