Peter Morton

Peter Morton (born August 7, 1947) is an American businessman. He is the co-founder of the Hard Rock Café (along with Isaac Tigrett) and a chain of casual dining restaurants.

Peter Morton
Morton in 2011
Born (1947-08-07) August 7, 1947
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of Denver
OccupationBusinessman
Known forCo-founder of the Hard Rock Café
Spouse(s)Paulene Stone (1980–1989)
Tarlton Pauley (1990–1997)
Children3, including Harry Morton
Parent(s)Arnie Morton

Early life and education

Morton is the son of Arnie Morton, founder of the Morton's Steakhouse chain, and his first wife.[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.

Community Involvement

Morton is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA)[4] and sits on the board of trustees for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).[5] After Morton made a donation to UCLA, the building at 200 UCLA Medical Plaza was renamed the Peter Morton Medical Building.[6]

Personal life

His first wife was Paulene Stone, the former wife of actor Laurence Harvey[7] and later wife of actor Mark Burns. They had one son, Harry Morton (1981–2019), the founder of Pink Taco restaurants.[8] 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 1989.

In 1990, he married Tarlton Pauley (1962–2017); they had two children, Matthew Morton, and Grace Morton, before divorcing in 1997.[9][10]

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References
  1. 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
  2. "HPHS Jewish 'Fame and Fortune' Alumni" (PDF). Chicago Jewish Historical Society. Fall 2007.
  3. University of Denver Alumni Relations Bulletin: "Daniels Lunch and Learn with Peter Morton" March 1, 2013
  4. "The Museum of Contemporary Art Board of Trustees". Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  5. "About NRDC: Board of Trustees". Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  6. Moster, Roxanne (November 20, 2003). "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). Archived from the original on October 16, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  7. The Guardian: "The man who feeds Hollywood" March 8, 2003
  8. Pasquini, Maria (November 24, 2019). "Restaurateur Harry Morton, 38, Found Dead in Beverly Hills Home by Younger Brother". People.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  9. Christensen, Kim (January 10, 2007). "Hard Rock founder is sued by ex-wife". Los Angeles Times.
  10. "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.
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