Morrow was born in the Bronx, (New York) to a middle class Jewish family, the son of Jean (née Kress) and Harry Morrow, an electric engineer. When he was 17, Morrow dropped out of high school and joined the U.S. Navy. While on active duty he finished his high school requirements and upon his discharge he attended Florida Southern University 1948 and 1949 where he first studied law and switched to theatre.