Morley Lorne Torgov (December 3, 1927 – July 19, 2026) was a Canadian novelist, humorist and lawyer. He had a 70 year career in law as a partner in the Toronto-firm Olch Torgov and Cohen LLP.
Life and career Torgov was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on December 3, 1927, the only child of Allen and Sarah Jane Torgov.
He wrote for The Sault Daily Star as a columnist and reporter from 1941 to 1946. Torgov has credited his experience writing for the newspaper with helping him learn to write creatively.
He studied law at Osgoode Hall in Toronto, becoming a lawyer in 1954. He practised real estate and corporate law for 70 years as a senior partner in the Toronto-based legal firm Olch Torgov and Cohen.
Torgov wrote and published eight books. His first, A Good Place To Come From, a collection of short stories based on his experiences and Jewish up-bringing in depression-era Sault Ste. Marie was published in 1974. The book was made into a three episode TV series that aired on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in March 1980.
His 1982 novel The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick was adapted into the 1988 film of the same name.
Torgov died on July 19, 2026, at the age of 98.Award-winning Canadian humorist Morley Torgov dies at 98
Family Torgov married Anna Pearl Cohen on December 26, 1952 at Prince Arthur House in Toronto.
He was the father of actress and artist Sarah Torgov.(26 February 1979). "People", Maclean's 92 (9): 36.
Honours Torgov was twice awarded the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour for A Good Place To Come From and The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick.
In 1990, he received honorary doctor of letters degrees from Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie and Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario.
In 2015, he was named a member of the Order of Canada"Four Nova Scotians among Order of Canada honourees". The Chronicle-Herald, 1 July 2015. for his contributions to Canadian literature as a humourist and storyteller.
Awards and recognition 1975: winner, Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, A Good Place to Come From 1978: finalist, Books in Canada First Novel Award, The Abramsky Variations 1983: winner, Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour, The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick
Bibliography 1974: A Good Place to Come From (Lester and Orpen Dennys) 1977: The Abramsky Variations (Lester and Orpen Dennys) 1982: The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (Lester and Orpen Dennys) , paperback , Seal paperback 1990: St Farb's Day (Lester and Orpen Dennys) 1998: The War to End All Wars (Malcolm Lester) 2002: Stickler and Me (Raincoast) 2008: Murder in A-major (RendezVous Crime) 2012: The Mastersinger from Minsk (Dundurn)
References
External links Morley Torgov profile, The Canadian Encyclopedia; accessed 10 May 2017.