Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: April 22, 1966

Age: 57 years old

Birth Place: Seattle, Washington

After over a decade of struggling to make a name for himself, journeyman actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan finally received his due when cast in the role of Denny Duquette, heart patient and love interest to a surgical intern, on the hit television series "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ). Prior to playing the much beloved Denny, Morgan bounced around from series to series like "JAG" (NBC/CBS, 1995-2005), "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15) and "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009) while occasionally making forays into feature films. After a failed attempt at a regular role on "The Burning Zone" (UPN, 1996-97), he began to breakthrough with a recurring role as the dead husband of a widow-turned-pot dealer on the acclaimed cable series "Weeds" (Showtime, 2005-2012). By the time his character was killed on "Grey's," Morgan was poised for stardom, which included a prominent role in the highly-anticipated comic book adaptation, "Watchmen" (2009) and the spy thriller "The Losers" (2010). Finally, he was given a chance to shine as a glitzy hotel owner who makes an ill-fated deal with the mob on "Magic City" (Starz, 2012-13), which delivered Morgan his first starring turn before he returned to character work in "The Good Wife" (CBS 2009-2016) and "The Walking Dead" (AMC 2010- ).

Born on April 15, 1966, in Seattle, WA, Morgan grew up wanting to be a basketball player. He attended Ben Franklin Elementary School, Rose Hill Junior High and finally Lake Washington High School, from which he graduated in 1984. Morgan went to Skagit Valley Community College on a basketball scholarship, which ended when he injured his knee. He had his first taste of acting whole performing in musical productions like "Grease" and "West Side Story" with a local theater company. After working several odd jobs, Morgan visited a friend living in Los Angeles and decided to stay to give acting a go. He made his feature debut in "Uncaged" (1991), a low budget crime thriller about a group of prostitutes who retaliate when one of their own is killed by their pimp. Morgan commenced with a series of walk-on roles and cameo spots on various television shows and in features.

After playing a killer pimp in "Dillinger and Capone" (1995), Morgan made several guest-starring appearances on shows like "Extreme" (ABC, 1994-95), "Sliders" (Fox, 1995-2000) and "JAG" (NBC/CBS, 1995-2005). Following his first feature starring role in the little-seen psychological thriller "Legal Deceit" (1997), Morgan first gained considerable notice when he landed the regular role of Dr. Edward Marcase on "The Burning Zone (UPN, 1996-97), a short-lived action drama about a team of agents dispatched anywhere in the world to fight against biological war and bio-hazards. Morgan continued developing his craft on television, landing more guest sports on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Monk" (USA Network, 2002-09), "Angel" (The WB, 1999-2004) and "ER." By the time he was seen on the acclaimed, but quickly canceled series "The Handler" (2003-04) and "Tru Calling" (Fox, 2003-05), Morgan was ready for bigger and better things.

His chance came in 2005 when he landed a breakout guest-starring role on "Weeds," playing Judah Botwin, the dead husband who appears via old camcorder footage and fantasies, of the show's protagonist, Nancy Botwin (Mary Louise-Parker), who becomes a marijuana dealer to make ends meet. Although his first big recurring role, the part that catapulted Morgan to the next level was playing Denny Duquette, a heart patient desperately in need of a new transplant who manages to fall for intern Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) on the popular medical drama, "Grey's Anatomy." Although originally a small part designated as a love interest for Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), his onscreen chemistry with Heigl resonated with viewers, who wanted to see more of the coupling. For two seasons, "Grey's" large and devoted audience were treated to the somber affair between Izzie and Denny, which sadly ended in the 2006 season finale with the two marrying after he finally receives his transplant, only to die of a stroke just minutes later. Fans were outraged with the death; even Morgan himself pleaded with showrunner Shonda Rhimes not to kill him off, but to no avail.

Leaving the show did free Morgan up to pursue other opportunities. He moved on to play the oft missing-in-action, demon-hunting dad John Winchester, father of brothers Sam and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki) on "Supernatural"(The WB, 2005- ). Morgan's career on the big screen catapulted both during and after his stint on "Grey's," with the actor appearing in the romantic drama "P.S. I Love You" (2007), starring Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler and Lisa Kudrow. After supporting roles in "Kit Kittredge: An American Girl" (2008) and the low-budget "Kabluey" (2008), Morgan appeared in "Watchmen" (2009), the highly-anticipated comic book adaptation about a group of superhero crime fighters in an alternate 1985, trying to find the murderer of one of their own. Morgan played Edward Blake, who transforms into The Comedian, a ruthless, almost nihilistic government-sanctioned superhero who, though killed early on, is a vital part of the story. After a number of feature roles in movies like "The Losers" (2010) and "Texas Killing Fields" (2011), Morgan became the star of his own series, "Magic City" (Starz, 2012-13), on which he played the leading role of Ike Evans, the owner of a glitzy Miami hotel circa 1959, who is forced to make an ill-fated deal with a mob boss (Danny Huston) in order to save his establishment. Morgan next starred in the historical miniseries "Texas Rising" (History 2015) before joining the cast of legal drama "The Good Wife" for its final season; at the same time, Morgan became a regular cast member on cable action drama "The Walking Dead" as Negan, the leader of a band called the Saviors.

Credits

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The Walking Dead: Dead City: Cast Diaries

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The Walking Dead: Dead City: Cast Diaries

Producer
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2023

The Walking Dead: Dead CityStream

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Negan
Series
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80%

The Walking Dead: Dead CityStream

Producer
Series
2023
80%

Live with Kelly and MarkStream

Guest
Talk
2023

FallStream

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James
Movie
2022
79%

The Integrity of Joseph Chambers

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2022

The Walking Dead: Best of Carol

Actor
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Show
2021

The Walking Dead: Best of Negan

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The Walking Dead: Best of Maggie

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The Walking Dead: OriginsStream

Self
Miniseries
2021

The Walking Dead: Best of Morgan

Actor
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AMC+ Fan Experience

Actor
Show
2021

AMC+ Fan Experience

Self
Show
2021

The UnholyStream

Actor
Gerry Fenn
Movie
2021
27%

The Walking Dead: Episode Diaries

Actor
Negan
Show
2020

TWDU Extra

Actor
Show
2020

Prime Rewind: Inside The BoysStream

Guest
Talk
2020

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Host
Talk
2020

Friday Night In with The MorgansStream

Producer
Talk
2020

The Postcard Killings

Actor
Jacob Kanon
Movie
2020

Walkaway JoeStream

Actor
Cal McCarthy
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2020
40%

Access Daily

Guest
Show
2019

The Walking Dead Comic-Con 2018 Full Panel

Guest
Show
2018

Rampage

Actor
Harvey Russell
Movie
2018

The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking

Voice
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Special
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Host
Talk
2017

Harry

Guest
Talk
2016

Today's Take

Guest
Show
2016

Ride With Norman ReedusStream

Guest
Reality
2016

Ride With Norman ReedusStream

Self
Reality
2016

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Secret Life of Marilyn MonroeStream

Actor
Joe DiMaggio
Miniseries
2015

Texas RisingStream

Actor
"Deaf" Smith
Miniseries
2015
19%

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

Hot OnesStream

Guest
Reality
2015

Solace

Actor
Agent Joe Merriwether
Movie
2015

HeistStream

Actor
Vaughn
Movie
2015
30%

Desierto

Actor
Sam
Movie
2015

Guns for Hire

Actor
Bruce
Movie
2015

ExtantStream

Actor
J.D. Richter
Series
2014
77%

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonStream

Guest
Talk
2014

The Salvation

Actor
Delarue
Movie
2014

The Walking Dead: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

Magic City: Extras

Actor
Show
2012

Magic CityStream

Actor
Ike Evans
Series
2012
65%

Starz Studios

Actor
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2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

Red DawnStream

Actor
Tanner
Movie
2012

The PossessionStream

Actor
Clyde
Movie
2012

The Courier

Actor
The Courier
Movie
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Host
Talk
2011

Talking DeadStream

Guest
Talk
2011

The Chew

Guest
Talk
2011

The Resident

Actor
Max
Movie
2011

Texas Killing Fields

Actor
Brian Heigh
Movie
2011

Peace, Love & Misunderstanding

Actor
Jude
Movie
2011

ShamelessStream

Guest Star
Charlie Peters
Series
2010
82%

ConanStream

Guest
Talk
2010

The Walking DeadStream

Actor
Negan
Series
2010
79%

The Walking DeadStream

Guest
Negan
Series
2010
79%

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

ShanghaiStream

Actor
Conner
Movie
2010
4%

The Losers

Actor
Clay
Movie
2010

The Good WifeStream

Actor
Jason Crouse
Series
2009
93%

ES.TV

Guest
Show
2009

WatchmenStream

Actor
Edward Blake/The Comedian
Movie
2009
65%

Taking Woodstock

Actor
Dan
Movie
2009

Watchmen: Under the Hood

Actor
Edward Blake/The Comedian
Movie
2009

The Bonnie Hunt Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Accidental Husband

Actor
Patrick
Movie
2008

Days of Wrath

Actor
Movie
2008

P.S. I Love You

Actor
William
Movie
2007

Kabluey

Actor
Brad
Movie
2007

Live!

Actor
Rick
Movie
2007

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

Jam

Actor
Dale
Movie
2006

Made in Hollywood

Guest
Series
2005

SupernaturalStream

Actor
Series
2005
93%

SupernaturalStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
93%

ET Canada

Guest
Show
2005

WeedsStream

Guest Star
Judah Botwin
Series
2005
70%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

Grey's AnatomyStream

Host
Series
2005
84%

The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson

Guest
Talk
2005

The Insider

Guest
Show
2004

Dead & Breakfast

Actor
The Sheriff
Movie
2004

Six: The Mark Unleashed

Actor
Tom Newman
Movie
2004

Tru Calling

Guest Star
Series
2003
39%

The Handler

Guest Star
Show
2003

The O.C.Stream

Guest Star
Series
2003
68%

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

MonkStream

Guest Star
Steven Leight
Series
2002
91%

Last Call With Carson Daly

Guest
Talk
2002

Star Trek: EnterpriseStream

Guest Star
Xindi-Reptilian
Series
2001
56%

CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationStream

Guest Star
Bill Nolan
Series
2000

Road Kill

Actor
Bobby
Movie
1999

V.I.P.Stream

Guest Star
Series
1998

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

The PracticeStream

Guest Star
Series
1997

Legal Deceit

Actor
Todd Hunter
Movie
1997

The Burning Zone

Actor
Dr. Edward Marcase
Show
1996

In the Blink of an Eye

Actor
Jessie
Movie
1996

JAGStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Mystery Dance

Actor
Shay Astor
Show
1995

SlidersStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Operación Clandestina

Actor
Movie
1995

Undercover

Actor
Ramone
Movie
1995

ERStream

Guest Star
Firefighter Larkin
Series
1994

The Tonight Show With Jay Leno

Guest
Talk
1992

Angel in Red

Actor
Sharkey
Movie
1991

Uncaged

Actor
Sharkey
Movie
1991

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

News aboutJeffrey Dean Morgan

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