Jeffrey Dean Morgan | |
|---|---|
 Morgan at the 2019San Diego Comic-Con | |
| Born | (1966-04-22)April 22, 1966 (age 59) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Spouses | |
| Partner | Mary-Louise Parker (2006–2008) |
| Children | 2 |
Jeffrey Dean Morgan (born April 22, 1966[1]) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the characterNegan in theAMC horror drama seriesThe Walking Dead (2016–2022) and itsspin-offThe Walking Dead: Dead City (2023–present), for both of which he has received critical acclaim. He has also appeared in television roles such asJohn Winchester inthe CW fantasy horror seriesSupernatural (2005–2008; 2019), Denny Duquette in theABC medical drama seriesGrey's Anatomy (2006–2009), Jason Crouse in theCBS political drama seriesThe Good Wife (2015–2016), Joe Kessler in theAmazon Prime Video adult superhero series'The Boys (2024–present), andConquest inInvincible (2025–present), as well as film roles including William Gallagher inP.S. I Love You (2007),the Comedian in the superhero filmWatchmen (2009), Clay inThe Losers (2010), Sgt. Maj Andrew Tanner inRed Dawn (2012), and Agent Harvey Russell inRampage (2018). He also starred as a pivotal character in the History Channel's miniseries about the war with Mexico for the creation of Texas,Texas Rising (2015).
Morgan was born inRenton, Washington, to Sandy Thomas and Richard Dean Morgan.[2]
Morgan grew up inKirkland, Washington, and attendedBen Franklin Elementary School,[3] where he participated in his first theatre experience.[4] He also attendedRose Hill Junior High.[3]
In 1984, Morgan graduated fromLake Washington High School,[5] where he was captain of the basketball team.[6]
Morgan briefly attended[when?]Skagit Valley College to pursue a career in basketball.[5][7] Following a leg injury that ended his hope of becoming a professional player, he left school[when?] to pursue his other interests such as painting and writing.[4]
While living in Seattle, Morgan sold paintings and completed his first acting roles,Uncaged (1991) andTo Cross the Rubicon (1991), the latter with his roommate, actorBilly Burke.[4]
Several years later,[when?] while helping a friend move from Seattle toLos Angeles, intending only to stay for a weekend, he decided to live there permanently to pursue acting: "I fell into acting, found out I had a little talent, and pursued it."[2][3]
Starting withUncaged (1991), Morgan has appeared in over 25 feature films. However, the bulk of his work has been in television. He was a major character in the 1996–97 television seriesThe Burning Zone, appearing in eleven of its nineteen episodes.
In 2005 and 2006, Morgan simultaneously appeared in three television series: in theCW seriesSupernatural asJohn Winchester, in a recurring role on ABC'sGrey's Anatomy as heart transplant patient Denny Duquette, and as Judah Botwin in two episodes of theShowtime seriesWeeds. He has also guest-starred in a number of television series, includingER,JAG,Walker, Texas Ranger,Angel,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,Sliders,The O.C. andMonk. In 2007, Morgan was cast in a proposed project byGrey's Anatomy creatorShonda Rhimes. The series, tentatively titled "Correspondents", was to have started production in summer 2007.ABC instead picked up a spin-off ofGrey's Anatomy, calledPrivate Practice, that was also created by Rhimes. As a result, "Correspondents" was shelved.
In 2007, Morgan starred in the filmThe Accidental Husband, which finished filming in March 2007 and was released on DVD in 2009.
Jeffrey starred in the thrillerThe Resident in 2011. He also appeared in the drama filmDays of Wrath in 2008.
In 2009, Morgan portrayedThe Comedian, a cigar-chomping antihero inWatchmen, based onAlan Moore's graphic novel.[8] In the same year, Morgan appeared inTaking Woodstock, and played Clay in a comic book film adaptation ofThe Losers. He also played Jeb Turnbull in the DC comic book filmJonah Hex.
Morgan appeared in the crime thrillerTexas Killing Fields as a homicide detective in 2011.[9] The following year, Morgan starred in the television drama seriesMagic City, which centered on mob life in 1950sMiami. The same year, Morgan starred in the horror-thrillerThe Possession, and had a supporting role in the war filmRed Dawn.
In 2014, Morgan played Charlie Peters, the owner of the Cake House, in the season finale ofShameless.
In November 2014, Morgan was cast asJoe DiMaggio oppositeKelli Garner asMarilyn Monroe inThe Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe, a Lifetime four-hour miniseries based on J. Randy Taraborrelli's book of the same name.[10]
In 2015, Morgan portrayedDeaf Smith inTexas Rising, a five-part mini-series which aired on theHistory Channel. Also in 2015, Morgan became a regular cast member for season 2 of theCBS sci-fi dramaExtant. He appeared in an uncredited role inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, as Bruce Wayne's father,Thomas Wayne.
In 2015, Morgan took on the role of freelance investigator Jason Crouse, oppositeJulianna Margulies, in theCBS TV seriesThe Good Wife, until that series concluded in the spring of 2016. That year Morgan began his most noted role to date, asNegan on theAMC TV seriesThe Walking Dead. He made his first appearance in thesixth-season finale on April 3, 2016, serving as the primary antagonist of the seventh and eighth seasons and later an anti-hero since the ninth season. He later lent his voice to the character when he was added as DLC in the fighting gameTekken 7.[11] In 2015, he had a lead role inJonás Cuarón's thriller filmDesierto.[12]
On May 28, 2017, Morgan drove the 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport Pace Car to lead the starting field of the 101st Indianapolis 500.[13] In September, Morgan appeared in a commercial for the online gameEvony.
Morgan was 5th billed in the Dwayne Johnson filmRampage, released in April 2018.
Morgan reprised his role as John Winchester in the thirteenth episode of thefourteenth season ofSupernatural, which was also the 300th episode of the series.[14] It aired on February 7, 2019.
In August 2022, Morgan was cast in thefourth season ofThe Boys; while initially reported to be a recurring role,[15] on the season's release in 2024, Morgan was credited as a main cast member, portraying "Joe Kessler", a hallucination/alter ego ofBilly Butcher.[16]
In 2025, Morgan hosted the reality showDestination X.[17]
From 1992 to 2003, Morgan was married to actress Anya Longwell.[18]
In 2007, Morgan was briefly engaged to his formerWeeds co-starMary-Louise Parker;[19] their engagement ended in April 2008.[20]
In 2009, actress and producerSherrie Rose toldUs Weekly that she had a son with Morgan, born circa 2004–2005. Morgan has not confirmed this.[21]
In 2009, Morgan started a relationship with actressHilarie Burton after being set up on a blind date through hisSupernatural co-starJensen Ackles and Ackles's wife,Danneel, with whom Burton co-starred onOne Tree Hill. The couple's son was born on March 14, 2010.[22][23] On February 16, 2018, eight years later, Morgan and Burton's daughter was born .[24]
On October 5, 2019, Morgan and Burton were married,[25] although many had erroneously speculated they had already been married since 2014.[25][26][27] The wedding was officiated by Ackles.[28]
Morgan and Burton have made their home inRhinebeck inDutchess County,New York, on a 100-acre (40-hectare) working farm in the Hudson Valley withcows,ducks,chickens,alpacas,donkeys, and anemu.[29]
Since 2014, Morgan and Burton have been co-owners (along with Morgan's friend, actorPaul Rudd) of Samuel's Sweet Shop, aRhinebeckcandy store they saved from being closed after the previous owner, a friend of theirs, died suddenly.[30]
In 2019, Morgan purchased an apartment in theNoHo neighborhood of Lower Manhattan in New York City.[31]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Uncaged | Sharkey | |
| To Cross the Rubicon | Rod | ||
| 1995 | Dillinger and Capone | Jack Bennett | |
| Undercover Heat | Ramone | ||
| 1996 | In the Blink of an Eye | Jessie | Television film |
| 1997 | Legal Deceit | Todd Hunter | |
| 1999 | Road Kill | Bobby | |
| 2003 | Something More | Daniel | Short film |
| 2004 | Dead & Breakfast | The Sheriff | |
| Six: The Mark Unleashed | Tom Newman | Direct-to-DVD | |
| 2005 | Chasing Ghosts | Det. Cole Davies | Direct-to-DVD |
| 2006 | Jam | Dale | Television film |
| 2007 | Live! | Rick | |
| Kabluey | Brad | ||
| Fred Claus | Unnamed man getting parking ticket | Cameo | |
| P.S. I Love You | William Gallagher | ||
| 2008 | The Accidental Husband | Patrick Sullivan | Direct-to-DVD |
| Days of Wrath | Bryan Gordon | ||
| 2009 | Watchmen | Edward Blake / Comedian | |
| Taking Woodstock | Dan | ||
| 2010 | Shanghai | Connor | |
| The Losers | Clay | ||
| Jonah Hex | Jeb Turnbull | Uncredited | |
| 2011 | The Resident | Max | |
| Peace, Love & Misunderstanding | Jude | ||
| Texas Killing Fields | Brian Heigh | ||
| The Courier | The Courier | Direct-to-VOD, also executive producer[32] | |
| 2012 | The Possession | Clyde Brenek | |
| Red Dawn | Sgt. Maj. Andrew Tanner | ||
| 2014 | The Salvation | Henry Delarue | |
| They Came Together | Frank | ||
| 2015 | Solace | Joe Merriwether | |
| Heist | Luke Vaughn | Direct-to-VOD | |
| Guns for Hire | Bruce | ||
| Desierto | Sam | ||
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Thomas Wayne | Uncredited |
| 2018 | Rampage | Harvey Russell | |
| 2020 | The Postcard Killings | Jacob Kanon | Also executive producer[33] |
| Walkaway Joe | Cal McCarthy | ||
| 2021 | The Unholy | Gerry Fenn | |
| 2022 | The Integrity of Joseph Chambers | Police Chief | |
| Fall | James Conner | ||
| 2024 | Bloody Axe Wound | Butch Slater | Also producer[34] |
| 2025 | Neighborhood Watch | Ed Deerman |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Extreme | Jack Hawkins | 2 episodes |
| JAG | Weapons Officer | Episode: "Shadow" | |
| 1996 | Sliders | Sid | Episode: "El Sid" |
| 1996–1997 | The Burning Zone | Dr. Edward Marcase | Main cast |
| 2000 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Jake Hobart | Episode: "Child of Hope" |
| 2001 | ER | Firefighter Larkin | Episode: "The Crossing" |
| 2002 | The Practice | Daniel Glenn | Episode:The Test" |
| JAG | CIA Technician Wally | 2 episodes | |
| Angel | Sam Ryan | Episode: "Provider" | |
| The Division | Father William Natali | Episode: "Forgive Me, Father" | |
| 2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Undercover Agent #1 | Episode: "All for Our Country" |
| Star Trek: Enterprise | Damron | Episode: "Carpenter Street" | |
| 2004 | The Handler | Mike | 2 episodes |
| Tru Calling | Geoffrey Pine | Episode: "Two Pair" | |
| Monk | Steven Leight | Episode: "Mr. Monk Takes Manhattan" | |
| 2005 | The O.C. | Joe Zukowski | Episode: "The Accomplice" |
| Weeds | Judah Botwin | 2 episodes | |
| 2005–2008; 2019 | Supernatural | John Winchester /Azazel | Recurring; 13 episodes |
| 2006–2009 | Grey's Anatomy | Denny Duquette | Recurring (seasons 2–3, 5); 23 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Magic City | Ike Evans | Main role |
| 2014 | Shameless | Charlie Peters | Episode: "Lazarus" |
| 2015 | The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe | Joe DiMaggio | Miniseries |
| Texas Rising | "Deaf" Smith | Miniseries | |
| Extant | James Daniel "JD" Richter | Main role | |
| 2015–2016 | The Good Wife | Jason Crouse | Main role (season 7)[35] |
| 2016–2022 | The Walking Dead | Negan | Special guest star (season 6), main cast (seasons 7–11); 64 episodes |
| 2017 | Robot Chicken | Voice; Episode: "The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking" | |
| 2017–2019 | Ride with Norman Reedus | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Friday Night in with the Morgans | 6 episodes, also executive producer | |
| 2021 | The Walking Dead: Origins | Episode: "Negan's Story" | |
| 2022 | Leopard Skin | LaSalle | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2023–present | The Walking Dead: Dead City | Negan | Main role; also executive producer |
| 2024–present | The Boys | Joe Kessler /Billy Butcher[16] | Main cast (Season 4–5); 6 episodes |
| 2025–present | Invincible | Conquest | Voice; 2 episodes |
| 2025 | Big City Greens | Wolf Fang | Voice; Episode: "Evil Family" |
| Destination X | Himself | Host |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Tekken 7 | Negan | Downloadable content |
Kessler/Butcher:"I killedEzekiel for you. I am inside of you. I am you. Which is why when I tell you you want to do this, I amliterally telling you that you fucking want to do this. So don't you worry, Billy my boy. Daddy's home.
