Joe Morton | |
|---|---|
 Morton in 2019 | |
| Born | Joseph Thomas Morton Jr. (1947-10-18)October 18, 1947 (age 78) |
| Alma mater | Hofstra University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
Joseph Thomas Morton Jr. (born October 18, 1947) is an American actor. Known as acharacter actor for his numerous roles on stage, television and film, he has received several awards including aPrimetime Emmy Award as well as a nomination for aTony Award.
He has collaborated with film directorJohn Sayles three times, acting in his filmsThe Brother from Another Planet (1984),City of Hope (1991) andLone Star (1996). Other films he has appeared in include...And Justice for All (1979),Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991),Of Mice and Men (1992),Speed (1994),Apt Pupil (1998),Blues Brothers 2000 (1998),What Lies Beneath (2000),Ali (2001),Paycheck (2003),Stealth (2005),American Gangster (2007),Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016),Justice League (2017), andZack Snyder's Justice League (2021).[1]
His television work includes his role as Eli Pope, Olivia Pope's father, inScandal, for which he won thePrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2014,[2] and the role ofHenry Deacon on the TV seriesEureka.
On stage, Morton made hisBroadway debut inTwo Gentlemen of Verona (1971). He received a nomination for theTony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in the musicalRaisin (1973). He made hisWest End debut portrayingColin Powell in theDavid Hare playStuff Happens (2004).
Morton was born inHarlem, New York City, the son of Evelyn, a secretary, and Joseph Thomas Morton Sr., a U.S. Army intelligence officer.[3][4] Because of his father's military service, he spent parts of his childhood in West Germany andOkinawa.[5] When Morton was 10 years old, his father died.[6] Morton was raisedCatholic and attended a Catholic military school for a time. He was an altar boy and considered becoming a priest.[7][8] Morton graduated fromAndrew Jackson High School[9] and studied drama atHofstra University.[10]
Morton made hisBroadway debut inHair, appeared inSalvation, and was nominated for aTony Award forRaisin. He has appeared in over 70 films, includingJohn Sayles'The Brother from Another Planet (as The Brother),Terminator 2: Judgment Day (asDr. Miles Bennett Dyson) andBlues Brothers 2000 (as Cabel "Cab" Chamberlain, as the son of Curtis, played byCab Calloway). He also played Police Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon, inSpeed. On daytime, Morton has had roles onSearch for Tomorrow (1973–74),Another World (1983–84), andAll My Children (2002).[11] In 2002, he appeared on the London stage in the playArt.
Morton has made many notable TV guest appearances, including his appearances asDr. Steven Hamilton in the first two seasons ofSmallville. He starred in theSanford and Sonspin-offGrady (1975–76),M*A*S*H* (battalion aid surgeon Capt. Nick Saunders, 1976),Under One Roof (1995) andE-Ring (2005). He portrayed the jack-of-all-trades scientistHenry Deacon as a regular onSyfy Channel'sEureka (2006–12). Morton played the role of Eli Pope on the hit dramaScandal, a role for which he received thePrimetime Emmy Award forOutstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[11]
In 2016, Morton portrayed the activist and comedianDick Gregory in the playTurn Me Loose at theWestside Theatre in Manhattan.[12] Morton portrayed Dr.Silas Stone, father ofVictor Stone/Cyborg, in a cameo role in the 2016 filmBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, part of theDC Extended Universe. He reprised the character in the filmJustice League (2017) and more extensively inits director's cut.[13]
From 2018 to 2020, Morton co-starred as Reverend Arthur Finer in the CBS seriesGod Friended Me.[14] Morton directed three episodes ofGod Friended Me, and has directing credits for four other TV series.[11]
A few years before filmingTerminator 2, Morton was injured in a car accident and suffered a punctured lung. His performance was inspired by the injury, after he demonstrated its effects to James Cameron, who decided to include it in the movie.[15]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Between the Lines | Ahmed | |
| 1978 | Lawman Without a Gun | Louis | Television film |
| 1979 | ...And Justice for All | Prison Doctor | |
| 1980 | Death Penalty | William Terry | Television film |
| 1981 | We're Fighting Back | Elgin Jones | |
| 1982 | The Clairvoyant | Detective Rich | |
| 1983 | Curse of the Pink Panther | Charlie | |
| 1984 | A Good Sport | - | Television film |
| The Brother from Another Planet | The Brother | ||
| 1985 | Trouble in Mind | Solo | |
| 1986 | Crossroads | Scratch's assistant | |
| 1987 | Stranded | Sheriff McMahon | |
| 1988 | Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami | Tandy | Television film |
| Alone in the Neon Jungle | Ken Fraker | ||
| Zelly and Me | Earl | ||
| The Good Mother | Frank Williams | ||
| Police Story: Burnout | Sgt. Jeff Allen | Television film | |
| 1989 | Tap | Nicky | |
| Howard Beach: Making The Case for Murder | Cedric Sandiford | Television film | |
| 1990 | Challenger | Dr.Ronald McNair | |
| The Lost Platoon | World War II Soldier | ||
| 1991 | City of Hope | Wynn | |
| Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson | ||
| 1992 | Legacy of Lies | Samuel Flowers | Television film |
| Of Mice and Men | Crooks | ||
| Forever Young | Cameron | ||
| 1994 | The Inkwell | Kenny Tate | |
| Speed | Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon | ||
| 1995 | In the Shadow of Evil | Lt. Royce | Television film |
| The Walking Dead | Sergeant Barkley | ||
| 1996 | Lone Star | Delmore Payne | |
| Executive Decision | Sergeant Campbell "Cappy" Matheny | ||
| Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance | Gordon Thomas | Television film | |
| 1997 | The Pest | Mr. Kent | |
| Miss Evers' Boys | Dr. Sam Brodus | Television film | |
| Speed 2: Cruise Control | Captain Herb "Mac" McMahon | ||
| Trouble on the Corner | Detective Bill | ||
| 1998 | Blues Brothers 2000 | Cabel Chamberlain | |
| Apt Pupil | Dan Richler | ||
| When It Clicks | Cato Caldwell Douglass | Short | |
| 1999 | Mutiny | Thurgood Marshall | Television film |
| The Astronaut's Wife | Sherman Reese | ||
| Y2K | Martin Lowell | Television film | |
| 2000 | What Lies Beneath | Dr. Drayton | |
| Ali: An American Hero | Malcolm X | Television film | |
| Bounce | Jim Weller | ||
| 2001 | Ali | Chauncey Eskridge | |
| 2002 | Dragonfly | Hugh Campbell | |
| The Fritz Pollard Story | Host | Television film | |
| 2003 | Jasper, Texas | Walter Diggles | |
| Crossing | Uncle Stan | Short | |
| Thoughtcrimes | John Harper | Television film | |
| Paycheck | Agent Dodge | ||
| 2004 | Breaking Dawn | Professor Simon | |
| 2005 | Gone But Not Forgotten | Reggie Stewart | Television film |
| Back in the Day | Rev. James Packer | ||
| Stealth | Dick Marshfield | ||
| Lenny the Wonder Dog | Dr. Island | ||
| 2006 | The Night Listener | Ashe | |
| 2007 | American Gangster | Charlie Williams | |
| Badland | Max Astin | ||
| 2008 | Wherever You Are | Dr. Livingston | |
| 2009 | La Linea | Hodges | |
| 2010 | The Mulberry Tree | Samuel R. Freeman | |
| 2013 | Home | Donald Hall | |
| 2015 | Cleveland Abduction | Agent Solano | Television film |
| 2016 | Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | Silas Stone | Cameo |
| All the Way | Roy Wilkins | Television film | |
| 2017 | Justice League | Silas Stone | |
| 2019 | Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Houston Brooks | |
| A Million Eyes | Fern | Short | |
| 2020 | Trinity's Triumph[16] | Monsignor Heck | |
| 2021 | Zack Snyder's Justice League | Silas Stone | Director's cut ofJustice League |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Bracken's World | Yule Buford | Episode: "Love It or Leave It, Change It or Lose It" |
| Mission: Impossible | Clerk | Episode: "Hunted" | |
| 1973–1974 | Search for Tomorrow | Dr. James Foster | Main role |
| 1975 | Sanford and Son | Hal Marshall | Episode: "The Family Man" |
| 1975–1976 | Grady | Hal Marshall | Main role |
| 1976 | M*A*S*H | Captain Saunders | Episode: "Der Tag" |
| What's Happening!! | Department Store Manager | Episode: "The Birthday Present" | |
| 1978 | Watch Your Mouth | Raymond Geeter | Main role |
| 1979 | Guiding Light | Dan Stennis | Episode: "Episode #1.8295" |
| 1983 | American Playhouse | Carl Hatch | Recurring: season 2 |
| Another World | Dr. Abel Marsh | Main role | |
| 1985 | Miami Vice | Lt. Jack Davis | Episode: "The Maze" |
| 1986 | Who's the Boss? | Limo Driver | Episode: "Mona's Limo" |
| 1987 | The Equalizer | Slate | Episode: "Re-Entry" |
| 1989 | The Equalizer | Carter Brock | 3 episodes
|
| 1989 | A Man Called Hawk | Rev. Marvin Lewis | Episode: "Choice of Chance" |
| One Life to Live | Judge Romero | Episode: "Episode dated 22 May 1989" | |
| 1990–1991 | Equal Justice | Mike James | Main role |
| 1992 | Law & Order | Roland Books | Episode: "Conspiracy" |
| A Different World | Byron Douglas III | Recurring: season 5 | |
| 1993 | TriBeCa | Carlton Thomas | Main role |
| 1994 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Sam Thorn | 2 episodes |
| New York Undercover | Dean/Dinah | Episode: "Blondes Have More Fun" | |
| 1995 | Under One Roof | Ron Langston | Main role |
| New York News | Mitch Cotter | Episode: "Fun City" | |
| 1996 | Nova | Narrator | Episode: "Shark Attack!" |
| Touched by an Angel | Jake Stone | Episode: "Jacob's Ladder" | |
| 1997 | Prince Street | Lieutenant Tom Warner | Main role |
| 1998 | Dellaventura | Councilman Caulder | Episode: "David & Goliath" |
| 1998–1999 | Mercy Point | Dr. Grote Maxwell | Main role |
| 2000 | The X-Files | Martin Wells | Episode: "Redrum" |
| 2000–2005 | Law & Order | Leon Chiles | Recurring: seasons 10 & 11, 14 & 15 |
| 2001–2002 | Smallville | Steven Hamilton | Recurring: season 1; guest: season 2 |
| 2002 | All My Children | Zeke McMillan | Episode: "#1.8387" |
| The Practice | U.S. Attorney | Episode: "Fire Proof" | |
| Touched by an Angel | Martin | Episode: "The Impossible Dream" | |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ray Bevins | Episode: "Grief" |
| 2004 | Whoopi | Martin James | Episode: "Sins of the Sister" |
| The Jury | James Byron Milton | Episode: "Last Rites" | |
| 2005 | House | Senator Gary H. Wright | Episode: "Role Model" |
| JAG | Elroy Johnson | Episode: "Unknown Soldier" | |
| CSI: NY | Chief Dwight Hillborne | 2 episodes | |
| 2005–2006 | E-Ring | Steve Algazi | Recurring |
| 2006–2012 | Eureka | Henry Deacon | Main role |
| 2007 | Numbers | Reporter | Episode: "Graphic" |
| 2008 | Boston Legal | Attorney Steve Duprey | Episode: "Indecent Proposals" |
| 2009 | Great Performances | Eugene Bullard | Episode: "Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story" |
| Warehouse 13 | Reverend John Hill | Episode: "Regrets" | |
| Brothers & Sisters | Peter Madsen | 2 episodes | |
| 2009–2011 | The Good Wife | Daniel Golden | Recurring: season 1; guest: season 3 |
| 2010 | White Collar | Kyle Bancroft | Episode: "Prisoner's Dilemma" |
| 2012 | Coma | Dr. Nelson | Episode: "Part One & Two" |
| 2013–2018 | Scandal | Eli Rowan Pope | Recurring: seasons 2–4, main: seasons 5–7 |
| 2015 | Proof | Dr. Charles Richmond | Main role |
| 2015–2016 | Grace and Frankie | Jason | 2 episodes |
| 2018–2020 | God Friended Me | Rev. Arthur Finer | Main role |
| 2019–2020 | The Politician | Marcus | Guest: season 1; recurring: season 2 |
| 2021–2022 | Our Kind of People | Teddy Franklin | Main role |
| 2025–present | Going Dutch | General Davidson | Series regular[17] |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Two Gentlemen of Verona | Valentine (replacement) | St. James Theatre, Broadway | [18] |
| 1973 | Tricks | Arlecchino | Alvin Theatre, Broadway | [19] |
| Raisin | Walter Lee Younger | 46th Street Theater, Broadway | [20] | |
| 1981 | Oh, Brother! | Eastern Habim | ANTA Theater, Broadway | [21] |
| 1986 | Honky Tonk Nights | Barney Walker | Biltmore Theatre, Broadway | [22] |
| 1998 | Art | Serge (replacement) | Royale Theatre, Broadway | [23] |
| 2004 | Stuff Happens | Colin Powell | National Theater, London | [24] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The Water Dancer | Narrator | |
| 2021 | Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye | Ringmaster | |
| 2024 | Worst Case Scenario | Narrator | Authored byT. J. Newman |
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Musical | Raisin | Nominated |
| Theatre World Award | Honoree | |||
| 1991 | Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Terminator 2: Judgment Day | Nominated |
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | American Gangster | Nominated |
| 2014 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Scandal | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Won | ||
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Won | ||
| 2015 | Won | |||
| 2016 | Won | |||
| 2017 | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards | Lead Performance in a Play[25] | Turn Me Loose | Won |
| 2020 | Audie Award | Literary Fiction and Classics[26] | The Water Dancer | Won |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Academics | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |