Joe Morton

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Joseph Morton (correspondent) or Joseph Morton (governor).
Joe Morton
Joe Morton 2019.jpg
Morton in 2019
Born
Joseph Thomas Morton Jr.

(1947-10-18) October 18, 1947 (age 73)
Harlem, New York, U.S.
Alma materHofstra University
OccupationActor
Years active1970–present
Children3

Joseph Thomas Morton Jr. (born October 18, 1947) is an American stage, television and film actor. He has worked with film director John Sayles in The Brother from Another Planet (1984), City of Hope (1991) and Lone Star (1996). Other films he has appeared in include Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Of Mice and Men (1992), Speed (1994), Apt Pupil (1998), What Lies Beneath (2000), Ali (2001), Paycheck (2003), Stealth (2005), American Gangster (2007), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Justice League (2017), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).[1]

In 2014, Morton won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his role as Eli Pope, Olivia Pope's father, in Scandal,[2] and is known for playing the role of Henry Deacon on the popular TV series Eureka.

Early life[]

Morton was born in Harlem, 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 and Okinawa.[5] When Morton was 10 years old, his father died.[6]

Morton graduated from Andrew Jackson High School[7] and studied drama at Hofstra University.[8]

Career[]

Morton made his Broadway debut in Hair, appeared in Salvation, and was nominated for a Tony Award for Raisin. He has appeared in over 70 movies, including John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet (as The Brother), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (as Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson) and Blues Brothers 2000 (as Cabel "Cab" Chamberlain, based upon the late Cab Calloway). He also played Police Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon, in Speed. On daytime, Morton has had roles on Search for Tomorrow (Dr. James Foster, 1973–74), Another World (Dr. Abel Marsh and Leo Mars, 1983–84), and All My Children (Dr. Zeke McMillan, 2002).[9] In 2002, he appeared on the London stage in the play Art.

Morton has made many notable TV guest appearances, including his appearances as Dr. Steven Hamilton in the first two seasons of Smallville. He starred in the Sanford and Son spin-off Grady (1975–76), M*A*S*H* (battalion aid surgeon Capt. Nick Saunders, 1976), Under One Roof (1995) and E-Ring (2005). He portrayed the jack-of-all-trades scientist Henry Deacon as a regular on Syfy Channel's Eureka (2006–12). Morton played the role of Eli Pope on the hit drama Scandal, a role for which he received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.[10]

In 2016, Morton portrayed the activist and comedian Dick Gregory in the play Turn Me Loose at the Westside Theatre in Manhattan.[11] Morton portrayed Dr. Silas Stone, father of Victor Stone/Cyborg, in a cameo role in the 2016 film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, part of the DC Extended Universe. He reprised the character in the film Justice League (2017) and more extensively in its director's cut.[12]

From 2018 to 2020, Morton has co-starred as Reverend Arthur Finer in the CBS series God Friended Me.[13] Morton directed three episodes of God Friended Me, and has directing credits for four other TV series.[9]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Between the Lines Ahmed
1979 ...And Justice for All Prison Doctor
1982 The Clairvoyant Detective Rich
1983 Curse of the Pink Panther Charlie
1984 The Brother from Another Planet The Brother
1985 Trouble in Mind Solo
1986 Crossroads Scratch's assistant
1987 Stranded Sheriff McMahon
1988 The Good Mother Frank Williams
Zelly and Me Earl
1989 Tap Nicky
1990 The Lost Platoon World War II Soldier
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson
City of Hope Wynn
1992 Forever Young Cameron
Of Mice and Men Crooks
1994 Speed Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon
The Inkwell Kenny Tate
1995 The Walking Dead Sergeant Barkley
1996 Executive Decision Sergeant Campbell "Cappy" Matheny
Lone Star Delmore Payne
1997 The Pest Mr. Kent
Speed 2: Cruise Control Captain Herb "Mac" McMahon Uncredited cameo
Trouble on the Corner Detective Bill
Miss Evers' Boys Dr. Sam Brodus
1998 Blues Brothers 2000 Cabel Chamberlain
Final Act N/A Short film
Apt Pupil Dan Richler
1999 Mutiny Thurgood Marshall
The Astronaut's Wife Sherman Reese
2000 Bounce Jim Weller
What Lies Beneath Dr. Drayton
2001 Ali Chauncey Eskridge
2002 Dragonfly Hugh Campbell
2003 Thoughtcrimes John Harper
Paycheck Agent Dodge
Jasper, Texas Walter Diggles
2004 Breaking Dawn Professor Simon
Sunday on the Rocks Director
2005 Lenny the Wonder Dog Dr. Island
Back in the Day Rev. James Packer
Stealth Dick Marshfield
2006 The Night Listener Ashe
2007 American Gangster Charlie Williams
Badland Max Astin
2008 La Linea Hodges
Wherever You Are Dr. Livingston
2010 The Mulberry Tree Samuel R. Freeman
2013 Home Donald Hall
2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Silas Stone Cameo
2017 Justice League
2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters Houston Brooks
2021 Zack Snyder's Justice League Silas Stone

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1970 Mission: Impossible Clerk Episode: "Hunted"
1970 Bracken's World Yule Buford Episode: "Love It or Leave It, Change It or Lose It"
1973–1974 Search for Tomorrow James Foster Unknown episodes
1975 Sanford and Son Hal Marshall Episode: "The Family Man"
1975–1976 Grady Hal Marshall 10 episodes
1976 M*A*S*H Captain Saunders Episode: "Der Tag"
1976 What's Happening!! Department Store Manager Episode: "The Birthday Present"
1978 Watch Your Mouth Raymond Geeter 26 episodes
1978 Lawman Without a Gun Louis Television film
1979 Guiding Light Dan Stennis Episode: "8295"
1980 Death Penalty William Terry Television film
1981 We're Fighting Back Elgin Jones Television film
1983 Another World Dr. Abel Marsh Episode: "4720"
1983 American Playhouse Carl Hatch Episode: "The Files on Jill Hatch: Part 1"
1985 Miami Vice Lt. Jack Davis Episode: "The Maze"
1986 Who's the Boss? Limo Driver Episode: "Mona's Limo"
1987–1989 The Equalizer Carter Brock / Slate 4 episodes
1988 Hostile Witness Tandy Television film
1988 Alone in the Neon Jungle Ken Fraker Television film
1989 Howard Beach: Making The Case for Murder Cedric Sandiford Television film (see Howard Beach, Queens § Hate crimes)
1989 A Man Called Hawk Rev. Marvin Lewis Episode: "Choice of Chance"
1990–1991 Equal Justice Mike James 26 episodes
1990 Challenger Dr. Ronald McNair Television film
1992 Law & Order Roland Books Episode: "Conspiracy"
1992 A Different World Byron Douglas III 7 episodes
1992 Legacy of Lies Samuel Flowers Television film
1993 TriBeCa Carlton Thomas 7 episodes; directed episode: "The Loft"
1994 Homicide: Life on the Street Sam Thorn 2 episodes
1994 New York Undercover Dean/Dinah Episode: "Blondes Have More Fun"
1995 Under One Roof Ron Langston 6 episodes
1995 New York News Mitch Cotter 13 episodes
1995 In the Shadow of Evil Lt. Royce Television film
1996 Touched by an Angel Jake Stone Episode: "Jacob's Ladder"
1996 Jack Reed: Death and Vengeance Gordon Thomas Television film
1997–2000 Prince Street Lieutenant Tom Warner 6 episodes
1998 Dellaventura Councilman Caulder Episode: "David & Goliath"
1998–1999 Mercy Point Dr. Grote Maxwell 8 episodes
1999 Y2K Martin Lowell Television film
1999–2020 American Experience Narrator 13 episodes
2000–2005 Law & Order Leon Chiles 4 episodes
2000 The X-Files Martin Wells Episode: "Redrum"
2000 Ali: An American Hero Malcolm X Television film
2001–2002 Smallville Dr. Steven Hamilton 4 episodes
2002 Touched by an Angel Martin Episode: "The Impossible Dream"
2002 All My Children Zeke McMillan Episode: "#1.8387"
2002 The Practice U.S. Attorney Episode: "Fire Proof"
2003 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Ray Bevins Episode: "Grief"
2004 The Jury James Byron Milton Episode: "Last Rites"
2004 Whoopi Martin James Episode: "Sins of the Sister"
2005–2006 E-Ring Steve Algazi 9 episodes
2005 JAG Elroy Johnson Episode: "Unknown Soldier"
2005 House Gary H. Wright Episode: "Role Model"
2005 CSI: NY Dwight Hillborne 2 episodes
2006–2012 Eureka Henry Deacon 76 episodes; also directed three episodes
2007 Numbers Reporter Episode: "Graphic"
2008 Boston Legal Attorney Steve Duprey Episode: "Indecent Proposals"
2009–2011 The Good Wife Daniel Golden 11 episodes
2009 Warehouse 13 Reverend John Hill Episode: "Regrets"
2009 Brothers & Sisters Peter Madsen 2 episodes
2009 Great Performances Eugene Bullard Episode: "Harlem in Montmartre: A Paris Jazz Story"
2010 White Collar Kyle Bancroft Episode: "Prisoner's Dilemma"
2012 Coma Dr. Nelson 2 episodes
2013–2018 Scandal Eli Rowan Pope 78 episodes
2015 Proof Dr. Charles Richmond 10 episodes
2015–2016 Grace and Frankie Jason 3 episodes
2015 Cleveland Abduction Agent Solano Television film
2016 Dinner in America with Brett Gelman Himself TV special
2016 All the Way Roy Wilkins Television film
2018–2020 God Friended Me Rev. Arthur Finer Actor: 42 episodes
Director: 3 episodes
2019–2020 The Politician Marcus 4 episodes

Video games[]

Year Title Role
2003 Ghost Hunter Professor Richmond
2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Radio Commercial

Awards and nominations[]

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
NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Won
2015 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
2016 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Won
2017 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2018 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Lead Performance in a Play[14] Turn Me Loose Won
2020 Audie Award Literary Fiction and Classics[15] The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates Won

References[]

  1. ^ "Joe Morton: The Line (2008)". Yovideo. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2012.
  2. ^ Sandberg, Bryn Elise; Goldberg, Leslie. "Emmys: 'Scandal's' Joe Morton Takes Home Trophy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. ^ Vere l, Patrick (August 2012). "Joe Morton to Teach at Fordham". Fordham University. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  4. ^ "Joe Morton Biography". Yahoo Movies. Yahoo!. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  5. ^ Maykuth, Andrew. "The avenging actor". maykuth.com. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  6. ^ Sheridan, Patricia (August 17, 2015). "Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast With ... Joe Morton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  7. ^ "Joe Morton | Biography and Filmography | 1947". Hollywood.com. 26 February 2015. Archived from the original on 28 March 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
  8. ^ Greenberg, Ginny (August 21, 2014). "Alum Joe Morton Wins Emmy for Scandal". Hofstra University. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Joe Morton - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Joe Morton - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  11. ^ McCall, Tulis (31 May 2016). Carboni, Monique (ed.). "Off-Broadway Theatre Review: Turn Me Loose". New York Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on 1 July 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
  12. ^ Meslow, Scott. "Justice League's Biggest Sin: Wasting Its Great Actors". GQ.com. Condé Nast. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  13. ^ Gay, Verne. "Joe Morton talks 'God Friended Me,' 'Scandal' and dropping out of Hofstra". NewsDay.com. Newsday. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  14. ^ Carras, Christi (19 March 2018). "'Hamilton,' 'Rotterdam' Tie for Top Award From L.A. Drama Critics". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  15. ^ Maher, John (March 3, 2020). "A Buoyant 2020 Audie Awards Celebrates 'The Only Plane in the Sky,' Stephen King". Publishers Weekly.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""