David Morrissey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids David Morrissey
Morrissey in May 2015
Born	(1964-06-21) 21 June 1964 (age 61) Liverpool, England
Occupation	Actor filmmaker
Years active	1982–present
Spouse(s)	Esther Freud ​ ​ (m. 2006; separated 2020)​
Children	3

David Mark Joseph Morrissey (born 21 June 1964) is an English actor and filmmaker. He is well-known for playing The Governor in the TV series The Walking Dead. He also played Stephen Collins in State of Play and Gordon Brown in the film The Deal.

Morrissey has acted on stage with famous groups like the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He has also directed short films and TV shows. For his acting, he was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actor. He also won a Best Actor award from the Royal Television Society. In 2016, Edge Hill University gave him an honorary doctorate, which is a special award for his work in the arts.

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

David Mark Joseph Morrissey was born in Kensington, a part of Liverpool, England. His mother, Joan, worked for a company called Littlewoods, and his father, Joe, was a cobbler (a person who mends shoes). He has two older brothers and one older sister.

As a child, Morrissey loved watching films and musicals. He decided to become an actor after seeing the movie Kes. When he was 11, a teacher cast him as the Scarecrow in a school play of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This encouraged him to pursue acting.

He joined the Everyman Youth Theatre, where he learned more about acting. At age 14, he was even chosen to be on the board of the Everyman Theatre. He became friends with other young actors, including Ian Hart. After leaving school at 16, he worked for a theatre company, helping with sets and costumes.

Acting Career

Starting on TV and Stage

In 1982, Morrissey got his first big role in the TV series One Summer. The show was about two boys from Liverpool who run away to Wales. After filming, he traveled to Kenya. When he returned, the show was on TV, and people started to recognize him.

He decided to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London. At first, he felt homesick, but a friend encouraged him to stay. After graduating, he performed in plays with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He acted in classic plays like King John and Peer Gynt.

His next big TV role was in Cause Célèbre in 1987. He also played Little John in the movie Robin Hood (1991). For a while after that film, he had trouble finding work. But he soon got a leading role as a police officer in the TV drama Clubland.

Becoming a Familiar Face

Throughout the 1990s, Morrissey often played police officers or soldiers. He appeared in shows like Between the Lines and The Knock. In 1997, he starred in the BBC series Holding On, which earned him a nomination for a Royal Television Society award.

In 1998, he played the schoolteacher Bradley Headstone in Our Mutual Friend. He studied the character carefully and showed how the character's social class caused him to struggle. That same year, he acted in the movie Hilary and Jackie. These two roles helped him become more famous.

He also acted in the movie Some Voices (2000), where he played a chef. To prepare, he worked in a real restaurant kitchen. For the film Captain Corelli's Mandolin (2001), he played a German captain and researched the history of that time.

Major Roles in the 2000s

Morrissey during a Macbeth intermission in June 2011

In 2003, Morrissey had two very important roles. He played a politician named Stephen Collins in the BBC series State of Play. To prepare, he met with real politicians to understand their jobs. He even followed politician Peter Mandelson around the House of Commons.

In the same year, he played Gordon Brown, a future Prime Minister, in the film The Deal. The film was about an agreement between Brown and Tony Blair. Since politicians didn't want to talk to him for this role, he spoke to journalists instead. He also gained weight and dyed his hair to look more like Brown. His acting in both roles was highly praised.

After these serious roles, Morrissey wanted to do something funny. He starred in the musical series Blackpool as a cheerful arcade owner. He returned to this role in a sequel called Viva Blackpool! in 2006.

Morrissey in July 2013

He then appeared in big Hollywood movies like Basic Instinct 2 (2006) and The Reaping (2007). Although these films were not very successful, they gave him more opportunities in Hollywood. He also starred in The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (2007) and played Colonel Brandon in a TV version of Sense and Sensibility (2008).

In 2008, he appeared in a Christmas special of Doctor Who called "The Next Doctor". He played Jackson Lake, a man who thinks he is the Doctor. Many people guessed that Morrissey might become the next Doctor, but the role went to Matt Smith.

The Walking Dead and Beyond

In 2010, Morrissey starred as detective Tom Thorne in the TV series Thorne. He helped develop the show after reading the books it was based on. In 2011, he returned to the stage to play the main character in the play Macbeth.

In 2012, Morrissey joined the cast of the popular TV show The Walking Dead. He played The Governor, a famous villain from the comic books. He read the book Rise of the Governor to understand the character better. He appeared in seasons three and four, with a brief return in season five.

More recently, he starred in the BBC drama The City and the City (2018) and the horror film Dampyr (2022). He continues to be a versatile and busy actor.

Filmmaking and Charity Work

Morrissey is also a filmmaker. He learned how to make short films when he was young. He prefers to direct projects that he is not acting in. He has directed TV shows like Sweet Revenge and Passer By. His first feature film as a director was Don't Worry About Me (2009).

He is also involved in charity work. In 2009, he helped run drama workshops for Palestinian refugee children in Beirut, Lebanon. He later started a charity called the Creative Arts School Trust (CAST) to continue this work. He is also a supporter of several other charities, including The SMA Trust and Reprieve.

Personal Life

Morrissey met novelist Esther Freud through a friend. They were together for about 13 years before they got married in 2006. They have three children together. The couple separated in 2020.

Morrissey is a big fan of the Liverpool Football Club. He also supports the Labour Party.

Filmography

Awards

See also

In Spanish: David Morrissey para niños