Joe Morton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joe Morton
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Morton in 2019
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| Born |
Joseph Thomas Morton Jr.
October 18, 1947 |
| Alma mater | Hofstra University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Nora Chavooshian
(m. 1985; div. 2006) |
| Children | 3 |
Joseph Thomas Morton Jr. (born October 18, 1947) is a talented American actor. He is well-known for playing many different characters in movies, TV shows, and plays. He has won several awards, including a Primetime Emmy Award, and was even nominated for a Tony Award.
He has worked with film director John Sayles on three movies: The Brother from Another Planet (1984), City of Hope (1991), and Lone Star (1996). Some of his other famous films include Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Speed (1994), and American Gangster (2007). He also appeared in superhero movies like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017).
On television, he played Eli Pope, Olivia Pope's father, in the popular show Scandal. For this role, he won an Emmy Award in 2014. He also played Henry Deacon in the TV series Eureka. Joseph Morton has also performed on Broadway, earning a Tony Award nomination for his role in the musical Raisin.
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Early Life and Education
Joseph Morton was born in Harlem, New York City. His mother, Evelyn, was a secretary, and his father, Joseph Thomas Morton Sr., was a U.S. Army intelligence officer. Because his father was in the military, Joseph spent parts of his childhood living in West Germany and Okinawa.
When Joseph was 10 years old, his father passed away. He was raised in the Catholic faith and even attended a Catholic military school for a while. He was an altar boy and thought about becoming a priest. Later, Morton graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and went on to study drama at Hofstra University.
Acting Career Highlights
Joseph Morton began his acting journey on Broadway. He appeared in musicals like Hair and Salvation. He received a nomination for a Tony Award for his performance in the musical Raisin.
Film Roles
Morton has acted in many movies. He is well-known for his role as The Brother in John Sayles' film The Brother from Another Planet. He also played Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson in the action movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In Speed, he played Police Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon. He also appeared in Blues Brothers 2000 as Cabel "Cab" Chamberlain. More recently, he played Silas Stone, the father of Victor Stone/Cyborg, in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. He reprised this role in Zack Snyder's Justice League in 2021. In 2019, he was in Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Television Appearances
On television, Joseph Morton has had many memorable roles. He was a regular on the Syfy Channel's show Eureka from 2006 to 2012, where he played the clever scientist Henry Deacon. He also starred as Eli Pope on the popular drama Scandal, a role that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
He has also appeared in shows like Smallville as Dr. Steven Hamilton and had roles in daytime soap operas such as Search for Tomorrow and Another World. From 2018 to 2020, Morton co-starred as Reverend Arthur Finer in the CBS series God Friended Me. He has also directed several TV episodes.
Stage Performances
Beyond film and TV, Morton has a strong background in theater. He made his West End debut in London, playing Colin Powell in the play Stuff Happens in 2004. In 2016, he portrayed activist and comedian Dick Gregory in the play Turn Me Loose in Manhattan.
Personal Life
A few years before filming Terminator 2, Joseph Morton was in a car accident and suffered a punctured lung. This injury actually inspired a part of his performance in the movie. He showed the effects of the injury to director James Cameron, who decided to include it in the film.
Awards and Recognitions
Joseph Morton has been recognized for his acting with several awards and nominations:
- In 1974, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in Raisin. He also received a Theatre World Award for this performance.
- In 2014, he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work on Scandal.
- He also won multiple NAACP Image Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Scandal in 2014, 2015, and 2016.
- In 2018, he won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for his lead performance in the play Turn Me Loose.
- In 2020, he won an Audie Award for narrating the audiobook The Water Dancer.
See also
In Spanish: Joe Morton para niños
