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 New York City, U.S.
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| 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 has starred in many movies, TV shows, and plays. You might know him from films like Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Speed (1994), and Justice League (2017).
On television, he is famous for playing Eli Pope in Scandal. For this role, he won an Primetime Emmy Award in 2014. He also played Henry Deacon in the TV series Eureka. In 2019, Morton narrated the audiobook The Water Dancer.
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Early Life of Joseph Morton
Joseph Morton Jr. was born in Harlem, New York City. His mother, Evelyn, was a secretary. His father, Joseph Thomas Morton Sr., was an officer in the U.S. Army.
Because his father was in the military, Joseph lived in different places as a child. He spent time in West Germany and Okinawa, Japan. When he was 10 years old, his father passed away.
Joseph went to Andrew Jackson High School. After high school, he studied drama at Hofstra University. This is where he learned to act.
Joseph Morton's Acting Career
Joseph Morton started his acting journey on Broadway. He made his first appearance in the musical Hair. He also performed in Salvation. He was even nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the musical Raisin.
He has acted in over 70 films. Some of his memorable movie roles include:
- The Brother in John Sayles' The Brother from Another Planet
- Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson in Terminator 2: Judgment Day
- Cabel "Cab" Chamberlain in Blues Brothers 2000
- Police Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon in Speed
On television, Joseph Morton has appeared in many shows. He had roles in daytime soap operas like Search for Tomorrow and Another World. He also played Dr. Steven Hamilton in the first two seasons of Smallville.
From 2006 to 2012, he played the smart scientist Henry Deacon in Eureka. Later, he took on the role of Eli Pope in the popular drama Scandal. This role earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.
In 2016, Morton played the activist and comedian Dick Gregory in a play called Turn Me Loose. He also joined the DC Extended Universe films. He played Dr. Silas Stone, the father of Victor Stone/Cyborg. You can see him in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017). He had a bigger role in Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).
From 2018 to 2020, Joseph Morton starred as Reverend Arthur Finer in the CBS series God Friended Me. Besides acting, he has also directed several TV show episodes.
Filmography
| 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 | Monsignor Heck | |
| 2021 | Zack Snyder's Justice League | Silas Stone | Director's cut of Justice League |
Television Roles
| 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" |
| 1987–1989 | The Equalizer | Slate/Carter Brock | Guest: season 2; recurring: season 4 |
| 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: "... 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 |
Radio Work
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye | Ringmaster |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Ghost Hunter | Professor Richmond |
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 | |
| 2014 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series | Scandal | |
| NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Won | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | |||
| 2015 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | ||
| 2016 | ||||
| 2017 | Nominated | |||
| 2018 | Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards | Lead Performance in a Play | Turn Me Loose | Won |
| 2020 | Audie Award | Literary Fiction and Classics | The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates | |
See also
In Spanish: Joe Morton para niños
