Joseph Thomas Morton Jr. (born October 18, 1947) is an American actor. Known as a character actor for his numerous roles on stage, television and film, he has received several awards including a Primetime Emmy Award as well as a nomination for a Tony Award.
He has collaborated with film director John Sayles three times, acting in his films The Brother from Another Planet (1984), City of Hope (1991) and Lone 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), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).[1]
His television work includes his role as Eli Pope, Olivia Pope's father, in Scandal, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2014,[2] and the role of Henry Deacon on the TV series Eureka.
On stage, Morton made his Broadway debut in Two Gentlemen of Verona (1971). He received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in the musical Raisin (1973). He made his West End debut portraying Colin Powell in the David Hare play Stuff Happens (2004).
Early life and education
Morton was born in Harlem, 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 and Okinawa.[5] When Morton was 10 years old, his father died.[6] Morton was raised Catholic and attended a Catholic military school for a time. He was an altar boy and considered becoming a priest.[7][8] Morton graduated from Andrew Jackson High School[9] and studied drama at Hofstra University.[10]
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 films, 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, as the son of Curtis, played by Cab Calloway). He also played Police Lieutenant Herb "Mac" McMahon, in Speed. On daytime, Morton has had roles on Search for Tomorrow (1973–74), Another World (1983–84), and All My Children (2002).[11] 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.[11]
In 2016, Morton portrayed the activist and comedian Dick Gregory in the play Turn Me Loose at the Westside Theatre in Manhattan.[12] 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.[13]
From 2018 to 2020, Morton co-starred as Reverend Arthur Finer in the CBS series God Friended Me.[14] Morton directed three episodes of God Friended Me, and has directing credits for four other TV series.[11]
Personal life
A few years before filming Terminator 2, Morton was injured in a car crash and suffered a punctured lung. After he demonstrated its effects on his breathing to director James Cameron, Cameron decided to integrate that into Morton's character's death scene in the movie.[15]
Filmography
Film
| 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 of Justice League |
Television
| 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 "The Sins of Our Fathers" (S4.E8) "Time Present, Time Past" (S4.E16) "Suicide Squad" (S4.E22) |
| 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] |
Theater
| 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] |
Audio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Invisible Man | Narrator | |
| 2019 | The Water Dancer | Narrator | |
| 2021 | Marvel's Wastelanders: Hawkeye | Ringmaster | |
| 2024 | Worst Case Scenario | Narrator | Authored by T. J. Newman |
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 |
| 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 |
References
- 1."Joe Morton: The Line (2008)". Yovideo. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- 2.Sandberg, Bryn Elise; Goldberg, Leslie (August 16, 2014). "Emmys: 'Scandal's' Joe Morton Takes Home Trophy". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- 3.Verel, Patrick (August 2012). "Joe Morton to Teach at Fordham". Fordham University (Press release). Archived from the original on January 17, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- 4."Joe Morton Biography". Yahoo Movies. Archived from the original on May 22, 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 June 13, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
- 7."The mysteries of "God Friended Me": Brandon Micheal Hall and the rest of the cast talk about the hit TV show - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. September 22, 2019. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- 8.Hill, Michael E. (December 3, 1989). "JOE MORTON". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- 9."Joe Morton | Biography and Filmography | 1947". Hollywood.com. February 26, 2015. Archived from the original on March 28, 2016. Retrieved June 19, 2016.
- 10.Greenberg, Ginny (August 21, 2014). "Alum Joe Morton Wins Emmy for Scandal". Hofstra University. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
- 11.[11.2][11.3]"Joe Morton - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- 12.McCall, Tulis (May 31, 2016). Carboni, Monique (ed.). "Off-Broadway Theatre Review: Turn Me Loose". New York Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
- 13.Meslow, Scott (November 16, 2017). "Justice League's Biggest Sin: Wasting Its Great Actors". GQ. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- 14.Gay, Verne. "Joe Morton talks 'God Friended Me,' 'Scandal' and dropping out of Hofstra". NewsDay.com. Newsday. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2019.
- 15.Rougeau, Michael (August 25, 2017). "Terminator 2's Joe Morton Shares The Story Behind His Iconic Death Scene". Gamespot. Retrieved May 13, 2025.
- 16.Yellin, Deena (April 27, 2023). "A NJ pastor's coming-of-age tale about young priests makes its big-screen debut Thursday". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved March 9, 2024.
- 17.Cordero, Rosy (October 2, 2024). "Joe Morton & Catherine Tate Join Fox's 'Going Dutch'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 22, 2024.
- 18."Two Gentleman of Verona (Broadway, 1971)". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 19."Tricks (Broadway, 1973)". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 20."Raisin (Broadway, 1973)". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 21."Oh, Brother! (Broadway, 1981)". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 22."Honky Tonk Nights (Broadway, 1986)". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 23."Art (Broadway, 1998)". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 24."Joe Morton to Play Colin Powell in Hare's Stuff Happens at National Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
- 25.Carras, Christi (March 19, 2018). "'Hamilton,' 'Rotterdam' Tie for Top Award From L.A. Drama Critics". Variety. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
- 26.Maher, John (March 3, 2020). "A Buoyant 2020 Audie Awards Celebrates 'The Only Plane in the Sky,' Stephen King". Publishers Weekly.