Joe Morton

Joe Morton Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: October 18, 1947

Age: 76 years old

Birth Place: New York City, New York

American actor Joe Morton crafted an award-winning career that brought him acclaim on stage, television, and film. A native of Harlem in New York City, he began his professional acting career with a role in the Broadway production of "Hair." Shortly after, he landed his first roles on television with guest spots on "Mission: Impossible" (CBS, 1966-73) and "Bracken's World" (NBC, 1969-70). As his stage career continued, he added to his resume with a role on the daytime soap opera "Search for Tomorrow" (CBS, 1951-86), and appearances on "M*A*S*H" (CBS, 1972-83) and "What's Happening!!" (ABC, 1976-79). An earlier guest role on "Sanford and Son" (NBC, 1972-77), led to his being cast as one of the leads in the short-lived spinoff series "Grady" (NBC, 1975-76). He followed with a starring role in another short-lived TV effort, "Watch Your Mouth" (PBS, 1978). His big break in features came with the title role in John Sayles' "The Brother From Another Planet" (1984). The inner city sci-fi tale quickly gained a cult following, and gave Morton his calling card. He continued stringing together TV appearances, including a recurring role on "The Equalizer" (CBS, 1985-89), before another foray into sci-fi again raised his profile. Playing opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, he appeared as Miles Dyson, the unwitting developer of the evil Skynet, in "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" (1991). Returning to television, he was part of the ensemble cast of the drama "Equal Justice" (ABC, 1990-91), had a recurring role on "A Different World" (NBC, 1987-93), was a series regular on Robert De Niro's anthology show "Tribeca" (Fox, 1993), and starred opposite James Earl Jones on "Under One Roof" (CBS, 1995). In films, he played the police captain in "Speed" (1994) and starred in "The Inkwell" (1994). Morton had the opportunity to show off his musical side when he joined Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman for "Blues Brothers 2000" (1998). He continued pursuing television, starring in the short-lived series "Mercy Point" (UPN, 1998-99) and "Prince Street" (NBC, 1997). After another string of guest appearances on shows like "JAG" (CBS, 1995-2005) and "Law & Order" (NBC, 1990-2010), he found sustained success as scientist Henry Deacon on "Eureka" (SyFy, 2006-2012). After contributing to a story arc on "The Good Wife" (CBS, 2009-16), Morton began an award-winning turn on Shonda Rhimes' political drama "Scandal" (ABC, 2012-18). Playing the duplicitous father of Kerry Washington's Olivia Pope, he earned the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2014. He also appeared as a series regular in the drama "Proof" (TNT, 2015). Morton later joined the DC superhero universe, playing the scientist father of Cyborg first in Zack Snyder's "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" (2016) and more extensively in "Justice League" (2017). Returning to television, he joined the cast of the spiritual drama "God Friended Me," playing the pastor father of Brandon Michael Hall's lead character.

Credits

Trinity's Triumph

Actor
Monsignor Heck
Movie
2023

The U.S. and the HolocaustStream

Voice
W.E.B. DuBois
Docuseries
2022

Sherri

Guest
Talk
2022

Benjamin FranklinStream

Voice
William Bradford
Movie
2022
78%

AFL Bite

Actor
Show
2022

Inside the Black BoxStream

Creator
Talk
2022

Inside the Black BoxStream

Executive Producer
Talk
2022

Inside the Black BoxStream

Host
Talk
2022

Our Kind of PeopleStream

Actor
Teddy Franklin
Reality
2021

Our Kind of People: Extras

Actor
Show
2021

National Memorial Day Concert 2021

Guest
Show
2021

Making History in Hollywood

Self
Show
2021

Zack Snyder's Justice LeagueStream

Actor
Silas Stone
Movie
2021
72%

Tamron Hall

Guest
Talk
2019

Home

Actor
Show
2019

Godzilla: King of the MonstersStream

Actor
Dr. Houston Brooks
Movie
2019
42%

The Carney Awards

Guest
Show
2018

God Friended MeStream

Actor
Reverend Arthur Finer
Series
2018
59%

God Friended MeStream

Director
Series
2018
59%

God Friended Me: Extras

Actor
Show
2018

Access Live

Guest
Show
2017

STEVE on Watch

Guest
Talk
2017

Live with Kelly and Ryan

Guest
Talk
2017

Justice LeagueStream

Actor
Silas Stone
Movie
2017
39%

BullStream

Director
Series
2016

Brett Gelman's Dinner in AmericaStream

Guest
Special
2016

All the Way

Actor
Roy Wilkins
Show
2016

Grace and FrankieStream

Guest Star
Jason
Series
2016
90%

All the WayStream

Actor
Roy Wilkins
Movie
2016
87%

The Daily Show with Trevor NoahStream

Guest
Talk
2015

ProofStream

Actor
Dr. Charles Russell
Series
2015
53%

The Nightly Show With Larry WilmoreStream

Guest
Talk
2015
100%

Cleveland Abduction

Actor
Agent Solano
Movie
2015

The Queen Latifah Show

Guest
Talk
2013

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Home

Actor
Donald Hall
Movie
2013

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Coma

Actor
Show
2012

ScandalStream

Actor
Eli Pope
Series
2012
93%

ScandalStream

Director
Series
2012
93%

ScandalStream

Guest Star
Rowan/Eli Pope
Series
2012
93%

Big Morning Buzz Live

Guest
Show
2011

The Bombing of Germany

Narrator
Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

The Mulberry Tree

Actor
Samuel R. Freeman
Movie
2010

White CollarStream

Guest Star
Kyle Bancroft
Series
2009
96%

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Daniel Golden
Series
2009
93%

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The Line

Actor
Hodges
Movie
2008

Lifelines

Actor
Dr. Livingston
Movie
2008

American GangsterStream

Actor
Charlie Williams
Movie
2007
81%

Badland

Actor
Max
Movie
2007

Brothers & SistersStream

Guest Star
Peter Madsen
Series
2006
79%

Rachael Ray ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2006

EurekaStream

Actor
Series
2006
82%

The Night Listener

Actor
Ashe
Movie
2006

E-Ring

Guest Star
Show
2005

Gone but Not Forgotten

Actor
Show
2005

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

StealthStream

Actor
Cmdr. Clint "Hud" Huddle
Movie
2005
13%

HouseStream

Guest Star
Senator Gary H. Wright
Series
2004
90%

Boston LegalStream

Guest Star
Attorney Steve Duprey
Series
2004
86%

CSI: NYStream

Guest Star
Chief Dwight Hillborne
Series
2004

The Jury

Guest Star
Show
2004

Tavis Smiley

Guest
Talk
2004

Sunday on the Rocks

Director
Movie
2004

Mitchellville

Executive Producer
Movie
2004

Breaking Dawn

Actor
Prof. Simon
Movie
2004

Lenny the Wonder Dog

Actor
Dr. Island
Movie
2004

Back in the Day

Actor
Reverend Packer
Movie
2004

The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Guest
Talk
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

Jasper, Texas

Actor
Movie
2003

PaycheckStream

Actor
Agent Dodge
Movie
2003
27%

Thoughtcrimes

Actor
Jon Harper
Movie
2003

War Birds: Diary of an Unknown Aviator

Narrator
Movie
2003

Dragonfly

Actor
Hugh Campbell
Movie
2002

SmallvilleStream

Guest Star
Dr. Steven Hamilton
Series
2001
78%

AliStream

Actor
Chauncy Eskridge
Movie
2001
68%

BounceStream

Actor
Jim
Movie
2000
53%

Ali: An American Hero

Actor
Malcolm X
Movie
2000

What Lies BeneathStream

Actor
Dr. Drayton
Movie
2000
47%

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Ray Bevins
Series
1999
78%

Mutiny

Actor
Thurgood Marshall
Movie
1999

The Astronaut's Wife

Actor
Sherman Reese
Movie
1999

Y2K

Actor
Martin Cromwell
Movie
1999

Mercy Point

Actor
Dr. Grote Maxwell
Series
1998
30%

Blues Brothers 2000Stream

Actor
Commander Cabel Chamberlain/Cab Blues
Movie
1998
46%

Apt Pupil

Actor
Dan Richler
Movie
1998

Dellaventura

Guest Star
Show
1997

The View

Guest
Talk
1997

Prince Street

Actor
Show
1997

The PracticeStream

Guest Star
Series
1997

Un Tío Llamado Peste

Actor
Movie
1997

The Pest

Actor
Mr. Kent
Movie
1997

Miss Evers' Boys

Actor
Dr. Sam Brodus
Movie
1997

Trouble on the Corner

Actor
Detective Bill
Movie
1997

Theater Talk

Guest
Show
1996

Access Hollywood

Guest
News
1996

Executive DecisionStream

Actor
Sergeant "Cappy" Matheny
Movie
1996
63%

Lone Star

Actor
Colonel Delmore Payne
Movie
1996

Jack Reed: Un tueur parmi nous

Actor
Gordon Thomas
Movie
1996

New York News

Actor
Show
1995

JAGStream

Guest Star
Series
1995

Under One Roof

Actor
Ron Langston
Show
1995

La Sombra de la Muerte

Actor
Lt. Royce
Movie
1995

In the Shadow of Evil

Actor
Lt. Royce
Movie
1995

The Walking Dead

Actor
Sgt. Barkley
Movie
1995

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

New York UndercoverStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

No Ordinary Summer

Actor
Kenny Tate
Movie
1994

The Inkwell

Actor
Kenny Tate
Movie
1994

SpeedStream

Actor
Lt. Herb 'Mac' McMahon
Movie
1994
95%

The X-FilesStream

Guest Star
Martin Wells
Series
1993
74%

Tribeca

Actor
Show
1993

Justicia y Deshonor

Actor
Movie
1992

Of Mice and MenStream

Actor
Crooks, Stable Buck
Movie
1992
97%

Forever Young

Actor
Cameron
Movie
1992

City of Hope

Actor
Wynn
Movie
1991

Terminator 2: Judgment DayStream

Actor
Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson
Movie
1991
91%

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Challenger

Actor
Doctor Ronald McNair
Show
1990

Challenger

Actor
Movie
1990

Equal Justice

Actor
Mike James
Movie
1990

Tap

Actor
Nicky
Movie
1989

Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder

Actor
Cederic Sandiford
Movie
1989

L'Affaire Howard Beach

Actor
Movie
1989

Alone in the Neon Jungle

Actor
Ken Fraker
Movie
1988

Zelly and Me

Actor
Earl
Movie
1988

Police Story: Burnout

Actor
Sgt. Jeff Allen
Movie
1988

The Good Mother

Actor
Frank Williams
Movie
1988

Historia Policiaca: Crisis

Actor
Movie
1988

A Different WorldStream

Guest Star
Series
1987

Stranded

Actor
Sheriff McMahon
Movie
1987

Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami

Actor
Tandy
Movie
1987

Les Passagers de l'angoisse

Actor
Movie
1987

CrossroadsStream

Actor
Scratch's Assistant
Movie
1986
76%

The Equalizer

Guest Star
Slate
Series
1985

Trouble in Mind

Actor
Solo
Movie
1985

Miami ViceStream

Guest Star
Lt. Jack Davis
Series
1984
71%

The Brother From Another Planet

Actor
The Brother
Movie
1984

The Clairvoyant

Actor
Detective Rich
Movie
1982

We're Fighting Back

Actor
Elgin Jones
Movie
1981

...And Justice for AllStream

Actor
Prison Doctor
Movie
1979
82%

Between the Lines

Actor
Ahmed
Movie
1977

What's Happening!!

Guest Star
Series
1976

GradyStream

Actor
Hal Marshall
Miniseries
1975

NOVAStream

Narrator
Docuseries
1974

M*A*S*HStream

Guest Star
Captain Saunders
Series
1972

Sanford & SonStream

Guest Star
Series
1972

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutJoe Morton

Morris Chestnut, Nadine Ellis, Joe Morton in Our Kind of People
Exclusive

‘Our Kind of People’ Finale Will Set up an ‘Explosive’ Season 2 — Watch Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

Tubi, Black History Month 2022 Lineup

Tubi Celebrates Black History Month With ‘Howard High,’ ‘Pass the Mic’ & More

Joe Morton as Teddy in Our Kind of People
Spoiler Alert

‘Our Kind of People’: Joe Morton on a Secret Teddy’s Keeping & Directing ‘Out of the Norm’ Episodes

Yaya DaCosta as Angela in Our Kind of People

The ‘Our Kind of People’ Cast Explains Why You’ll Be Tuning in Every Week (VIDEO)

'Our Kind of People' - Yaya DaCosta

‘Our Kind of People’: Yaya DaCosta Is Very Ambitious in New Trailer (VIDEO)

Eureka

‘Eureka’ Turns 15: Catch Up With the Cast of the Syfy Series

Uzo Aduba Peter Gallagher Iain Glen TV Stars Broadway Musical

19 TV Stars You Didn’t Know Had a Musical Background (PHOTOS)

scandal-series-finale-cast

The ‘Scandal’ Cast Shares Their Biggest Jaw-Droppers From the Series

Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope in the Scandal episode 'People Like Me'

‘Scandal’ Sneak Peek: Could Olivia Actually Kill Cyrus? (VIDEO)

Scandal - Bellamy Young as Mellie Grant and Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope

5 Revelations From the ‘Scandal’ Season 7 Premiere

Scandal - Bellamy Young, Kerry Washington
Preview

‘Scandal’ Season Finale Preview: 5 Things We Know (VIDEO)

Scandal - Cast

‘Scandal’ Celebrates 100 Episodes (PHOTOS)

Scandal - Cast

PaleyFest 2017: 100th Episode of ‘Scandal’ Dive Into Olivia’s Alt-Reality

Best Lines of the Week - March 17-23

Best Lines on TV This Week (March 17-23): ‘No. I Said I was Done With You. I Meant That.’

Scandal - Kerry Washington, Joe Morton
Spoiler Alert

‘Scandal’: Joe Morton Breaks Down What We Learned in the Eli-Heavy ‘Extinction’ Episode

'Scandal' at SCAD Presents aTVfest 2017 - Jeff Perry, Cornelius Smith Jr., Joe Morton, and Joshua Malina

‘Scandal’: Cyrus Beene Did a Bad, Bad Thing; What’s Next?

Scott Foley in Scandal

‘Scandal’s Scott Foley Previews Season 5’s Explosive Final Episodes

The Walking Dead, Danai Gurira, Andrew Lincoln

Ask Matt: ‘The Walking Dead’ Romance, Plus ‘Big Bang Theory’s Baby, ‘The X-Files’ Finale, ‘Scandal’ and More