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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), (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), (2016), Justice League (2017), and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021).
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, 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).
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.
In 2016, Morton portrayed the activist and comedian Dick Gregory in the play Turn Me Loose at the Westside Theatre in Manhattan. Morton portrayed Dr. Silas Stone, father of Victor Stone/Cyborg, in a cameo role in the 2016 film , part of the DC Extended Universe. He reprised the character in the film Justice League (2017) and more extensively in its director's cut.
From 2018 to 2020, Morton co-starred as Reverend Arthur Finer in the CBS series God Friended Me. Morton directed three episodes of God Friended Me, and has directing credits for four other TV series.
Personal life
A few years before filming Terminator 2, Morton was injured in a car accident and suffered a punctured lung. His performance was inspired by the injury, after he demonstrated its effects to James Cameron, who decided to include it in the movie.
Filmography
Film
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 Miles 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 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 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 Silas Stone Cameo All the Way Roy Wilkins Television film 2017 Justice League Silas Stone 2019 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
1970 Bracken's World Yule Buford Episode: "Love It or Leave It, Change It or Lose It" 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 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 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 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" 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
Theater
1971 Two Gentlemen of Verona Valentine (replacement) St. James Theatre, Broadway 1973 Tricks Arlecchino Alvin Theatre, Broadway Raisin Walter Lee Younger 46th Street Theater, Broadway 1981 Oh, Brother! Eastern Habim ANTA Theater, Broadway 1986 Honky Tonk Nights Barney Walker Biltmore Theatre, Broadway 1998 Art Serge (replacement) Royale Theatre, Broadway 2004 Stuff Happens Colin Powell National Theater, London
Audio
2019 The Water Dancer Narrator 2021 Ringmaster 2024 Worst Case Scenario Narrator Authored by T. J. Newman
Awards and nominations
External links
Categories: 1947 Births, Living People, 20th-century African-american Male Actors, 20th-century American Male Actors, 21st-century African-american Male Actors, 21st-century American Male Actors, African-american Catholics, American Male Film Actors, American Male Stage Actors, American Male Television Actors, Andrew Jackson High School Alumni, Audiobook Narrators, Hofstra University Alumni, Male Actors From Manhattan, People From Harlem, Primetime Emmy Award Winners, The Blues Brothers Members
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