Born on April 22, 1966 in Seattle, Washington, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is best known for his many high-profile roles in different television programs. While living in Seattle, he was a basketball player in school, until he was sidelined by an injury. He then became a graphic artist until he moved to Los Angeles, where he started his acting career.
Morgan has starred in 15 feature films, the first being the 1991 independent erotica film Uncaged. To date he has appeared in films such as Dillinger and Capone, Road Kill, Something More, Six: The Mark Unleashed, Chasing Ghosts and P.S. I Love You.
However, most of his acting credits were for television. His first television appearance was in the 1996 film In the Blink of an Eye. It was followed by a role in the 1996 UPN drama The Burning Zone, about a group of American agents fighting off natural or man-made biological hazards. The program only lasted for one season; he continued appearing in guest roles on other television shows, like Walker, Texas Ranger, ER, Angel, Tru Calling, JAG and CSI.
From 2005, Morgan appeared simultaneously in three high-profile roles on television. He was first cast as John Winchester, the mysterious father of Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles), in Supernatural. He then appeared in a recurring role as heart transplant patient Denny Duquette in Grey’s Anatomy; his character, who carried a relationship with Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), died in the second season finale. Finally, he played Judah Botwin in Weeds.
Morgan was also cast in a new project headed by Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes, titled Correspondents. The future of the series, however, was placed in doubt after ABC picked up the Grey’s Anatomy spin-off series, Private Practice. He is slated to appear as cigar-chomping vigilante The Comedian in the upcoming action film Watchmen.
He has a dog named Bisou which means "a little and sweet kiss" in French. Bisou is a female 9-year-old Rottweiler mix.
In his free time he enjoys spending time with his friends and laughing as much as possible, painting, writing and reading.
Under "skills," his r?sum? lists: basketball, baseball and many other sports, Mountain & Water Athletics, Cooking, Construction. Under "dialects," it lists: New York, Italian, various regional dialects.
He is friends with his agent, Richard Lewis, whose support was "invaluable in keeping me going and getting back to where I am today."
His former manager (who happened to be a very good friend of his) dropped him because he just wasn't getting work just the day before he got his role on "Supernatural" (2005), claiming she couldn't resurrect his career.
Did a painting and donated it to the 'Race for the Rescues' "Walk of Paws Celebrity Art Auction," on October 29, 2006. The money raised at the event went to help shelter dogs and cats in and around Pasadena, CA.
Learned to play the guitar for his part in P.S. I Love You (2007), after about a week of lessons from Heart's Nancy Wilson.
Is a die-hard Seahawks fan.
Started a graphic art company in Seattle before moving to Los Angeles and becoming an actor.
His mother, Sandy, is a big fan of "Grey's Anatomy" (2005).
The Morgan (noble) family is originally from Llandaff, Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales, and descends through female and illegitimate line from Edward III, King of England, and Pedro I, King of Castille. A branch eventually came to New England in the 1600s and among its descendants are writer Charles Edward Ives, President Millard Fillmore, the Rockefeller family, pioneer Daniel Boone (b. Daniel Morgan Booone), writer Tennessee Williams (born Thomas Lanier Williams,) writer 'Zelda Sayre (wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, actress 'Katharine Hepburn' (born Katharine Houghton Hepburn), actor Humphrey Bogart (born Humphrey Deforest Bogart), inventor George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. and writer Laura Ingalls Wilder (born Laura Elizabeth Ingalls).
Recently broke up with his "Weeds" (2005) co-star, Mary-Louise Parker.
He is of primarily Scottish heritage.
He and his Watchmen (2009) co-star Billy Crudup both have been in a relationship with Mary-Louise Parker. Crudup lived with her from 1996-2003 and they have a son together. Morgan started dating Parker in 2008, they became engaged, but eventually broke up.
1. The Losers (2011) (pre-production)
2. The Resident (2010) (pre-production)
3. Untitled Beatle Boyin Project (2009) (filming) .... Bruce Morley Reenactor
4. Shanghai (2009) (post-production) .... Connor
5. All Good Things (2009) (post-production)
6. Taking Woodstock (2009) (completed)
7. Under the Hood (2009) (V) .... Edward Blake
8. Watchmen (2009) .... Edward Blake / The Comedian
9. "Grey's Anatomy" .... Denny Duquette (21 episodes, 2006-2009)
10. Days of Wrath (2008)
11. "Supernatural" .... John Winchester (12 episodes, 2005-2008)
12. The Accidental Husband (2008) .... Patrick Sullivan
13. P.S. I Love You (2007) .... William
14. Fred Claus (2007) (uncredited) .... Older Man Getting Parking Ticket
15. Kabluey (2007) .... Brad
16. Live! (2007) .... Rick
17. Jam (2006/I) .... Dale
18. "Weeds" .... Judah Botwin (2 episodes, 2005)
19. Chasing Ghosts (2005) .... Detective Cole Davies
20. "The O.C." .... Joe Zukowski (1 episode, 2005)
21. "Monk" .... Steven Leight (1 episode, 2004)
22. Six: The Mark Unleashed (2004) .... Tom Newman
23. "Tru Calling" .... Geoffrey Pine (1 episode, 2004)
24. Dead & Breakfast (2004) .... The Sheriff
25. "The Handler" .... Mike (1 episode, 2004)
26. "Enterprise" .... Xindi-Reptilian (1 episode, 2003)
27. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" .... Undercover Agent #1 (1 episode, 2003)
28. Something More (2003) .... Daniel
29. "JAG" .... Wally - CIA Technician / ... (3 episodes, 1995-2002)
30. "The Division" .... Father William Natali (1 episode, 2002)
31. "Angel" .... Sam Ryan (1 episode, 2002)
32. "The Practice" .... Daniel Glenn (1 episode, 2002)
33. "ER" .... Firefighter Larkin (1 episode, 2001)
34. "Walker, Texas Ranger" .... Jake Horbart (1 episode, 2000)
35. Road Kill (1999) .... Bobby
36. Legal Deceit (1997) .... Todd Hunter
37. "The Burning Zone" .... Dr. Edward Marcase (11 episodes, 1996-1997)
38. "Sliders" .... Sid (1 episode, 1996)
39. In the Blink of an Eye (1996) (TV) .... Jessie
40. Undercover Heat (1995) .... Ramone
41. "Extreme" .... Jack Hawkins (2 episodes, 1995)
42. Dillinger and Capone (1995) .... Jack Bennett
43. Uncaged (1991) .... Sharkey
(about choosing between Grey's Anatomy or Supernatural)
-I would bend over backward to be back on Grey's. Any day, I'll choose lying in bed with Katherine Heigl looking over me over getting thrown against walls by supernatural persons at 5 in the morning.
I think, as I've gotten older I have realized what a huge privilege it is to even be in this business. I, more than ever, love what I do.
I'm just looking always for characters that change, because I want to get better, as an actor and as a person.
[from his 1997 "Playgirl" magazine interview, on whether he wants to get married someday] Yes, I do. But I don't have any immediate plans because I know I wasn't good at it the first time around.
[in his "TV Tattler" interview, regarding the relationship with his television sons Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles] On set, we're like three idiot brothers.
[about coming back to "Supernatural" (2005)] "I'm going to call Eric [series creator Eric Kripke] and beg for my life and find a way to come back and harass these guys [Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki] in some way.
I love Jared and Jensen. Going up to Vancouver is like going to camp. We have so much fun, and it's pretty much just the three of us up there. There's a lot of giggling. The three of us together act like little kids. They're both fun as heck, but they're both so different. Supernatural is the most difficult because I could never get used to working nights. Working exterior nights in Vancouver, when it's raining and snowing, is a little daunting, when you haven't slept. The show is extremely hard, physically. - on working with Jensen and Jared on Supernatural