Joe Morton

Joseph Thomas Morton Jr. was born on October 18, 1947, in Harlem, New York City. His early life involved living in West Germany and Okinawa due to his father’s military service. He graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and pursued drama at Hofstra University. Morton’s career began on Broadway, debuting in “Hair” and later earning a Tony Award nomination for his role in “Raisin.” His versatility as an actor has led to numerous roles across multiple platforms.

Morton has an extensive filmography with over 70 films, including notable roles such as the titular character in John Sayles’ “The Brother from Another Planet” (1984), Dr. Miles Bennett Dyson in “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991), and Police Lieutenant Herb “Mac” McMahon in “Speed” (1994). He has collaborated with director John Sayles multiple times, appearing in “City of Hope” (1991) and “Lone Star” (1996). More recently, he played Silas Stone in the DC Extended Universe films “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016), “Justice League” (2017), and “Zack Snyder’s Justice League” (2021), and Dr. Houston Brooks in “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” (2019).

On television, Morton is widely recognized for his portrayal of Eli Pope in “Scandal” (2013–2018), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2014. He also played Henry Deacon in the series “Eureka” (2006–2012) and Reverend Arthur Finer in “God Friended Me” (2018–2020). Beyond acting, Morton has also ventured into directing, with credits for episodes of “Our Kind of People,” “Bull,” “God Friended Me,” “Scandal,” “Eureka,” and “Tribeca.” He is also a singer/songwriter and has narrated audiobooks, including “The Water Dancer” (2019) and “Marvel’s Wastelanders: Hawkeye” (2021).