Joe Morton

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).

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).

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. Because of his father's military service, he spent parts of his childhood in West Germany and Okinawa. When Morton was 10 years old, his father died. Morton was raised Catholic and attended a Catholic military school for a time. He was an altar boy and considered becoming a priest. Morton graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and studied drama at Hofstra University.

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). 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. 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.

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.

Filmography

Film

Television Year Title Role Notes1970 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 role1976 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 role1992 Law & Order Roland Books Episode: "Conspiracy" A Different World Byron Douglas III Recurring: season 5 1993 TriBeCa Carlton Thomas Main role1994 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 22002 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

Theater Year Title Role Venue 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 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 Result1974 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Raisin Theatre World Award 1991 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Terminator 2: Judgment Day 2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture American Gangster 2014 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series Scandal Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2015 2016 2017 2018 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards Lead Performance in a Play Turn Me Loose 2020 Audie Award Literary Fiction and Classics The Water Dancer