David Morse

David Bowditch Morse[1] (born October 11, 1953) is an American actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison in the medical drama series St. Elsewhere (1982–88). His film career has included roles in The Negotiator, Contact, The Green Mile, Dancer in the Dark, Disturbia, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Rock and 12 Monkeys.

David Morse
Morse in 2015
Born (1953-10-11) October 11, 1953
Alma materWilliam Esper Studio
OccupationActor
Years active1980–present
Spouse
Susan Wheeler Duff
(m. 1982)
Children3

In 2006, Morse had a recurring role as Detective Michael Tritter on the medical drama series House, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination. He portrayed George Washington in the 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams, which garnered him a second Emmy nomination. He received acclaim for his portrayal of Uncle Peck on the Off-Broadway play How I Learned to Drive, earning a Drama Desk Award and Obie Award. He has had success on Broadway, portraying James "Sharky" Harkin in The Seafarer. From 2010 to 2013, he portrayed Terry Colson, an honest police officer in a corrupt New Orleans police department, on the HBO series Treme. Morse appeared in the WGN America series Outsiders (2016–17), the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora (2018), and the Netflix comedy drama series The Chair (2021).

Early life

Morse was born October 11, 1953, in Beverly, Massachusetts, the son of Jacquelyn Morse, a teacher, and Charles Morse, a salesman.[2] He was raised in Essex, Massachusetts and Hamilton, Massachusetts. As a teenager, he was confirmed in the Episcopal church, and he has said that he continues to pray daily into adulthood.[3] His middle name, Bowditch, comes from mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch.[1]

Career

Early career in theater

After graduating from high school in 1971,[4] Morse was invited by Esquire Jauchem, who had directed him in one of his school plays, to audition for the repertory theater he was helping form in Boston, the Boston Repertory Company.[5] Morse became a member that summer at age 17 and spent six years performing there while living in the Fort Hill section of Roxbury.[6]

In 1975, Jauchem, by then the artistic director of the Boston Repertory Theater, adapted and directed a stage musical version of The Point! that starred Morse as Oblio.[7] The production later toured to the Trinity Square Repertory Company in Providence. In the late 1970s, Morse moved from Boston to New York to further his stage career with the Circle Repertory Company and to study acting at the William Esper Studio.[8][9]

Film and television

In 1980, Morse made his theatrical film debut in the drama Inside Moves.[6] Morse was listed as one of the twelve most "Promising New Actors of 1980" in John A. Willis's Screen World, Vol. 32.[10]

Morse's big break came in 1982 when he was cast in the television medical drama St. Elsewhere. He played Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison, a young physician who is forced to deal with the death of his wife and the struggles of a single parent professional.[11]

Morse appeared in a number of supporting roles following St. Elsewhere. He is quoted as saying, "I made the decision that I didn't care if there was any money in the role or not. I had to find roles that were different from what I had been doing."[12] His turn in Desperate Hours as antagonist showed a darker side of Morse.[12] He later starred in The Indian Runner and The Crossing Guard. He has appeared in three adaptations of Stephen King stories: The Langoliers, Hearts in Atlantis, and The Green Mile. He was a guest star on Homicide: Life on the Street, playing a racist cousin of Detective Tim Bayliss.[13]

Morse in 2005

In 2002, Morse starred as Mike Olshansky, an ex-Philadelphia police officer turned cab driver, in the television film Hack. For his role in the 2002 crime-drama film Shuang Tong, Morse was nominated as Best Supporting Actor in the Golden Horse Awards, the first ever nomination for an English-speaking actor. He appeared as suspicious neighbor Mr. Turner in the 2007 thriller Disturbia. Film critic and commentator John Podhoretz wrote that Morse is a "largely unsung character actor who enlivens and deepens every movie fortunate enough to have him in the cast."[14]

In 2006, Morse received a phone call from David Shore, who had previously worked with him on the Hack series. Shore asked him if he would be interested in having a guest role on House. When Morse watched the show, he could not understand why people enjoyed it because he believed "this House guy is a total jerk." When he told some of his friends about the offer, however, their excited reactions convinced him to accept the role.[15] Morse portrayed Michael Tritter, a detective with a vendetta against Dr. House. He earned his first Emmy Award nomination for his work on the series.[16]

In 2008, Morse portrayed George Washington in the HBO miniseries John Adams, for which his nose was made bigger with prosthetics. Morse commented, "The first thing that comes to mind is my nose; it was my big idea to do that nose. We didn't have a lot of time, because they asked me to do this about three weeks before they started shooting, and I just kept looking at these portraits and thinking 'this man's face is so commanding.' And I did not feel that my face was very commanding in the way his was. So I convinced them that we should try the nose, and we tried it on, and everybody went, 'Wow, that's Washington.'"[15] Morse's portrayal earned him his second Emmy Award nomination. He also portrays Washington in voice form as part of The Hall of Presidents show in Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom.[17]

Morse has stated that out of all of the films he has done, his favorites are The Green Mile,[18] The Crossing Guard, and The Indian Runner.[15]

In 2010, he guest starred in two episodes of the HBO drama series Treme as Lt. Terry Colson of the New Orleans Police Department. He was promoted to series regular starting with the show's second season, which began in April 2011. Later that year, Morse won the best actor award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for his role in Collaborator.[19] He played an ex-CIA agent in the film World War Z (2013). He played the late NFL player Mike Webster in the biographical sports drama Concussion (2015).

Stage

In addition to performing in films and on television, Morse has continued to appear on stage. For his performance in the 1997 Off-Broadway production of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama How I Learned to Drive, he received an Obie Award, a Drama League Award, a Drama Desk Award, and a Lucille Lortel Award. That same year, he played Father Barry in the play adaptation of On the Waterfront.[20] From 2007 to 2008, Morse appeared on Broadway in Conor McPherson's play The Seafarer.[21][22] He received a Tony Award nomination for his role in the 2018 Broadway revival of The Iceman Cometh.[23]

Personal life

Morse has three younger sisters and had one stepsister.[24] He has been married to actress and author of The Habit Susan Wheeler Duff Morse since 1982. They have one daughter and twin sons.[25] After losing their home in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, Morse and his family moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[12][18] Morse has food sensitivities and has to prepare almost all food he eats himself.[3]

Filmography

Film

List of David Morse film credits
Year Title Role Notes
1980Inside MovesJerry Maxwell
1982Max Dugan ReturnsShoe Store Cop
1987Personal FoulBen
1990Desperate HoursAlbert
1991The Indian RunnerJoe Roberts
1993The Good SonJack Evans
1994The GetawayJim "Deer" Jackson
Magic Kid IIJack
1995The Taming Power of the Small
The Crossing GuardJohn BoothNominated Best Supporting Male at the Independent Spirit Awards
12 MonkeysDr. Peters
1996The RockMajor Tom Baxter
Extreme MeasuresFBI Agent Frank Hare
The Long Kiss GoodnightLuke / Daedalus
1997George BGeorge
ContactTed Arroway
1998The Legend of Pig Eye
The NegotiatorAdam Beck
1999Crazy in AlabamaDove Bullis
The Green MileBrutus "Brutal" HowellNominated Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2000BaitEdgar Clenteen
Dancer in the DarkBill Houston
Proof of LifePeter Bowman
2001Diary of a City PriestFather John McNamee
Hearts in AtlantisAdult Bobby Garfield
2002The Slaughter RuleGideon "Gid" Ferguson
Double VisionKevin RichterNominated Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Horse Film Festival
2005Down in the ValleyWade
Nearing GraceShep Nearing
Dreamer: Inspired by a True StoryEverett Palmer
2006A.W.O.L.Major Cliff Marquette
16 BlocksDet. Frank Nugent
2007HounddogLou
DisturbiaRobert Turner
2008PassengersArkin
2009The Hurt LockerColonel ReedGotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast
WAFCA Award for Best Ensemble
2010Mother and ChildTom
ShanghaiRichard Astor
Mint JulepKarl
The PondAdam 11Short film
2011Drive AngryWebster
CollaboratorGus WilliamsKarlovy Vary International Film Festival Award for Best Actor[19]
Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Canadian Screen Awards
2012The Odd Life of Timothy GreenJames "Big Jim" Green Sr.
YellowPsychologist
2013HornsDale Williams
McCanickEugene "Mack" McCanickAlso producer
World War ZEx-CIA Agent
Winter in the BloodAirplane Man
2015The BoyJohn Henley
ConcussionMike Webster[26]
2017TroubleGerry
Thank You for Your ServiceFred Gusman
2018Slender ManJerry Newsman
2021The VirtuosoThe Deputy
TBABlood KnotTBAFilming
The Gettysburg AddressAbraham LincolnVoice; post-production

Television

List of David Morse television credits
Year Title Role Notes
1981NurseKevin MalloryEpisode: "Equal Opportunity"
1981Our Family BusinessPhilTelevision film
1982–88St. ElsewhereDr. Jack Morrison137 episodes
Directed episodes: "A Coupla White Dummies Sitting Around Talking", "Handoff"
1983PrototypeMichaelTelevision film
1984Shattered VowsFather TimTelevision film
1985When Dreams Come TrueRobert WyntonTelevision film
1987Place at the TableTom WilliamsTelevision film
1987KnowzoneHost13 episodes
1987Six Against the RockMarvin HubbardTelevision film
1987Downpayment on MurderDet. JacksonTelevision film
1988WinnieThomasTelevision film
1989Brotherhood of the RoseChris / RemusTelevision film
1989Cross of FireKlell HenryTelevision film
1989Friday the 13th: The SeriesWrote and directed episode: "A Friend to the End"
1989Midnight CallerChandlerEpisode: "Wait Until Midnight"
1991Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy AnnBicycle PeteTelevision film
1992The Hat SquadFrankie Stein Episode: "Frankie Stein"
1992Tales from the CryptTom McMurdoEpisode: "Showdown"
1992Reasonable DoubtsEdward DurrellEpisode: "Moment of Doubt"
1992Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez DisasterRick SteinerTelevision film
1993Miracle on Interstate 880Dr. Jim BettsTelevision film
1993Big Wave Dave'sDave Bell6 episodes
1993MadelinePepitoSeason 2
1993SeaQuest DSVLenny SutterEpisode: "SeaWest"
1995Homicide: Life on the StreetJim BaylissEpisode: "Colors"
1995The LangoliersCaptain Brian EngleTelevision film
1995Tecumseh: The Last WarriorGallowayTelevision film
1997Murder Live!Frank McGrathTelevision film
2001American ExperienceAbraham LincolnVoice
6 episodes
2002–04HackMike Olshansky40 episodes
Wrote episode: "Gone"
2006–07HouseDet. Michael Tritter6 episodes
Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2008John AdamsGeorge Washington4 episodes
Nominated Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated Monte-Carlo Television Festival for Outstanding Actor in a Mini Series
2009MediumDouglas Lydecker3 episodes
2009Empire StateJames CochraneEpisode: "Pilot"
2010–13TremeNOPD Lt. Terry Colson31 episodes
2011Lights OutJerry "The Rainmaker" RainesEpisode: "Rainmaker"
2012Victory in DefeatDouglas MacArthurJapanese series
2012Robot ChickenRobin Hood
The Lorax
Voice
Episode: "Butchered in Burbank"
2014Untitled Wall Street ProjectConklinCBS pilot
2015True DetectiveEliot Bezzerides3 episodes
2016–17Outsiders"Big Foster" Farrell VI26 episodes
2017–20BlindspotHank Crawford7 episodes
2018Escape at DannemoraGene Palmer6 episodes
2019The DeuceMatthew Rouse2 episodes
2019The Morning ShowMr. JacksonEpisode: "No One's Gonna Harm You, Not While I'm Around"
2020The Good Lord BirdDutch Henry ShermanEpisode: "Meet the Lord"
2021The ChairDean Paul Larson6 episodes
2023The Last Thing He Told MeNicholas BellMiniseries

Selected stage work

List of selected David Morse stage credits
Year Title Role Notes
1981The Trading PostJimWPA Theatre
1981ThreadsNub / ClydeCircle Theatre
1990–91The Wild DuckLos Angeles Theatre Center
1992Redwood CurtainLymanBagley Wright Theatre Seattle Repertory Theatre
World Premiere
1995On the WaterfrontFather BarryBrooks Atkinson Theatre
1997–98How I Learned to DriveUncle PeckCentury Center for the Performing Arts
World Premiere
Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Actor
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor
Obie Award for Best Performance
Nominated Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor
2007–08The SeafarerJames "Sharky" HarkinBooth Theatre
2013The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin[27]Tom DurninLaura Pels Theatre
2018The Iceman ComethLarry SladeBernard B. Jacobs Theatre
Nominated – Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
2022How I Learned to DriveUncle PeckSamuel J. Friedman Theatre
Broadway Premiere
Nominated – Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play

Audiobook performances

List of David Morse audiobook credits
Year Title Author Notes
1999A Patchwork PlanetAnne TylerAbridged Version
2003MessengerLois Lowry
2014RevivalStephen King
2015The Andromeda StrainMichael Crichton
2016Skeleton CrewStephen KingPartial Reading
2016And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and LongerFredrik BackmanEnglish Translation
2018Flight or FrightVariousPartial Reading
2018Leadership: In Turbulent TimesDoris Kearns GoodwinPartial Reading
2020The Second Life of Tiger WoodsMichael Bamberger

References

  1. Morse, David (June 23, 2008). "Patricia Sheridan's Breakfast With ... David Morse". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Interview). Interviewed by Patricia Sheridan. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021.
  2. "Remembering the life of Jacquelyn Fellows". obituaries.salemnews.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  3. Shattuck, Kathryn (June 14, 2022). "David Morse Steadies Himself With Daily Devotions and His Own Cooking". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  4. "Boston Repertory Theatre: Introduction". theatermirror.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  5. Brunner, Jeryl. "What Drives Actor David Morse?". Forbes. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  6. "Decoding Morse". Northshore Magazine. October 17, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  7. "A Recycled Cartoon | News | The Harvard Crimson". www.thecrimson.com. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  8. "William Esper Studio for Acting". Archived from the original on October 31, 2007. Retrieved August 14, 2008.
  9. Evans, Suzy (May 18, 2019). "Richard Schiff, Calista Flockhart, Christine Lahti, David Morse Pay Tribute to Acting Teacher William Esper". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  10. Willis, John (1982). Screen World 1981. Vol. 32. Crown. ISBN 978-0-584-97079-1.
  11. Thompson, Robert J. "St. Elsewhere". The Museum of Broadcast Communications. Archived from the original on June 25, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  12. Byrne, Bridget (November 8, 2006). "David Morse a 'House' Cop With a Problem". Austin American-Statesman. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 10, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2008 via Austin360.
  13. Fontana, Tom; Attanasio, Paul; Mark, Bonnie (April 28, 1995). "Colors". Homicide: Life on the Street. Season 3. Episode 19. NBC.
  14. Podhoretz, John (April 30, 2007). "Hitchcock Lite". The Weekly Standard. Vol. 12, no. 31. Washington. p. 47 via ProQuest. It's got thrills and scares and laughs and a frightening villain in David Morse (a largely unsung character actor who enlivens and deepens every movie fortunate enough to have him in the cast).
  15. Murray, Noel. "Random Roles: David Morse". The A.V. club. Archived from the original on June 26, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  16. "The 59th Primetime Emmy Awards and Creative Arts Emmy Awards Nominees are..." Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  17. Kubersky, Seth. "Live Active Cultures". Orlando Weekly. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  18. Amodio, Joseph V. (February 24, 2008). "Fast Chat: David Morse". Actor David Morse of 'The Green Mile' and 'Disturbia' is starring on Broadway in 'The Seafarer'. Newsday. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved August 15, 2008.
  19. "'Restoration' wins at Karlovy Vary". Variety. Retrieved April 4, 2013.
  20. "On the Waterfront". The Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  21. Latifi, Sadia (June 12, 2007). "We Ask David Morse of 'The Seafarer' Who's Tougher: The Devil or House?". New York Magazine. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  22. "The Seafarer". The Internet Broadway Database. Retrieved July 26, 2008.
  23. McPhee, Ryan (July 1, 2018). "The Iceman Cometh, Starring Denzel Washington, Concludes Broadway Run July 1". Playbill. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  24. "Karen Rhodes Fellows died Feb. 4, 2017 | Community Advocate". February 14, 2017. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  25. Fiorillo, Victor (May 29, 2022). "David Morse on His Dark, Tony-Nominated Broadway Role". Philadelphia Magazine. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  26. David Morse as Steeler Mike Webster in Will Smith movie. Blogs.post-gazette.com (October 10, 2014). Retrieved on October 21, 2015.
  27. "The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin – 2012–2013 Season". Roundabout Theatre Company. Archived from the original on August 14, 2014. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
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