Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Biography

Jeffrey Dean Morgan was born on April 22, 1966, in Seattle, Washington, to Sandy Thomas and Richard Dean Morgan. He grew up in Kirkland, Washington, attending Ben Franklin Elementary School, Rose Hill Junior High, and graduating from Lake Washington High School in 1984. An avid athlete, Morgan played football and captained the basketball team during his school years. 

He continued playing basketball at Skagit Valley College until a leg injury ended his athletic aspirations. Subsequently, he pursued interests in painting and writing and worked briefly as a graphic artist. His foray into acting began serendipitously when he helped a friend move to Los Angeles and decided to stay, discovering a passion and talent for acting.

Acting Career

Morgan's acting career commenced in 1991, with early roles in television series such as "The Burning Zone" (1996–1997), where he portrayed Dr. Edward Marcase. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Denny Duquette on "Grey's Anatomy" (2006–2009), a heart transplant patient who becomes romantically involved with Dr. Izzie Stevens. Another notable role was John Winchester, the father of protagonists Sam and Dean, on "Supernatural" (2005–2007; 2019).

Morgan's film career includes playing The Comedian in "Watchmen" (2009), a complex antihero in the superhero genre. He also starred in "P.S. I Love You" (2007) as William Gallagher, "The Losers" (2010) as Clay, and "Rampage" (2018) as Agent Harvey Russell.

In 2016, Morgan joined the cast of AMC's "The Walking Dead" as Negan, a charismatic and brutal leader wielding a barbed-wire-covered baseball bat named Lucille. His portrayal became iconic, leading to his continued role in the spin-off series "The Walking Dead: Dead City" (2023–present).

Morgan expanded his television repertoire with roles such as Jason Crouse in "The Good Wife" (2015–2016) and Joe Kessler in Amazon Prime Video's "The Boys" (2024–present). He is also set to voice the character Conquest in the animated series "Invincible" (2025–present).

Personal Life

Morgan was previously married to actress Anya Longwell from 1992 to 2003. He was engaged to actress Mary-Louise Parker in 2008, but the couple separated later that year. Since 2009, he has been in a relationship with actress Hilarie Burton, known for her role on "One Tree Hill." The couple married on October 5, 2019, and have two children: a son, Augustus, born in 2010, and a daughter, George Virginia, born in 2018. They reside on a farm in Rhinebeck, New York, and co-own a candy shop in the area.

Recent Projects

In addition to his acting roles, Morgan has ventured into production. He and Burton co-founded the Mischief Farm Production Company and produced the horror film "Bloody Axe Wound," which explores themes of queer romance and slasher horror. In 2025, Morgan is set to host NBC's travel competition series "Destination X," marking his first foray into unscripted television.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan's career spans over three decades, showcasing his versatility across genres and media, from television dramas and superhero films to production and hosting roles.