# David Morse

David Bowditch Morse (born October 11, 1953) is an American actor. Morse became widely known for his role as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison in the medical drama series St. Elsewhere (1982–88), and he has had roles in The Negotiator, The Good Son, Horns, Contact, The Green Mile, Dancer in the Dark, Disturbia, The Long Kiss Goodnight, The Rock and 12 Monkeys.
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. 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. His middle name, Bowditch, comes from mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch.

## Career
### Early career in theater

After graduating from high school in 1971, 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. Morse became a member that summer at age 17 and spent six years performing there while living in the Fort Hill section of Roxbury.
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. 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.

### Film and television

In 1980, Morse made his theatrical film debut in the drama Inside Moves. Morse was listed as one of the twelve most "Promising New Actors of 1980" in John A. Willis's Screen World, Vol. 32.
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.
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." His turn in Desperate Hours as antagonist showed a darker side of Morse. 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.
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."
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. 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.
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.'" 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.
Morse has stated that out of all of the films he has done, his favorites are The Green Mile, The Crossing Guard, and The Indian Runner.
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. 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. From 2007 to 2008, Morse appeared on Broadway in Conor McPherson's play The Seafarer. He received a Tony Award nomination for his role in the 2018 Broadway revival of The Iceman Cometh.

## Personal life

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

## Filmography
### Film

List of David Morse film credits :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1980 | Inside Moves | Jerry Maxwell | |
| 1982 | Max Dugan Returns | Shoe Store Cop | |
| 1987 | Personal Foul | Ben | |
| 1990 | Desperate Hours | Albert | |
| 1991 | The Indian Runner | Joe Roberts | |
| 1993 | The Good Son | Jack Evans | |
| 1994 | The Getaway | Jim "Deer" Jackson | |
| 1994 | Magic Kid II | Jack | |
| 1995 | The Taming Power of the Small | | |
| 1995 | The Crossing Guard | John Booth | Nominated – Best Supporting Male at the Independent Spirit Awards |
| 1995 | 12 Monkeys | Dr. Peters | |
| 1996 | The Rock | Major Tom Baxter | |
| 1996 | Extreme Measures | FBI Agent Frank Hare | |
| 1996 | The Long Kiss Goodnight | Luke / Daedalus | |
| 1997 | George B | George | |
| 1997 | Contact | Ted Arroway | |
| 1998 | The Legend of Pig Eye | | |
| 1998 | The Negotiator | Adam Beck | |
| 1999 | Crazy in Alabama | Dove Bullis | |
| 1999 | The Green Mile | Brutus "Brutal" Howell | Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 2000 | Bait | Edgar Clenteen | |
| 2000 | Dancer in the Dark | Bill Houston | |
| 2000 | Proof of Life | Peter Bowman | |
| 2001 | Diary of a City Priest | Father John McNamee | |
| 2001 | Hearts in Atlantis | Adult Bobby Garfield | |
| 2002 | The Slaughter Rule | Gideon "Gid" Ferguson | |
| 2002 | Double Vision | Kevin Richter | Nominated – Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Horse Film Festival |
| 2005 | Down in the Valley | Wade | |
| 2005 | Nearing Grace | Shep Nearing | |
| 2005 | Dreamer | Everett Palmer | |
| 2006 | A.W.O.L. | Major Cliff Marquette | |
| 2006 | 16 Blocks | Det. Frank Nugent | |
| 2007 | Hounddog | Lou | |
| 2007 | Disturbia | Robert Turner | |
| 2008 | Passengers | Arkin | |
| 2009 | The Hurt Locker | Colonel Reed | Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast WAFCA Award for Best Ensemble |
| 2010 | Mother and Child | Tom | |
| 2010 | Shanghai | Richard Astor | |
| 2010 | Mint Julep | Karl | |
| 2010 | The Pond | Adam 11 | Short film |
| 2011 | Drive Angry | Webster | |
| 2011 | Collaborator | Gus Williams | Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award for Best Actor Nominated – Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Canadian Screen Awards |
| 2012 | The Odd Life of Timothy Green | James "Big Jim" Green Sr. | |
| 2012 | Yellow | Psychologist | |
| 2013 | Horns | Dale Williams | |
| 2013 | McCanick | Eugene "Mack" McCanick | Also producer |
| 2013 | World War Z | Ex-CIA Agent | |
| 2013 | Winter in the Blood | Airplane Man | |
| 2015 | The Boy | John Henley | |
| 2015 | Concussion | Mike Webster | |
| 2017 | Trouble | Gerry | |
| 2017 | Thank You for Your Service | Fred Gusman | |
| 2018 | Slender Man | Jerry Newsman | |
| 2021 | The Virtuoso | The Deputy | |
| 2024 | Cabrini | Archbishop Corrigan | |
| TBA | Blood Knot | TBA | Filming |
| TBA | The Gettysburg Address | Abraham Lincoln | Voice; post-production |

### Television

List of David Morse television credits :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Nurse | Kevin Mallory | Episode: "Equal Opportunity" |
| 1981 | Our Family Business | Phil | Television film |
| 1982–88 | St. Elsewhere | Dr. Jack Morrison | 137 episodes Directed episodes: "A Coupla White Dummies Sitting Around Talking", "Handoff" |
| 1983 | Prototype | Michael | Television film |
| 1984 | Shattered Vows | Father Tim | Television film |
| 1985 | When Dreams Come True | Robert Wynton | Television film |
| 1987 | Place at the Table | Tom Williams | Television film |
| 1987 | KnowZone | Host | 13 episodes |
| 1987 | Six Against the Rock | Marvin Hubbard | Television film |
| 1987 | Downpayment on Murder | Det. Jackson | Television film |
| 1988 | Winnie | Thomas | Television film |
| 1989 | Brotherhood of the Rose | Chris / Remus | Television film |
| 1989 | Cross of Fire | Klell Henry | Television film |
| 1989 | Friday the 13th: The Series | | Wrote and directed episode: "A Friend to the End" |
| 1989 | Midnight Caller | Chandler | Episode: "Wait Until Midnight" |
| 1991 | Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Ann | Bicycle Pete | Television film |
| 1992 | The Hat Squad | Frankie Stein | Episode: "Frankie Stein" |
| 1992 | Tales from the Crypt | Tom McMurdo | Episode: "Showdown" |
| 1992 | Reasonable Doubts | Edward Durrell | Episode: "Moment of Doubt" |
| 1992 | Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster | Rick Steiner | Television film |
| 1993 | Miracle on Interstate 880 | Dr. Jim Betts | Television film |
| 1993 | Big Wave Dave's | Dave Bell | 6 episodes |
| 1993 | SeaQuest DSV | Lenny Sutter | Episode: "SeaWest" |
| 1995 | Homicide: Life on the Street | Jim Bayliss | Episode: "Colors" |
| 1995 | The Langoliers | Captain Brian Engle | Television film |
| 1995 | Tecumseh: The Last Warrior | Galloway | Television film |
| 1997 | Murder Live! | Frank McGrath | Television film |
| 2001 | American Experience | Abraham Lincoln | Voice 6 episodes |
| 2002–04 | Hack | Mike Olshansky | 40 episodes Wrote episode: "Gone" |
| 2006–07 | House | Det. Michael Tritter | 6 episodes Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2008 | John Adams | George Washington | 4 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 |
| 2009 | Medium | Douglas Lydecker | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Empire State | James Cochrane | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2010–13 | Treme | NOPD Lt. Terry Colson | 31 episodes |
| 2011 | Lights Out | Jerry "The Rainmaker" Raines | Episode: "Rainmaker" |
| 2012 | Victory in Defeat | Douglas MacArthur | Japanese series |
| 2012 | Robot Chicken | Robin Hood The Lorax | Voice Episode: "Butchered in Burbank" |
| 2014 | Untitled Wall Street Project | Conklin | CBS pilot |
| 2015 | True Detective | Eliot Bezzerides | 3 episodes |
| 2016–17 | Outsiders | "Big Foster" Farrell VI | 26 episodes |
| 2017–20 | Blindspot | Hank Crawford | 7 episodes |
| 2018 | Escape at Dannemora | Gene Palmer | 6 episodes |
| 2019 | The Deuce | Matthew Rouse | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | The Morning Show | Mr. Jackson | Episode: "No One's Gonna Harm You, Not While I'm Around" |
| 2020 | The Good Lord Bird | Dutch Henry Sherman | Episode: "Meet the Lord" |
| 2021 | The Chair | Dean Paul Larson | 6 episodes |
| 2023 | The Last Thing He Told Me | Nicholas Bell | Miniseries |

### Selected stage work

List of selected David Morse stage credits :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | The Trading Post | Jim | WPA Theatre |
| 1981 | Threads | Nub / Clyde | Circle Theatre |
| 1990–91 | The Wild Duck | | Los Angeles Theatre Center |
| 1992 | Redwood Curtain | Lyman | Bagley Wright Theatre – Seattle Repertory Theatre World Premiere |
| 1995 | On the Waterfront | Father Barry | Brooks Atkinson Theatre |
| 1997–98 | How I Learned to Drive | Uncle Peck | Century 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 |
| 2007–08 | The Seafarer | James "Sharky" Harkin | Booth Theatre |
| 2013 | The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin | Tom Durnin | Laura Pels Theatre |
| 2018 | The Iceman Cometh | Larry Slade | Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Nominated – Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play |
| 2022 | How I Learned to Drive | Uncle Peck | Samuel 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 |
| 1999 | A Patchwork Planet | Anne Tyler | Abridged Version |
| 2003 | Messenger | Lois Lowry | |
| 2014 | Revival | Stephen King | |
| 2015 | The Andromeda Strain | Michael Crichton | |
| 2016 | Skeleton Crew | Stephen King | Partial Reading |
| 2016 | And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer | Fredrik Backman | English Translation |
| 2018 | Flight or Fright | Various | Partial Reading |
| 2018 | Leadership: In Turbulent Times | Doris Kearns Goodwin | Partial Reading |
| 2020 | The Second Life of Tiger Woods | Michael Bamberger | |