David Morse

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17 Feb 2024

David Morse

David Bowditch Morse, born on October 11, 1953, is an American actor known for his versatile performances on both television and film. He gained national recognition for his role as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison in the medical drama series St. Elsewhere (1982–88). Morse's film career includes notable 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 portrayed Detective Michael Tritter in the medical drama series House, earning an Emmy Award nomination for his performance. He further showcased his talent by playing George Washington in the 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams, which earned him another Emmy nomination. Morse received critical acclaim for his role as Uncle Peck in the Off-Broadway play How I Learned to Drive, earning both a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award for his performance. He also found success on Broadway, portraying James "Sharky" Harkin in The Seafarer.
From 2010 to 2013, Morse portrayed Terry Colson, an honest police officer in a corrupt New Orleans police department, in the HBO series Treme. He continued to showcase his acting prowess in various television projects, including the WGN America series Outsiders (2016–17), the Showtime miniseries Escape at Dannemora (2018), and the Netflix comedy-drama series The Chair (2021). Throughout his career, Morse has demonstrated his ability to inhabit diverse characters across a range of genres, solidifying his reputation as a talented and versatile actor.

David Bowditch Morse was born on October 11, 1953, in Beverly, Massachusetts. His parents are Jacquelyn Morse, who worked as a teacher, and Charles Morse, who worked as a salesman. Morse grew up in Essex and Hamilton, both located in Massachusetts. During his teenage years, he was confirmed in the Episcopal church, and he has expressed that he continues to maintain a daily prayer practice into adulthood. His middle name, Bowditch, is derived from the mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch.

After completing high school in 1971, Morse received an invitation from Esquire Jauchem, who had directed him in one of his school plays, to audition for the repertory theater Jauchem was helping to establish in Boston, known as the Boston Repertory Company. At the age of 17, Morse joined the company that summer and spent the next six years performing there, all while residing in the Fort Hill neighborhood of Roxbury.
In 1975, Jauchem, now the artistic director of the Boston Repertory Theater, adapted and directed a stage musical version of The Point!, in which Morse starred as the character Oblio. This production later embarked on a tour to the Trinity Square Repertory Company in Providence. In the late 1970s, Morse made the transition from Boston to New York City to advance his stage career with the Circle Repertory Company. Additionally, he enrolled in acting classes at the William Esper Studio to further hone his craft.

In 1980, Morse ventured into theatrical films with his debut in the drama Inside Moves. His performance garnered attention, and he was recognized as one of the twelve most "Promising New Actors of 1980" in John A. Willis's Screen World, Vol. 32.
However, Morse's breakthrough came in 1982 when he secured a role in the television medical drama St. Elsewhere. Portraying Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison, he depicted a young physician grappling with the loss of his wife and the challenges of single parenthood.
Following his success on St. Elsewhere, Morse pursued a variety of supporting roles, prioritizing diversity over financial gain. He remarked, "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 portrayal of an antagonist in Desperate Hours showcased a darker aspect of Morse's acting range. Additionally, he starred in The Indian Runner and The Crossing Guard. Morse also appeared in three adaptations of Stephen King's works: The Langoliers, Hearts in Atlantis, and The Green Mile. He made a guest appearance on Homicide: Life on the Street, portraying a racist cousin of Detective Tim Bayliss.

In 2002, Morse took on the role of Mike Olshansky, a former Philadelphia police officer turned cab driver, in the television film Hack. His performance in the 2002 crime-drama film Shuang Tong earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Golden Horse Awards, marking the first-ever nomination for an English-speaking actor. Morse also appeared as the suspicious neighbor Mr. Turner in the 2007 thriller Disturbia. Film critic John Podhoretz praised Morse as a "largely unsung character actor who enlivens and deepens every movie fortunate enough to have him in the cast."

Morse's notable television role came in 2006 when he received a call from David Shore, the creator of House, who offered him a guest role on the show. Initially skeptical of the series, Morse eventually accepted the role of Detective Michael Tritter, earning his first Emmy Award nomination for his portrayal of a detective with a vendetta against Dr. House.
In 2008, Morse portrayed George Washington in the HBO miniseries John Adams, a role for which he wore prosthetic makeup to enhance his resemblance to the historical figure. Morse's performance earned him his second Emmy Award nomination. Additionally, he voiced Washington in The Hall of Presidents show at Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom.
Morse has cited The Green Mile, The Crossing Guard, and The Indian Runner as his favorite films among those he has worked on. He continued to make notable television appearances, including a recurring role as Lt. Terry Colson on the HBO series Treme, which he later became a series regular for starting with the second season in 2011. Morse also won the Best Actor award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in 2011 for his role in Collaborator. Additionally, he portrayed former NFL player Mike Webster in the biographical sports drama Concussion (2015) and an ex-CIA agent in the film World War Z (2013).