David Morse

Biography

David Morse is an American actor who started in Boston theater and later built a long screen career. Born in Beverly, Massachusetts, and raised in Essex and Hamilton, he joined the Boston Repertory Company as a teenager, then moved to New York to work with Circle Repertory and study at William Esper Studio. After his film debut in Inside Moves (1980), he gained wide recognition as Dr. Jack Boomer Morrison on the NBC medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988. He appeared in Contact (1997). He also appeared in The Green Mile (1999). His television work brought Emmy nominations for House and for John Adams, in which he played George Washington. He had a regular role on Treme from 2010 to 2013. His stage awards include an Obie Award and a Drama Desk Award for How I Learned to Drive, and he received a Tony nomination for The Iceman Cometh.

72years old

Turns 73 on October 11in 9 days

Born October 11, 1953Beverly
Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
Also credited as David Bowditch Morse

Movie Career

Films: 41
Career span: 46 years1980 to 2026

Genres

Drama76%, 31 films
Thriller34%, 14 films
Crime29%, 12 films
Action27%, 11 films
Mystery22%, 9 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

First role
Morse got his start in 1971 when Esquire Jauchem, who had directed him in a school play, invited him to audition for the Boston Repertory Company; he joined that summer at 17 and stayed six years.
A first
Morse earned the first ever Golden Horse Award nomination for an English-speaking actor, as Best Supporting Actor for the 2002 crime drama Shuang Tong.
Big break
Morse took the guest role of Detective Michael Tritter on House after friends' excited reactions overcame his own view that the title character was a jerk, and it brought his first Emmy nomination.
Getting ready for a role
To play George Washington in the 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams, Morse had his nose enlarged with prosthetics, an idea he pushed after studying portraits of Washington.
Early training
In the late 1970s, Morse left Boston for New York, where he joined the Circle Repertory Company to advance his stage career and studied acting at the William Esper Studio.

David Morse movies on Netflix

Mayday2026IMDb rating 6.8as Harold Kelly
Cabrini2024IMDb rating 7.3as Archbishop Corrigan
The Virtuoso2021IMDb rating 5.0as The Deputy
Thank You for Your Service2017IMDb rating 6.6as Fred Gusman
Concussion2015IMDb rating 7.1as Mike Webster
Horns2013IMDb rating 6.4as Dale Williams
McCanick2013IMDb rating 4.7as Eugene 'Mack' McCanick
World War Z2013IMDb rating 7.0as Ex-CIA Agent
The Odd Life of Timothy Green2012IMDb rating 6.6as James Green, Sr.
Collaborator2011IMDb rating 6.0as Gus Williams
Drive Angry2011IMDb rating 5.4as Webster
Shanghai2010IMDb rating 6.3as Richard Astor
Passengers2008IMDb rating 5.8as Arkin
The Hurt Locker2008IMDb rating 7.5as Colonel Reed
Disturbia2007IMDb rating 6.8as Mr. Turner
Hounddog2007IMDb rating 6.2as Daddy
16 Blocks2006IMDb rating 6.6as Det. Frank Nugent
Down in the Valley2005IMDb rating 6.3as Wade
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story2005IMDb rating 6.9as Palmer
Double Vision2002IMDb rating 6.4as Kevin Richter
The Slaughter Rule2002IMDb rating 5.8as Gideon Ferguson
Hearts in Atlantis2001IMDb rating 6.9as Adult Bobby Garfield
Bait2000IMDb rating 5.7as Edgar Clenteen
Dancer in the Dark2000IMDb rating 7.9as Bill Houston
Proof of Life2000IMDb rating 6.3as Peter Bowman
Crazy in Alabama1999IMDb rating 6.3as Dove
The Green Mile1999IMDb rating 8.6as Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
The Negotiator1998IMDb rating 7.3as Adam Beck
Contact1997IMDb rating 7.5as Ted Arroway
Extreme Measures1996IMDb rating 6.2as Frank Hare
The Long Kiss Goodnight1996IMDb rating 6.8as Luke / Daedalus
The Rock1996IMDb rating 7.4as Major Tom Baxter
The Crossing Guard1995IMDb rating 6.3as John Booth
Twelve Monkeys1995IMDb rating 8.0as Dr. Peters
The Getaway1994IMDb rating 5.9as Jim Deer Jackson
The Good Son1993IMDb rating 6.4as Jack
Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster1992IMDb rating 6.5as Rick Steiner
The Indian Runner1991IMDb rating 6.9as Joe Roberts
Desperate Hours1990IMDb rating 5.4as Albert
Max Dugan Returns1983IMDb rating 6.7as Shoe Store Cop
Inside Moves1980IMDb rating 7.0as Jerry Maxwell

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

The Green Mile1999 Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mysteryas Brutus 'Brutal' Howell
IMDb rating 8.61.6M votes
Twelve Monkeys1995 Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thrilleras Dr. Peters
IMDb rating 8.0685K votes
The Hurt Locker2008as Colonel Reed
IMDb rating 7.5500K votes
The Rock1996as Major Tom Baxter
IMDb rating 7.4385K votes
Disturbia2007as Mr. Turner
IMDb rating 6.8277K votes
World War Z2013as Ex-CIA Agent
IMDb rating 7.0795K votes
The Negotiator1998as Adam Beck
IMDb rating 7.3171K votes
16 Blocks2006as Det. Frank Nugent
IMDb rating 6.6139K votes

Most often with

Richard Donner directed two of these films, Sean Penn two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Anthony Hopkins

Eileen Ryan

Samuel L. Jackson

Nicolas Cage

Bruce Willis

Alec Baldwin

Richard DonnerDirector, 2 films

Sean PennDirector, 2 films

Films together

Anthony Hopkins3 films together, 1990 to 2021
Anthony Hopkins's page
- The Virtuoso2021IMDb rating 5.0Morse as The DeputyHopkins as The Mentor
- Hearts in Atlantis2001IMDb rating 6.9Morse as Adult Bobby GarfieldHopkins as Ted Brautigan
- Desperate Hours1990IMDb rating 5.4Morse as AlbertHopkins as Tim Cornell
Eileen Ryan3 films together, 1991 to 2011
Eileen Ryan's page
- Collaborator2011IMDb rating 6.0Morse as Gus WilliamsRyan as Betty
- The Crossing Guard1995IMDb rating 6.3Morse as John BoothRyan as Woman in shop
- The Indian Runner1991IMDb rating 6.9Morse as Joe RobertsRyan as Mrs. Baker
Samuel L. Jackson2 films together, 1996 to 1998
Samuel L. Jackson's page
- The Negotiator1998IMDb rating 7.3Morse as Adam BeckJackson as Danny Roman
- The Long Kiss Goodnight1996IMDb rating 6.8Morse as Luke / DaedalusJackson as Mitch Henessey
Nicolas Cage2 films together, 1996 to 2011
Nicolas Cage's page
- Drive Angry2011IMDb rating 5.4Morse as WebsterCage as Milton
- The Rock1996IMDb rating 7.4Morse as Major Tom BaxterCage as Dr. Stanley Goodspeed
Bruce Willis2 films together, 1995 to 2006
Bruce Willis's page
- 16 Blocks2006IMDb rating 6.6Morse as Det. Frank NugentWillis as Det. Jack Mosley
- Twelve Monkeys1995IMDb rating 8.0Morse as Dr. PetersWillis as James Cole
Alec Baldwin2 films together, 1994 to 2015
Alec Baldwin's page
- Concussion2015IMDb rating 7.1Morse as Mike WebsterBaldwin as Dr. Julian Bailes
- The Getaway1994IMDb rating 5.9Morse as Jim Deer JacksonBaldwin as Carter Doc McCoy
Richard DonnerDirector, 2 films, 1980 to 2006
All films by Richard Donner
- 16 Blocks2006IMDb rating 6.6Morse as Det. Frank Nugent
- Inside Moves1980IMDb rating 7.0Morse as Jerry Maxwell
Sean PennDirector, 2 films, 1991 to 1995
All films by Sean Penn
- The Crossing Guard1995IMDb rating 6.3Morse as John Booth
- The Indian Runner1991IMDb rating 6.9Morse as Joe Roberts
Also two films together25 more actors
- Eddie MarsanThe Virtuoso (2021) and Concussion (2015)
- James WoodsContact (1997) and The Getaway (1994)
- Brad PittWorld War Z (2013) and Twelve Monkeys (1995)
- John SavageThe Crossing Guard (1995) and Inside Moves (1980)
- William FichtnerDrive Angry (2011) and Contact (1997)
- James RebhornThe Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012) and Desperate Hours (1990)
- Dakota FanningHounddog (2007) and Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)
- Dianne WiestThe Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012) and Passengers (2008)
- Paul GuilfoyleExtreme Measures (1996) and Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster (1992)
- Robin WrightHounddog (2007) and The Crossing Guard (1995)
- Rhoda GriffisThe Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012) and Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)
- Wendy CrewsonMayday (2026) and The Good Son (1993)
- Dean NorrisThe Negotiator (1998) and Desperate Hours (1990)
- Siobhan Fallon HoganDancer in the Dark (2000) and The Negotiator (1998)
- Clea DuVallPassengers (2008) and The Slaughter Rule (2002)
- Piper LaurieHounddog (2007) and The Crossing Guard (1995)
- Kelly LynchThe Slaughter Rule (2002) and Desperate Hours (1990)
- Rory CulkinDown in the Valley (2005) and The Good Son (1993)
- Nestor SerranoBait (2000) and The Negotiator (1998)
- Aaron YooMcCanick (2013) and Disturbia (2007)
- Frank Hoyt TaylorHounddog (2007) and Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (2005)
- John SpencerThe Negotiator (1998) and The Rock (1996)
- Doug HutchisonBait (2000) and The Green Mile (1999)
- Bill MacDonaldExtreme Measures (1996) and The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)
- Brad BeyerThank You for Your Service (2017) and Crazy in Alabama (1999)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.