ACTOR · BORN 1947
Joe Morton
- Born
- 18 October 1947, New York City, New York, USA
- Known for
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Eureka (2006), The Astronaut's Wife (1999), Dragonfly (2002)
17 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Joe Morton (born 18 October 1947) is an actor best known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Eureka and The Astronaut's Wife.
17 Interesting Facts About Joe Morton
Interesting Facts (2)
- #001
Morton became one of the rare actors to appear in two separate DC universes, with roles in both the television series "Smallville" and films of the DC Extended Universe. While his role in "Smallville" contributed to the story of the young Superman, he brought a different character to life in the 2016 film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." The move between these two productions demonstrated his ability to adapt to DC's different narratives and was received with interest by fans.
- #002
Morton is the only actor to narrate every installment of the audiobook series "Star Trek: New Frontier." The series consists of novels set in the Star Trek universe that tell the adventures of Captain Calhoun. Morton's involvement in such an extensive project is regarded as a sign of his voice-acting ability and his popularity among Star Trek fans.
Characters & Cast (8)
- #003
Joe Morton began his Broadway career in the late 1960s with "Hair," one of the most groundbreaking musicals of the era. The show brought both rock music and the social movements of the time to the stage, creating a major stir in the theater world. Morton's appearance in the production introduced his talent to a wide audience and paved the way for him to take on important roles in the years that followed.
- #004
Morton completed his acting training at Hofstra University on Long Island, just east of New York. The drama courses he took there laid the foundation for the strong presence he would show on stage and in front of the camera. His university years were the period in which he reinforced his passion for theater and made a solid start to his professional career.
- #005
In 1974, Morton was both nominated for a Tony Award and won the Theatre World Award for his performance in the musical "Raisin" on Broadway. "Raisin" was a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's famous play "A Raisin in the Sun," and the character Morton portrayed earned him great praise from both critics and audiences.
- #006
Morton became one of the rare actors to appear in two separate DC universes, with roles in both the television series "Smallville" and the films of the DC Extended Universe. While he contributed to the story of the young Superman with his role in "Smallville," he brought a different character to life in the 2016 film "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." The transition between these two productions demonstrated his ability to adapt to DC's different narratives and was met with interest by fans.
- #007
Morton was honored with NAACP Awards for his performances in the 1990 legal drama "Equal Justice" and the 1993 series "Tribeca." These awards honored his success, particularly in dramatic roles, and his contribution to the representation of the African-American community. In "Equal Justice," Morton played a character working as a prosecutor and successfully reflected the inner workings of the justice system.
- #008
In 1985, in the 37th volume of John Willis's Screen World, one of the film world's important publications, Morton was included in the list of "Twelve Promising New Actors of 1985." The list aimed to identify the year's most notable new talents and introduce them to a wide audience. Morton's inclusion on the list was regarded as a turning point in his career and opened the door for him to take part in bigger projects in Hollywood.
- #009
Morton is the only actor to narrate every installment of the audiobook series "Star Trek: New Frontier." The series consists of novels set in the Star Trek universe that tell the adventures of Captain Calhoun. Morton's involvement in such an extensive project is regarded as an indication of his voice-acting ability and his popularity among Star Trek fans.
- #010
Over the course of his career, Morton twice played a character who sacrifices his life to protect a high-tech device. He first made this sacrifice in the 1991 film "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," as Miles Dyson, who struggles to save humanity's future. The second time, he appeared on screen in the 2017 film "Justice League" as Silas Stone, who makes the same sacrifice while standing against a threat to Earth.
Career & Awards (6)
- #011
Joe Morton began his Broadway career in the late 1960s with "Hair," one of the most groundbreaking musicals of the era. The show brought both rock music and the social movements of the time to the stage, creating a major stir in the theater world. Morton's appearance in the production introduced his talent to a wide audience and paved the way for the significant roles he would take on in later years.
- #012
Morton completed his acting training at Hofstra University on Long Island, just east of New York. The drama courses he took there laid the foundation for the strong presence he would show on stage and screen. His university years reinforced his passion for theater and gave him a solid start to his professional career.
- #013
In 1974, Morton was both nominated for a Tony Award and won the Theatre World Award for his performance in the Broadway musical "Raisin." This success considerably raised his standing in the theater world and brought wide recognition of his talent. "Raisin" was a musical adaptation of Lorraine Hansberry's famous play "A Raisin in the Sun," and the character Morton played earned him great praise from both critics and audiences.
- #014
Morton was honored with NAACP Awards for his performances in the 1990 legal drama "Equal Justice" and the 1993 series "Tribeca." These awards recognized his success, particularly in dramatic roles, and his contribution to the representation of the African-American community. In "Equal Justice," Morton played a character working as a prosecutor and successfully reflected the inner workings of the justice system.
- #015
In 1985, in the 37th volume of John Willis's Screen World, one of cinema's major publications, Morton was included in the list of "Twelve Promising New Actors of 1985." The list aimed to identify the year's most notable new talents and introduce them to a wide audience. Morton's inclusion in the list was regarded as a turning point in his career and opened the way for him to take part in bigger projects in Hollywood.
- #016
Over the course of his career, Morton twice played a character who sacrifices his life to protect a high-tech device. He first made this sacrifice in the 1991 film "Terminator 2: Judgment Day" as Miles Dyson, who fights to save humanity's future. He did so a second time in the 2017 film "Justice League," appearing as Silas Stone, who makes the same sacrifice while confronting a threat to Earth.
Life & Family (1)
- #017
Morton is the cousin of actor Walter Jones. Walter Jones is best known for his role as Zack Taylor in the series "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers." This family connection between the two actors has allowed them to support each other in their careers. Although Morton and Jones have appeared in different productions, their family ties have kept them close.
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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