Joseph Morgan (actor)
{{short description|English actor (born 1981)}}
{{pp-pc}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joseph Morgan
| image = Joseph Morgan in 2024.jpg
| image_size = 180px
| caption = Morgan in 2024
| birth_name = Joseph Martin
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|5|16|df=yes}}
| birth_place = London, England
| occupation = Actor
| alma_mater = Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
| years_active = 2002–present
| known_for = The Vampire Diaries and The Originals as Klaus Mikaelson
| spouse = {{marriage|Persia White|5 July 2014}}
}}
Joseph Morgan (né Martin;{{cite magazine|url=https://www.seventeen.com/celebrity/movies-tv/a10403504/joseph-morgan-facts/|title=9 Things You Didn't Know About Joseph Morgan from "The Originals"|magazine=Seventeen|last=Devoe|first=Noelle|access-date=22 June 2018}} 16 May 1981{{cite web|url=https://www.prosieben.de/themen/stars/profile/joseph-morgan-61952 |title=Joseph Morgan |work=ProSieben/Joyn |lang=de |access-date=15 December 2023}}) is an English actor. He is known for playing Niklaus "Klaus" Mikaelson on The CW's The Vampire Diaries and its spinoff The Originals in which he is the lead. He has portrayed CJack60/Elliot in the Peacock series Brave New World, and Brother Blood in the HBO Max series Titans. He recently starred as James Ackerson in the Paramount+ series Halo (2024).
Early life
Morgan was born in London, but lived in Swansea for 11 years.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/JosephMorgan|title=Joseph Morgan's Twitter page}} He is the oldest child in his family. He was a student at Morriston Comprehensive School and then studied a BTEC Performing Arts course at Gorseinon College (now Gower College Swansea), before moving back to London to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama.{{Cite web|title=100 Notable alumni of Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |url=https://edurank.org/uni/the-royal-central-school-of-speech-and-drama/alumni/ |website=edurank.org|access-date=13 April 2023}}
Career
Morgan's first ever acting audition was for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for Tom Riddle.{{cite tweet|number=224173287914221568|user=JosephMorgan|title=@Charlotte2211 My first ever acting Audition was for Harry Potter II, for a character called Tom Riddle.|date=14 July 2012}} Morgan starred in the first series of the Sky One television series Hex, as Troy and has appeared in supporting roles in films such as Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) and Alexander (2004) and the BBC Two television series The Line of Beauty.{{cite web |title=BBC - Drama - The Line of Beauty - Joseph Morgan as Jasper |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/lineofbeauty/joseph_morgan.shtml |website=BBC |access-date=30 September 2023}} He has also appeared in the television series Doc Martin and Casualty and co-starred in Mansfield Park (2007) alongside Billie Piper. In 2010 he played the title role in the mini-series Ben Hur which first aired on CBC television in Canada and ABC TV in America, on 4 April 2010.{{Cite web|title=Joseph Morgan|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0604784/bio|access-date=6 May 2021|website=IMDb|language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Parks |first1=Tim |title='Ben-Hur' miniseries gets leading man |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a154848/ben-hur-miniseries-gets-leading-man/ |website=Digital Spy |access-date=30 December 2023 |date=5 May 2009}}
File:Joseph Morgan - Monte-Carlo Television Festival.jpg
Morgan played Niklaus Mikaelson in The CW's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries, a television adaptation of the book series of the same name as well as in its spin-off The Originals.{{cite web |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/02/18/vampire-diaries-klaus-cast-joseph-morgan/ |title='Vampire Diaries' casts Klaus: How should Joseph Morgan play the villain? (Like a young James Spader?)|access-date=15 March 2011 |work=EW.com |author=Bierly, Mandi |date=March 2011}}{{cite news|title=The CW Orders Backdoor Pilot for 'Vampire Diaries' Spinoff, 'The Originals'|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/11/the-cw-orders-backdoor-pilot-for-vampire-diaries-spinoff-the-originals/165059/comment-page-2/#comments|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114221619/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/01/11/the-cw-orders-backdoor-pilot-for-vampire-diaries-spinoff-the-originals/165059/comment-page-2/#comments|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 January 2013|access-date=19 August 2013|publisher=tvbythenumbers|date=11 January 2013}}{{cite web|last=Bricker|first=Tierney|title=The Vampire Diaries Spinoff The Originals, Starring Joseph Morgan, in the Works|url=http://au.eonline.com/news/377856/the-vampire-diaries-spinoff-the-originals-starring-joseph-morgan-in-the-works|publisher=E! News|access-date=12 January 2013|date=11 January 2013}} His work garnered him several nominations for Teen Choice Awards and a People's Choice Award. He also appeared as Lysander in the 2011 film Immortals, alongside Henry Cavill. BuddyTV ranked him number 84 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011".{{cite web|title=TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2011|url=https://www.buddytv.com/tvs-100-sexiest-men-of-2011/|access-date=9 March 2012|publisher=BuddyTV}}
In 2020, Morgan starred in Peacock's science fiction drama Brave New World as CJack60/Elliot.{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Olivia |title='Brave New World' star Joseph Morgan talks comparisons to the book, staying 'in each moment' on the show, and the scenes he's most proud of |url=https://www.insider.com/brave-new-world-joseph-morgan-interview-2020-7 |website=Insider |access-date=19 September 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Otterson |first1=Joe |title='Brave New World' Series Adds Five to Cast, Including Kylie Bunbury, Joseph Morgan |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/brave-new-world-series-cast-1203246955/ |website=Variety |access-date=19 September 2023 |date=19 June 2019}}
In 2022, Morgan was cast as Brother Blood in the fourth season of the HBO Max series Titans.{{cite web |last1=McVey |first1=Ciara |title='Titans' Cast Joseph Morgan as Brother Blood for Season 4 {{!}} THR News |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/video/titans-cast-joseph-morgan-as-brother-blood-for-season-4-thr-news/ |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=19 September 2023 |date=1 February 2022}} He also reprised the role of Klaus in the final season of Legacies, a spin-off series of The Originals.{{cite web |last1=Complex |first1=Valerie |title=Joseph Morgan Confirms Appearance In 'Legacies' Series Finale |url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/actor-joseph-morgan-of-cw-show-the-originals-1235043478/ |website=Deadline |access-date=28 September 2023 |date=12 June 2022}}
Morgan joined the cast for season 2 of Halo, which aired in February 2024, alongside fellow newcomer Cristina Rodlo.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/halo-joseph-morgan-cristina-rodlo-season-2-paramount-series-1235119126/|title='Halo': Joseph Morgan & Cristina Rodlo Join Season 2 of Paramount+ Series|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Petski|first=Denise|date=14 September 2022}} He plays James Ackerson, an operative of the secretive Office of Naval Intelligence, of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC).{{cite web|url=https://www.tvinsider.com/1060775/halo-season-2-paramount-cast/ |title=Joseph Morgan Joins 'Halo' Season 2 With Cristina Rodlo |work=tvinsider.com |author=Martin Holmes|date=15 September 2022}}
Personal life
Morgan met actress Persia White on the set of The Vampire Diaries. They began dating in 2011 and became engaged in 2014.{{cite web |title=Joseph Morgan Engaged to Persia White! The Originals Star Dishes on His "Romantic" Proposal |url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/542158/joseph-morgan-engaged-to-persia-white-the-originals-star-dishes-on-his-romantic-proposal| publisher=E! News |last=Johnson |first=Zach |date=15 May 2014}} They married on 5 July 2014 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.people.com/article/joseph-morgan-persia-white-vampire-diaries-married| magazine=People|last=Fowler|first=Tara|date=23 July 2014|title=Joseph Morgan Marries Persia White in Jamaica – See the Exclusive Photos!}} He is stepfather to White's daughter.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
He has been a vegan since 2014.{{cite web|last1=Jackson|first1=Kourtnee|title='The Originals': Joseph Morgan Took a Bite Out of a 'Vegan Heart' on the Show |url=https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/the-originals-joseph-morgan-took-a-bite-out-of-a-vegan-heart-on-the-show.html/|website=Showbiz CheatSheet|date=2 April 2021}}{{cite web|last1=Tharp|first1=Sharon|title=Joseph Morgan Loves Low-Key Date Nights With His Wife: 'Dinner and a Movie Is Pretty Great' |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/joseph-morgan-persia-white-talk-date-night-the-originals-w505291/|website=Us Magazine|date=25 September 2017}}
Morgan is a supporter of the charity Positive Women.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lVdIln0o2o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/4lVdIln0o2o |archive-date=21 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=Joseph Morgan's YouTube video in support of Positive Women | publisher=YouTube |date=November 2010}}{{cbignore}}
Filmography
=Film=
File:Joseph Morgan in 2011 by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
| rowspan="2"|2003
| Eroica | Matthias | |
| Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World
| William Warley, Captain of the Mizzentop | |
| 2004
| Philotas | |
| 2006
| Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! | Alfie | |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| William Price | |
| Mister Lonely
| |
| rowspan="4"|2011
| Rusty | |
| The Grind
| Paul | |
| Immortals
| Lysander | |
| With These Hands
| George | Short film; also writer, director and producer{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} |
| rowspan="2"|2013
| Revelation | {{n/a}} | Short film; as writer, director and producer{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} |
| Open Grave
| Nathan | |
| rowspan="2"|2014
| A.J. Budd | |
| 500 Miles North
| James Hogg | |
| 2015
| Desiree | Eric Ashworth | |
| 2017
| Carousel | Kit | Short film; also writer, director and producer{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable"| Notes |
| 2002
| Spooks | Reverend Parr | 1 episode |
| 2003
| 1 episode |
| 2004
| Hex | Troy | 5 episodes |
| 2005
| Callum | 3 episodes |
| 2006
| Jasper | 1 episode |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| Matthew Williams | 2 episodes |
| Doc Martin
| Mick Mabley | 5 episodes |
| 2008–2009
| Casualty | Tony Reece | 8 episodes |
| 2010
| Ben Hur | Miniseries |
| 2011–2016
| Recurring role (season 2); main role (seasons 3–4); special guest (seasons 5, 7) |
| 2013–2018
| Klaus Mikaelson | Main role |
| 2019
| Jed | Recurring role (season 4)[https://tvline.com/2019/07/17/joseph-morgan-cast-animal-kingdom-season-4/ The Originals' Joseph Morgan Set to Recur on Animal Kingdom as [Spoiler]] |
| 2020
| CJack60 | Main role |
| 2022
| Legacies | Klaus Mikaelson | Special guest star (season 4) |
| 2022–2023
| Titans | Sebastian Sanger / Brother Blood | Main role (season 4){{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/01/titans-season-4-villains-joseph-morgan-brother-blood-franka-potente-mother-mayhem-lisa-ambalavanar-jinx-1234923540/|title='Titans' Sets Season 4 Villains: Joseph Morgan As Brother Blood, Franka Potente As Mother Mayhem, Lisa Ambalavanar As Jinx|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|date=31 January 2022|access-date=1 June 2022}} |
| 2024
| Halo | James Ackerson |
=As a director=
- The Originals (2016–2018), 3 episodes: "Behind the Black Horizon", "Keepers of the House", "Ne Me Quitte Pas"{{cite web |title=The Originals: Joseph Morgan Talks Directing Episode, Marriage |url=https://people.com/tv/the-originals-joseph-morgan-talks-directing-episode-marriage/ |website=People |access-date=28 September 2023 |language=en}}
Awards and nominations
File:Joseph Morgan at PaleyFest 2014.jpg
References
{{Reflist|2}}
External links
{{Commons category|Joseph Morgan (actor)}}
- {{IMDb name|604784|Joseph Morgan}}
- [http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/joseph-morgan/ Acting CV and profile at Curtis Brown Talent Agency]
- {{Twitter|josephmorgan}}
- {{Instagram|therealjosephmorgan}}
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite Actor in a New TV Series}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Joseph}}
Category:Alumni of the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:Male actors from London