Zack Morris (actor)

{{short description|English actor (b. 1998)}}

{{about|the British actor|the fictional character|Zack Morris (Saved by the Bell) }}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Zack Morris

| image =

| alt =

| caption = Zach Morris

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|10|02|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Brentwood, Essex, England

| death_date =

| nationality =

| other_names =

| occupation = Actor

| years_active = 2007–present

| known_for = EastEnders (2017–2022)

| notable_works =

}}

Zack Morris (born 2 October 1998) is an English actor, known for portraying the role of Keegan Baker in the BBC soap opera EastEnders and Isaiah Howard in the Disney+/Hulu series Goosebumps (2023).

Early life and education

Originally from Brentwood, Essex, Morris grew up wanting to be an actor.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/interviews/a820581/eastenders-zack-morris-keegan-baker-interview-spoilers/|title=EastEnders newcomer Zack Morris interview: 'If people hate Keegan, I'm fine with that'|first=Daniel|last=Kilkelly|date=5 February 2017|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Communications|access-date=5 February 2017}} He developed an interest in acting at age six after seeing a local production, and began acting classes. Morris attended the D&B Academy of Performing Arts in Bromley, where he trained in singing, dancing and acting. He received a scholarship from television presenter Marvin Humes.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/eastenders/eastenders-news/zack-morris-keegans-cheekiness-no-bullying-463168/|title=EastEnders' Zack Morris: 'I've got Keegan's cheekiness, but none of the bullying'|work=What's on TV|first=Alison|last=Slade|publisher=Time Inc. UK|date=4 April 2017|access-date=16 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405230631/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/eastenders/eastenders-news/zack-morris-keegans-cheekiness-no-bullying-463168/|archive-date=5 April 2017}}

Career

Morris began his professional acting career at the age of nine when he appeared in the musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He also appeared in the play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and in a West End production of Oliver!{{cite web|url=http://www.dandbperformingarts.co.uk/newsevents/db-2017-ntas|title=D&B AT THE 2017 NTA'S|access-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322190418/http://www.dandbperformingarts.co.uk/newsevents/db-2017-ntas|archive-date=22 March 2017}} Morris made his on-screen debut in 2011 as Sam in the miniseries The Fades, and a year later, he played Kyle in the BBC miniseries One Night. He has also appeared in several commercials.

In 2017, Morris was cast as Keegan Baker in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/news/a818705/eastenders-spoilers-keegan-zack-morris-new-character-revealed/|title=Who's Keegan? EastEnders sneaked in a brand new character last night|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|date=10 January 2017|work=Digital Spy|access-date=11 January 2017}} He left the series after five years in March 2022.{{cite news|last=Sarrubba|first=Stefania|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a39467501/eastenders-keegan-baker-exit-fan-reaction/|title= EastEnders sparks big fan reaction with Keegan Baker's exit|work=DigitalSpy|date=17 March 2022|access-date=18 March 2022}}

In 2022, Morris was cast in Will Gilbey's thriller Jericho Ridge.{{cite web |last=Warner |first=Sam |title=EastEnders star Zack Morris lands first movie role following soap exit|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a39275826/eastenders-zack-morris-jericho-ridge-first-movie-role/ |date=1 March 2022 |website=Digital Spy |publisher= |access-date=2 March 2022}} The film premiered at Galway Film Fleadh on 14 July 2023 making it his feature film debut. It was released to U.S. streaming services later that year, before it premiered in cinemas in the UK on 25 April 2024.{{cite news |title=Buncrana film producer Mark O'Sullivan brings 'Jericho Ridge' to premiere at 35th Galway Film Fleadh

|url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/people/buncrana-film-producer-mark-osullivan-brings-jericho-ridge-to-premiere-at-35th-galway-film-fleadh-4213675 |date=10 July 2023 |newspaper=Derry Journal |access-date=2 September 2024}}{{cite web |title=British Siege Survival Thriller Jericho Ridge Now Streaming on BET+ Platform |url=https://lbbonline.com/news/british-siege-survival-thriller-jericho-ridge-now-streaming-on-bet-platform |date=23 November 2023 |website=lbbonline.com |publisher=Little Black Book |access-date=2 September 2024}}{{Cite web |title=Tense survival thriller "Jericho Ridge" comes to UK Cinemas 25/4 |url=https://www.spotlightonkulture.uk/jericho-ridge-in-uk-cinemas-25-4 |date=20 April 2024 |website=www.spotlightonkulture.uk |access-date=2 September 2024}}

In October 2022, Morris was cast in the first season of Disney+'s remake of the horror anthology series Goosebumps.{{cite web |last=Otterson |first=Joe |title='Goosebumps' Disney+ Series Casts Zack Morris, Isa Briones (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/goosebumps-disney-plus-series-cast-zack-morris-isa-briones-1235399066/ |date=11 October 2022 |magazine=Variety |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=11 October 2022}} The season premiered on 13 October 2023.{{cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |title='Goosebumps' Gets Premiere Date On Disney+ & Hulu; Freeform To Air First Two Episodes; Teaser |url=https://deadline.com/2023/09/goosebumps-premiere-date-disney-hulu-teaser-1235539118/ |date=7 September 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=9 September 2023}}

In 2024, Morris was cast opposite Priyanka Chopra in the Amazon MGM Studios film, The Bluff.{{cite web |last=Gajewski |first=Ryan |title=Temuera Morrison, Zack Morris Join Priyanka Chopra Jonas in Amazon MGM’s ‘The Bluff’ (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-bluff-temuera-morrison-zack-morris-priyanka-chopra-jonas-1235978567/ |date=20 August 2024 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=Eldridge Industries |access-date=2 September 2024}}

Filmography

class="wikitable"
Year

! Title

! Role

! Notes

2009

| Autopilot

| Zach

| Short film

2011

| The Fades

| Sam

| 2 episodes

2012

| One Night

| Kyle

| 4 episodes

2017–2022

| EastEnders

| Keegan Baker

| Regular role

2017

| Children in Need 2017

| Chimney Sweep

| EastEnders does the West End

2018

| Children in Need 2018

| Aladdin

| EastEnders does Disney

2020

| EastEnders: Secrets from the Square

| Himself

| Episode: "Tiffany, Keegan and Karen"

2023

| Goosebumps

| Isaiah

| Main role

2023

| Jericho Ridge

| Monty

| Feature film debut

TBA

| The Bluff

| TBA

| Supporting role

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"
YearCeremonyAwardWorkResult
rowspan=3|2017The British Soap AwardsBest Newcomer{{cite web|url=http://www.dandbperformingarts.co.uk/newsevents/zack-morris-shortlisted-two-best-newcomer-tv-awards|title=Zack Morris nominated for Best Newcomer TV Awards |publisher= D&B Management |access-date=13 August 2017}}rowspan="16"|EastEnders{{sho}}
TV Choice AwardsBest Soap Newcomer{{sho}}
Black International Film Festival Music Video & Screen AwardsBest Emerging Talent{{cite web|url=https://www.biffestival.co.uk/news/2017/10/31/2017-winners-announced|title=2017 Winners Announced|publisher=Black International Film Festival|date=31 October 2017|access-date=5 November 2017}}{{won}}
rowspan=4|2018rowspan="2" |IARA UKBest Actor{{cite web|url=https://iara-awards.org/iara-awards-2018-nominees/|title=IARA Awards 2018 Nominees|access-date=15 July 2018}}{{sho}}
Best Young Actor{{cite web|url=https://iara-awards.org/winners-2018/|title=IARA Awards – International Achievement Recognition Awards – Winners|date=23 September 2018|access-date=23 September 2018}}{{won}}
Inside Soap AwardsBest Actor{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/news/a862268/inside-soap-awards-2018-full-longlist-coronation-street-eastenders-emmerdale-hollyoaks/|title=Inside Soap Awards 2018 full longlist revealed: Which Corrie, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up?|date=24 July 2018|first=Megan|last=Davies|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Communications|access-date=26 July 2018}}{{longlisted}}
Digital Spy Reader AwardsBest Male Actor{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Abby|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a25612459/emmerdale-reader-awards-soap-winners-2018/|title=Emmerdale wins big at the Digital Spy Reader Awards 2018|access-date=30 December 2018 |work=Digital Spy |publisher=Hearst Magazines UK |date=28 December 2018}}{{draw|Eighth}}
rowspan=6|201924th National Television AwardsSerial Drama Performance{{cite web|last=Harp|first=Justin|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/doctor-who/news/a868526/national-tv-awards-2019-longlist-nominations/|title=Here are all the nominees for the National TV Awards 2019, including Strictly, Doctor Who and Ant & Dec|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Communications|date=16 October 2018|access-date=29 November 2018}}{{longlisted}}
rowspan="2"| The British Soap AwardsBest Actor{{cite magazine|last=Kilkelly|first=Daniel|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a27315460/british-soap-awards-2019-shortlist-nominations/|title=British Soap Awards 2019 shortlist revealed as EastEnders and Hollyoaks top the nominations|magazine=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|date=30 April 2019|access-date=30 April 2019}}{{sho}}
Best Male Dramatic Performance{{sho}}
TV Choice AwardsBest Actor{{cite web|url=http://xd.wayin.com/display/container/dc/6ae984d9-721c-4609-9bd7-eae43a8ef937|title=TVCA Long List 2019|work=TV Choice|access-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190530235302/https://display.engagesciences.com/display/container/dc/6ae984d9-721c-4609-9bd7-eae43a8ef937|archive-date=30 May 2019|url-status=dead}}{{longlisted}}
Inside Soap AwardsBest Actor{{cite web|last=Harp|first=Justin|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a28250686/inside-soap-awards-2019-longlist-coronation-street-eastenders-emmerdale-hollyoaks/|title=Inside Soap Awards 2019 longlist revealed – which Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks stars are up?|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Magazines UK|date=1 July 2019|access-date=23 August 2019}}{{shortlisted}}
Digital Spy Reader AwardsBest Male Soap Actor{{cite web|last=Robinson|first=Abby|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a29794570/best-soap-2019/|title=The Digital Spy Reader Awards 2019: Vote now for your Soap favourites of the year!|work=Digital Spy|date=19 November 2019|access-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127164839/https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/a29794570/best-soap-2019/|archive-date=27 November 2019|url-status=live}}{{longlisted}}
rowspan=3|202025th National Television AwardsSerial Drama Performance{{cite web|last=Harp|first=Justin|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a29465042/national-television-awards-2020-longlist-revealed/|title=Love Island, Emmerdale, Killing Eve, Drag Race UK and more land National Television Awards longlist nominations|work=Digital Spy|date=15 October 2019|access-date=28 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028233932/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a29465042/national-television-awards-2020-longlist-revealed/|archive-date=28 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{longlisted}}
TV Choice AwardsBest Soap Actor{{longlisted}}
Inside Soap AwardsBest Actor{{cite web|last=Alexander|first=Susannah|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/coronation-street/a34014122/inside-soap-awards-2020-full-longlist-nominees/|title=Inside Soap Awards reveals full longlist for 2020's ceremony|work=Digital Spy|date=14 September 2020|access-date=18 September 2020}}{{longlisted}}

References

{{Reflist}}