'Supernatural' Star Jeffrey Dean Morgan Casts a Spell on Audiences
Jeffrey Dean Morgan's overnight success was nearly 15 years in the making. During that time Morgan was a working actor who had small roles on shows including 'Sliders,' 'JAG,' 'CSI' and 'Monk.'
Morgan's luck finally changed in 2006 when he landed meaty roles on 'Grey's Anatomy' and 'Supernatural.' On 'Grey's,' Morgan stole the hearts of women across America for his portrayal of bedridden heart patient Denny Ducette. Sadly, that role ended with Denny's death, but this hard working actor also played the demon-hunting dad, Jon Winchester, on 'Supernatural.' He continues this role in season two, which kicks off Thur., at 9PM on The CW. If you missed season one, you are in luck because 'Supernatural: The Complete First Season' is in stores now and it includes audio commentaries, unaired scenes, a gag reel and a more.
In an exclusive interview, Morgan chatted with AOL Television editor Sean Doorly about his horizontal hospital bed mojo, his giggling 'Supernatural' co-stars and what he looks for in a woman.
When we left off
last season, you and your boys were in a car wreck. How does season two
kick off?
It kicks off exactly where it ended last year, in the car and we are obviously
not doing that great.
So you are all
still alive?
Yeah, we all know we are going to be alive. That's about the only thing
I can spill at this point. We all wake up in the car.
Any hospital bed
scenes for you?
Yes. We spent the better part of the first episode or so hanging around
the hospital and me doing my 'Grey's Anatomy' thing. I felt right at home.
It was pretty funny.
Will you be popping
in and out of season two, as you did in season one?
That is the idea. We'll see. I can't really divulge a whole lot because
it's like every other show I do lately, everything is so friggin' top
secret. But suffice it to say these guys keep a couple of cards up their
sleeves that I don't know about.
What do you admire
about your character?
He's a man's man. He's a screwed up dad, but I think he tries hard or
has been trying to make that attempt to be a father. I think he's been
out of the loop so long, that his attempts at doing what's right in the
minds of you and me are probably not the best decisions in the world,
but as far as John's concerned this is what he?s trying to do. He's a
really cool guy. He fights demons and bad stuff. It's like an actor's
dream. You get to do all the fun stuff.
I recently chatted
with Evangeline Lily from 'Lost' and she said it's not the acting, but
the emotional stuff that drains her. How about you?
It does. It certainly does. The only problem that I would say, at least
for 'Supernatural,' is that we're doing the action stuff at six in the
morning. Especially last year, since I was doing both shows ('Grey's Anatomy'
and 'Supernatural'), I could never quite figure out who or where I was
at any given moment. When I was in Vancouver, it was generally raining
or snowing, and I was getting thrown against a wall or a through a car
window. Then I'd go back to L.A. and do the emotional stuff, so I was
a wreck in both directions. But generally the action is a lot of fun.
It's like playing cops and robbers and doing stunts and jumping over couches.
It's that kind of thing. Just a little bit more hardcore I guess.
How is it playing
a dad to two actors that you aren't that much older than?
On set, we're like three idiot brothers. I mean that's exactly how it
is. Then they'll start calling me "Dad" or "Daddy,"
and giggles will ensue. There are a lot of takes because of laughing on
the show. Jared especially is the biggest giggler you ever met in your
life. To get through one take without him laughing or him making you laugh
off camera, which is even worse, is a miracle. But like I said, that's
part of the reason why that show is fun. It might be frustrating to the
crew sometimes but we certainly have a great time.
You've been in
the business for 15 years, but a lot of people think of you as an overnight
sensation.
Yeah, I'm still trying to figure that one out. I mean thank God. It's
this whole resurgence. I wouldn't say I'm an overnight success in any
sense, but this year has definitely put me on a lot of people's radar
that I wasn't on before. And I've got some super fans out there who are
crazy and insane and I love them to death. And that's because of this
year's last work, both 'Supernatural' and 'Grey's Anatomy.'
Is your busy life
any fun?
I've been waiting 15 years for this kind of opportunity, and as tired
and stupid as I was at the end of the year, I relished every second of
it. I didn't have any life of my own, but I didn't care. There have been
plenty of times where I've been sitting around watching soap operas wondering
what I was doing with my life.
Were there times
during those 15 years when you were thinking you were going to just give
up acting and become, say, a carpenter?
Oh yeah, every day. Every day. I was thinking, wow, how am I going to
pay rent next month or how am I ever going to retire? I wasn't putting
any money away. I was living hand-to-mouth and doing guest stars once
a month or even drier than that sometimes.
Wow, sounds like
some lean times.
Very lean times. I never did carpentering, but I remember building a couple
of fences for friends who were doing OK at the time. You do what you gotta
do, but ultimately you hope that this passion pays off and for me in last
year it certainly has, so I feel very lucky and blessed.
Your character
on 'Grey's' obviously touched a lot of people. What do you hear from the
fans about the character?
I think that show is so well written character-wise and Denny in particular
was such a nice guy. I think he was a nice guy who had a sense of humor
through the worst of it. The guy's going to die and he knows it. He was
open emotionally and I think a lot of people connected with that. He wasn't
your typical guy. He was very open and honest, and I give the writers
all the props in the world for that.
Do people recognize
you on the street now? What's that like?
It's very humbling. You forget until you see some woman running down the
ice cream aisle with tears in her eyes and she tackles you. So that part
is definitely different. It's a little different getting a head of lettuce
these days for me, but other than that it's fun. You don't do this to
be recognized, but when you do, you realize you're touching people so
that's a pretty good deal. Maybe now I'm not just the guy you went to
high school with, but you know who I am.
Are you currently
single?
I am.
What do you look
for in a mate?
I like to laugh. The biggest part of my life is having fun, so I like
somebody with a good sense of humor and if you laugh I like you. I spend
most of my time trying to find reasons to laugh and sometimes I laugh
inappropriately, but it gets me through the day. Living in Los Angeles
is a weird place. This business is a weird business, and you gotta have
a sense of humor through it all.