A handsome, dignified African-American actor who has excelled on stage, screen and TV, Morton made his movie breakthrough as the mute extraterrestrial in John Sayles' "The Brother From Another Planet" (1984). A virtuoso performance that recalled some of the silent triumphs of Chaplin and Keaton, Morton's richly expressive turn was the emotional linchpin of a film that earned acclaim largely for its ensemble playing. Most audiences know the actor, though, for his pivotal supporting role in the blockbuster sequel "Terminator 2" (1991), as the scientist who is persuaded by Arnold Schwarzenegger and friends to destroy the cyborg components he has been researching. That same year, Morton was more impressive playing an idealistic politician in a worthy if less publicized Sayles film, "City of Hope".
Though he has amassed many classical stage credits, Morton initially established himself in Broadway musicals. After debuting in 1968 in "Hair", he went on to star in the musical version of "Two Gentlemen of Verona". He earned a Tony nomination for his starring role in "Raisin", the surprisingly effective musical version of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun". A regular on several TV series, his small-screen movie credits include the docudrama "Challenger" (1990), as astronaut Dr. Ronald McNair; and "Howard Beach: Making the Case for Murder" (1989), as Cedric Sandiford. Morton's intelligent, serious demeanor often led to roles as professionals--doctors, lawyers scientists, and elected officials. He starred as a lawyer on the ensemble dramatic series "Equal Justice" (ABC, 1990-91) and proved convincing as a suave senatorial candidate who got romantically involved with Jasmine Guy on several episodes of "A Different World" (NBC, 1992). He also played the recurring role of a policeman in Robert De Niro's first (and fleeting) TV project, "Tribeca" (1993).
Morton's recent feature credits include supporting roles in "Of Mice and Men" (1992) and "Speed" (1994). He starred in Matty Rich's "The Inkwell" (also 1994) as the still militant, former Black Panther father of the youthful protagonist. Since the mid-90s, the actor has attempted to find steady work in series TV, with little success. "Under One Roof" (CBS, 1994) was a gentle ensemble family drama that couldn't find its audience. "New York News" (CBS, 1995) cast Morton as the managing editor of a tabloid newspaper and even with the presence of Mary Tyler Moore in the cast, it proved short-lived. Of even less duration was "Prince Street" (NBC, 1997), an intriguing police drama that lasted only two episodes. Morton once again braved the airwaves in "Mercy Point" (UPN, 1998), described as an "ER" in outer space but that too died a quick death. He rebounded by returning to the stage, appearing with Judd Hirsch and George Wendt in the award-winning Broadway play "Art".
Family
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Daughter: Hopi Morton. born c. 1971; married and has son Moses (born c. 1998)
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Daughter: Seta Morton. born c. 1993; mother, Nora Chavooshian
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Father: Joseph T Morton. died under mysterious circumstances in Germany while helping integrate overseas Army bases in the 1950s
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Mother: Evelyn Morton.
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Son: Ara Morton. born c. 1989; mother, Nora Chavooshian
Education
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Hofstra University, Hempstead, New York, drama
Milestones
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1958 Moved with family to Dachau, Germany (date approximate)
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1968 Broadway debut at age 20 in the trendsetting musical, Hair
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1972 Starred in the musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona
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1973 Starred as Walter Lee Younger in Raisin , the Broadway musical version of Lorraine Hansberry s drama A Raisin in the Sun
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1975 Appeared as Hal Marshall, a regular character on the NBC sitcom Grady , a short-lived NBC spinoff of Sanford and Son
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1977 Played first notable role in a feature, as Ahmed in Joan Micklin Silver s Between the Lines , a character study of the counterculture
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1984 Played first lead in a major feature, as the title character in John Sayles The Brother From Another Planet ; first collaboration with writer-director Sayles
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1991 Starred in Sayles City of Hope
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1993 Appeared as Carleton, one of two recurring characters on the Fox-TV anthology drama, Tribeca
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1993 Narrated the well-received PBS documentary series, The Great Depression
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1993 TV directorial debut with The Loft episode of Tribeca
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1994 Appeared in ensemble drama Under One Roof (CBS)
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1994 Narrated PBS documentary series, Against the Odds: The Artists of the Harlem Renaissance
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1995 Cast as a regular in CBS drama series New York News
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1997 Appeared in the award-winning HBO movie Miss Evers Boys as one of the doctors treating black men with syphillis
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1997 Co-starred in short-lived NBC drama Prince Street
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1998 Acted in the Broadway play Art ; also performed in the London production alongside Judd Hirsch
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1998 Starred in the short-lived UPN sci-fi medical series Mercy Point
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1999 Had supporting role in The Astronaut s Wife
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2001 Appeared in the Off-Broadway play Brutal Imagination
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2001 Cast as the Duke in the New York Shakespeare Festival Central Park staging of Measure for Measure
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2001 Rejoined the London production of Art , featured with Judd Hirsch and Richard Thomas
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2002 Portrayed Dr. Zeke McMillan on All My Children
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2003 Cast in the film by director John Woo Paycheck
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2005 Starred as Capt. Dick Marshfield in the big budget Stealth, with Jamie Foxx
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2006 Cast in an adaptation of Armistead Maupin s novel The Night Listener
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Appeared as a major member of the ensemble cast of Equal Justice , an ABC-TV legal series
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Appeared as a recurring character on A Different World
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Cast as a regular in the TV soap Search for Tomorrow
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Decided to become an actor on his first day at Hofstra University
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First professional acting job in off-Broadway production of A Month of Sundays , a modern version of the Noah story
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Had regular role of Dr. Abel Marsh in the TV soap Another World
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Moved with mother and family to New York
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Raised in Okinawa, Japan and Europe
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Remained in Germany until father s death