David Morse, a towering figure at 6' 4" with piercing blue eyes and a blond mane, spent a decade honing his craft on stage before transitioning to film, where he has established himself as a respected supporting and character actor.
Born on October 11, 1953, in Beverly, Massachusetts, Morse was the eldest of four children to Charles, a sales manager, and Jacquelyn, a schoolteacher. He grew up surrounded by three younger sisters and developed a passion for acting early on. After graduating from high school, Morse attended the William Esper Studio to further his training.
Morse's professional acting career began in 1971, when he joined the Boston Repertory Company, appearing in over 30 productions until 1977. He then continued his stage career with the Circle Repertory Company in New York before making the leap to television and film.
In the late 1990s, Morse returned to the Off-Broadway stage, starring in Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama "How I Learned to Drive" (1997),for which he won the Drama Desk Award and the Obie. This critically acclaimed performance cemented his reputation as a versatile and talented actor.
Morse made his big-screen debut in 1980, co-starring in "Inside Moves" (1980) opposite John Savage and Diana Scarwid. Although the film received an Oscar nomination, it took a few years for Morse's career to gain momentum. His breakthrough role came in 1982, when he was cast as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison in the medical drama "St. Elsewhere" (1982),which ran for six seasons.
Throughout his career, Morse has appeared in a wide range of films, including "Contact" (1997),"The Green Mile" (1999),"Proof of Life" (2000),and "Double Vision" (2002),for which he received a Golden Horse Award nomination. He has also had recurring roles on popular television shows, such as "House" (2004) and "Hack" (2002),which ran for three seasons.
In his personal life, Morse has been married to actress Susan Wheeler Duff since 1982, and they have three children together. After the Northridge earthquake destroyed their home in Sherman Oaks, the family relocated to Philadelphia, where Morse resides with his wife and children.
