A boyish, curly-haired character player of TV and several films, David Morse is best known for his role as the amiable Dr. Jack 'Boomer' Morrison on the long-running TV drama "St. Elsewhere" (NBC, 1982-88). The New England native got his start with the Boston Repertory Theater in 1971. After six years, he moved to New York where he appeared in such shows as "Threads" (1981). Additionally, he was featured in regional productions of various plays, including "Of Mice and Men", "A Hatful of Rain" and "A Death in the Family". In 1997, he won rave reviews and numerous stage awards for his powerful, delicately nuanced performance as a pedophile in Paula Vogel's Pulitzer-winning "How I Learned to Drive".Morse's TV career had started in 1981 with a small role in the ABC movie "Our Family Business", but it was his role as the engagingly puppy-like doctor in the popular ensemble series "St Elsewhere" which brought him, if not stardom, a reputation as a likeable and reliable performer. Morse also directed two episodes in the 1987-88 season. During the series' run, he also appeared in six dramatic TV-movies, and nearly all of them co-starring fellow TV actors: Valerie Bertinelli ("Shattered Vows", NBC, 1984), Cindy Williams ("When Dreams Come True", ABC, 1985), Howard Hesseman ("Six Against the Rock", NBC, 1987), Susan Dey ("A Place at the Table", NBC, 1988).
After the departure of "St Elsewhere", Morse continued in TV-movies and miniseries, always in second leads. He appeared in the spy drama "The Brotherhood of the Rose" and the KKK drama "Cross of Fire" (both NBC, 1989), "Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster" (HBO, 1992), "Stephen King's 'The Langoliers'" (ABC, 1995), and "Tecumseh: The Last Warrior" (TNT, 1995), among others. His second attempt at a series, the sitcom "Big Wave Dave's" (CBS, 1993) did not make a splash with viewers.
Morse had made an impressive feature debut as the thoughtless basketball player who forgets his friends when he gets a shot at the big time in "Inside Moves" (1980). He has appeared in several other films, once again missing only the comedy and romance genres. His vehicles have been impressive, although Morse's roles have generally been supporting ones. In Michael Cimino's 1990 remake of "Desperate Hours", he was a slow-witted cohort of a sociopathic convict (Mickey Rourke). He was Elijah Wood's bereaved father in "The Good Son" (1993) and co-starred with Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger in the remake of "The Getaway" (1994). Director Sean Penn provided Morse with two meaty leading roles. In 1991's "The Indian Runner", he was a cop coping with his violent, black-sheep brother (Viggo Mortensen), while in 1995's "The Crossing Guard" (1995), he was a convicted hit-and-run driver who is confronted by his victim's father (Jack Nicholson). Morse also appeared as a doctor in Terry Gilliam's successful sci-fi thriller "12 Monkeys" (also 1995). He next supported such big names as Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris as a soldier in the terrorist thriller "The Rock" (1996) and followed as Jodie Foster's supportive father in "Contact" (1997).
Profession(s):
Actor, waiter
Sometimes Credited As:
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Actor "How I Learned to Drive" 1997
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play "How I Learned to Drive" 1996 - 1997
OBIE Award Performance "How I Learned to Drive" 1996 - 1997
2008 Portrayed George Washington in the HBO mini-series "John Adams"; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or TV-Movie
2007 Co-starred in the thriller "Disturbia," a high-tech teen update of "Rear Window"
2006 Had a recurring role on the medical drama, "House" (FOX) as a detective with a vendetta against Gregory House; earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2006 Played a man dealing with the loss of his wife in "Nearing Grace"
2005 Co-starred with Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell in the family drama "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story"
2003 Co-starred in the sports drama feature "the Slaughter Rule"
2002 Had lead in the CBS pilot "Hack", about a cop turned taxi driver
2001 Portrayed the main character of Bobby Garfield as a grown man in "Hearts in Atlantis"
2000 Acted in Lars von Trier's award-winning "Dancer in the Dark"
2000 Played Meg Ryan's kidnapped spouse in "Proof of Life"
1999 Co-starred as a prison guard in "The Green Mile"
1998 Appeared in "The Negotiator"
1997 Appeared as Jodie Foster's father in "Contact"
1997 Received critical praise for his performance in the play "How I Learned to Drive"
1996 Played title role in the quirky romance "George B."
1995 Co-starred in Penn's "The Crossing Guard"
1995 Portrayed a Catholic priest in the one-person play "An Almost Holy Picture"
1994 Moved with his family to Philadelphia (date approximate)
1991 First worked with director Sean Penn on "The Indian Runner"
1987 Directoral debut, two episodes of "St. Elsewhere"
1981 TV debut in movie "Our Family Business" (ABC)
1980 Made feature film debut in "Inside Moves"
1978 Joined Circle Repertory Theatre in New York; acted in productions of "Waiting for Godot", Twelfth Night" and "A Death in the Family" (date approximate)
1971 - 1977 Acted with the Boston Repertory Theatre before moving to New York City to study with drama coach William Esper
Series debut, as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison medical drama "St. Elsewhere" (NBC)
