Jeffrey Dean Morgan has made a name for himself with his role as Negan in The Walking Dead
. But 20 years ago, he nearly gave up his acting career – because of a role in Star Trek.
The actor, who many today know as the charismatic villain Negan from The Walking Dead
, went through a tough phase in his career before his breakthrough. He nearly quit acting because of a guest role in the cult series Star Trek: Enterprise
.
What role was it? In the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise
, Morgan appeared as the Xindi-Reptilian Damron and villain of Episode 11 “Carpenter Street”. Damron is a scientist responsible for the construction and development of the Xindi bioweapon. They want to use this weapon to exterminate humanity in the 22nd century.
I went home crying
What was bad about the role for him? The role of Damron initially seemed straightforward, but then Morgan was faced with challenges: extensive makeup and prosthetics that were required for his portrayal.
He described the torture he felt he was subjected to:
I had to pay my bills. I knew I was going to play a guy who says something. Then I got a call that I should go for a prosthetic fitting. I remember them smearing goo on my face and straws sticking out of my nose. I couldn’t have lunch. I had claustrophobia. I went home crying. That was the job where I wanted to give up acting.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan via Entertainment Weekly
The Turnaround and Success
What happened next? Fortunately, Jeffrey Dean Morgan decided not to give up despite that experience. Just two years later, he secured the popular role of John Winchester in Supernatural
. This role paved the way for further successes, including the role of Denny Duquette in Grey’s Anatomy
. Today, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is known mainly for his role as Negan in The Walking Dead
.
For Jeffrey Dean Morgan, appearing in Star Trek: Enterprise
proved to be a challenging experience that almost led him to end his acting career. But he didn’t give up and found his way to becoming one of the most well-known and beloved actors in the television universe.
Soon, you can see the actor in the fourth season of The Boys, which is set to premiere on June 13, 2024.
On Netflix, there is an anime that goes in a similar direction as The Boys while also combining many entertaining heist elements: If you’re waiting for Season 4 of The Boys, you should check out this anime on Netflix
