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David Morse

Actor

David Morse

Born 11 October 1953 · Hamilton, Massachusetts, USA

David Morse is an American character actor who rose to fame as Dr. Jack "Boomer" Morrison on the TV series St. Elsewhere. He later became a dependable presence in films, often playing authority figures or quietly troubled men. His stage work includes How I Learned to Drive and The Seafarer.

Key films

  • The Green Mile (1999)

    His role as gentle prison guard Brutus Howell in this acclaimed Stephen King adaptation is among his best-known film performances.

  • Twelve Monkeys (1995)

    Supporting role in Terry Gilliam's celebrated science-fiction film, a major mid-1990s showcase for his work.

  • The Rock (1996)

    Appeared in Michael Bay's hit action thriller, showing his range in big-budget genre cinema.

  • Dancer in the Dark (2000)

    Part of the cast of Lars von Trier's Cannes-winning drama, showing his work in arthouse cinema.

  • The Hurt Locker (2008)

    Featured in Kathryn Bigelow's acclaimed Iraq War drama.

Key awards

No major film awards are documented here. He earned Emmy nominations for House and John Adams, and a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award for the stage play How I Learned to Drive.

On Cinespective

Full filmography · 74
  • 1980Inside Moves · as Jerry MaxwellActor
  • 1981Our Family Business · as PhilActor
  • 1983Max Dugan Returns · as Shoe Store CopActor
  • 1983Prototype · as MichaelActor
  • 1984Shattered Vows · as Father TimActor
  • 1985When Dreams Come True · as Robert WyntonActor
  • 1987Six Against the Rock · as Marvin HubbardActor
  • 1987Downpayment on Murder · as Det. JacksonActor
  • 1987Personal FoulActor
  • 1988Winnie · as ThomasActor
  • 1988A Place at the Table · as Tom WilliamsActor
  • 1990Desperate Hours · as AlbertActor
  • 1991The Indian Runner · as Joe RobertsActor
  • 1991Cry in the Wild: The Taking of Peggy Ann · as Bicycle PeteActor
  • 1992Two-Fisted Tales · as Tom McMurdo (segment "Showdown")Actor
  • 1992Dead Ahead: The Exxon Valdez Disaster · as Rick SteinerActor
  • 1993The Good Son · as Jack EvansActor
  • 1993Miracle on Interstate 880 · as Dr. Jim BettsActor
  • 1994The Getaway · as Jim Deer JacksonActor
  • 1994Magic Kid II · as JackActor
  • 1995Twelve Monkeys · as Dr. PetersActor
  • 1995The Crossing Guard · as John BoothActor
  • 1995Tecumseh: The Last Warrior · as GallowayActor
  • 1996The Rock · as Major Tom BaxterActor
  • 1996The Long Kiss Goodnight · as Luke / DaedalusActor
  • 1996Extreme Measures · as Frank HareActor
  • 1997Contact · as Ted ArrowayActor
  • 1997Murder Live! · as Frank McGrathActor
  • 1997George B. · as GeorgeActor
  • 1998The Negotiator · as Cdr. Adam BeckActor
  • 1999The Green Mile · as Brutus 'Brutal' HowellActor
  • 1999Crazy in Alabama · as Dove BullisActor
  • 2000Dancer in the Dark · as Bill HoustonActor
  • 2000Proof of Life · as Peter BowmanActor
  • 2000Bait · as Edgar ClenteenActor
  • 2000Walking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mile · as Self - 'Brutal Howell'Actor
  • 2000Von Trier's 100 Eyes · as SelfActor
  • 2001Hearts in Atlantis · as Adult Bobby GarfieldActor
  • 2001Diary of a City Priest · as Fr. John McNameeActor
  • 2002Double Vision · as Kevin RichterActor
  • 2002The Slaughter Rule · as Gideon 'Gid' FergusonActor
  • 2005Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story · as PalmerActor
  • 2005Down in the Valley · as Wade SommersActor
  • 200616 Blocks · as Frank NugentActor
  • 2006Nearing Grace · as Shep NearingActor
  • 2007Disturbia · as Mr. TurnerActor
  • 2008The Hurt Locker · as Colonel ReedActor
  • 2008Passengers · as ArkinActor
  • 2008Hounddog · as DaddyActor
  • 2009Mother and Child · as TomActor
  • 2010Shanghai · as Richard AstorActor
  • 2010Mint Julep · as KarlActor
  • 2011Drive Angry · as WebsterActor
  • 2011Collaborator · as GusActor
  • 2012The Odd Life of Timothy Green · as James Green, Sr.Actor
  • 2012The Pond · as Adam 11Actor
  • 2013World War Z · as Ex-CIA AgentActor
  • 2013Horns · as Dale WilliamsActor
  • 2014McCanick · as Eugene 'Mack' McCanickActor
  • 2014Yellow · as PsychologistActor
  • 2014Winter in the Blood · as Airplane ManActor
  • 2014Walking the Mile · as SelfActor
  • 2015Concussion · as Mike WebsterActor
  • 2015The Boy · as JohnActor
  • 2017Flowing Water · as Narrator (voice)Actor
  • 2018Trouble · as GerryActor
  • 2020Barbecue · as James TActor
  • 2021The Virtuoso · as The DeputyActor
  • 2021The Timekeepers of Eternity · as Captain Brian Enlge (archive footage)Actor
  • 2024Cabrini · as Archbishop CorriganActor
  • 2024Broken Land · as Carson TidwellActor
  • 2025Looking Through Water · as LeoActor
  • 2025The Gettysburg Address · as Abraham Lincoln (voice)Actor
  • 2026Mayday · as Harold KellyActor

Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.