Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 12

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Nearly Quit Acting After 14-Hour Star Trek Prosthetics Ordeal

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Aug 12

Jeffrey Dean Morgan Nearly Quit Acting After 14-Hour Star Trek Prosthetics Ordeal

Q: Which specific audition finally broke the curse for Jeffrey Dean Morgan after his own manager claimed he had aged out of the industry?

It was **the audition for “Grey’s Anatomy,” where he won the role of Denny Duquette**, that most clearly broke the curse for Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Morgan has said that after his manager told him he had “aged out” of Hollywood and dropped him, his fortunes changed almost instantly when he booked **“Supernatural,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Weeds” within about a week of each other**. But by his own later account, **“Grey’s Anatomy” was the true career-changer**: he said the role gave him a career, turned him from “an unknown nobody” into a recognizable actor, and effectively ended the constant audition grind. So while the breakthrough was really a three-show run, the **specific audition most associated with finally ending that losing streak was “Grey’s Anatomy.”**

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 12

Jeffrey Dean Morgan said a 2003 turn as Xindi alien Damron on “Star Trek: Enterprise” nearly drove him out of Hollywood for good.
14-hour days in heavy prosthetics left him claustrophobic, unable to eat normally and, he said, still “waking up sweating” over the experience.
The ordeal hit while Morgan was struggling through his mid-30s, taking fence-building and other side jobs as guest roles and small films failed to provide stability.
Around age 38, that slump broke with roles on “Supernatural,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Weeds,” launching the career that now includes AMC’s “The Walking Dead: Dead City” Season 3.