Joseph Martin Morgan (born 16 May 1981) is an English actor. His accolades including one People's Choice Awards, TV Guide Awards alongside eight nominations for Teen Choice Awards. After studying at Gower College Swansea, he starred in the first series of the Sky One's Hex, portraying Troy and has appeared in supporting roles in films Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) and Alexander (2004) and the BBC Two television series The Line of Beauty (2006).

Morgan came in attention after playing Klaus Mikaelson on The CW's supernatural television series The Vampire Diaries (2011). He later starred in its spinoff series The Originals (2013–2018) reprising his role as the protagonist. He has portrayed CJack60/Elliot in the Peacock series Brave New World, and Brother Blood in the HBO Max series Titans. Morgan starred as James Ackerson in the Paramount+ series Halo (2024).

Early life

Morgan was born in London, but lived in Swansea for 11 years. He is the oldest child in his family. He was a student at Morriston Comprehensive School and then studied a BTEC Performing Arts course at Gorseinon College (now Gower College Swansea), before moving back to London to study at the Central School of Speech and Drama.[citation needed]

Career

Morgan in 2012

Morgan's first acting audition was for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, where he auditioned for the role of Tom Riddle. Morgan starred in the first series of the Sky One television series Hex, as Troy and has appeared in supporting roles in films such as Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003) and Alexander (2004) and the BBC Two television series The Line of Beauty. He has also appeared in the television series Doc Martin and Casualty and co-starred in Mansfield Park (2007) alongside Billie Piper. In 2010, he played the title role in the mini-series Ben Hur which first aired on CBC television in Canada and ABC TV in America, on 4 April 2010.

Morgan played Klaus Mikaelson in The CW's supernatural drama The Vampire Diaries, a television adaptation of the book series of the same name as well as in its spin-off The Originals. His work garnered him several nominations for Teen Choice Awards and a People's Choice Award. He also appeared as Lysander in the 2011 film Immortals, alongside Henry Cavill. BuddyTV ranked him number 84 on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011".

In 2020, Morgan starred in Peacock's science fiction drama Brave New World as CJack60/Elliot. In 2022, Morgan was cast as Brother Blood in the fourth season of the HBO Max series Titans. He also reprised the role of Klaus in the final season of Legacies, a spin-off series of The Originals.

Morgan joined the cast for season 2 of Halo, which aired in February 2024, alongside fellow newcomer Cristina Rodlo. He plays James Ackerson, an operative of the secretive Office of Naval Intelligence, of the United Nations Space Command (UNSC).

Personal life

Morgan met actress Persia White on the set of The Vampire Diaries. They began dating in 2011 and became engaged in 2014. They married on 5 July 2014 in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

He has been a vegan since 2014.

Morgan is a supporter of the charity Positive Women.

Filmography

Film

Morgan at the 2011 Comic Con in San Diego
YearTitleRoleNotes
2003EroicaMatthias
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the WorldWilliam Warley, Captain of the Mizzentop
2004AlexanderPhilotas
2006Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa!Alfie
2007Mansfield ParkWilliam Price
Mister LonelyJames Dean
2011Angels CrestRusty
The GrindPaul
ImmortalsLysander
With These HandsGeorgeShort film; also writer, director and producer[citation needed]
2013Revelation—N/aShort film; as writer, director and producer[citation needed]
Open GraveNathan
2014ArmisticeA.J. Budd
500 Miles NorthJames Hogg
2015DesireeEric Ashworth
2017CarouselKitShort film; also writer, director and producer[citation needed]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2002SpooksReverend Parr1 episode
2003Henry VIIIThomas Culpeper1 episode
2004HexTroy5 episodes
2005William and MaryCallum3 episodes
2006The Line of BeautyJasper1 episode
2007Silent WitnessMatthew Williams2 episodes
Doc MartinMick Mabley5 episodes
2008–2009CasualtyTony Reece8 episodes
2010Ben HurJudah Ben-HurMiniseries
2011–2016The Vampire DiariesKlaus MikaelsonRecurring role (season 2); main role (seasons 3–4); special guest (seasons 5, 7)
2013–2018The OriginalsKlaus MikaelsonMain role
2019Animal KingdomJedRecurring role (season 4)
2020Brave New WorldCJack60Main role
2022LegaciesKlaus MikaelsonSpecial guest star (season 4)
2022–2023TitansSebastian Sanger / Brother BloodMain role (season 4)
2024HaloJames AckersonMain role (season 2)

As a director

  • The Originals (2016–2018), 3 episodes: "Behind the Black Horizon", "Keepers of the House", "Ne Me Quitte Pas"

Awards and nominations

Joseph Morgan at PaleyFest 2014
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2011Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV VillainThe Vampire DiariesNominated
2012Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV VillainNominated
2013Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV VillainNominated
TV Guide AwardChoice TV VillainWon
2014People's Choice AwardsFavorite Actor In A New TV SeriesThe OriginalsWon
Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: Sci-Fi/FantasyNominated
MTV Millennial AwardsEl Mejor Chupasangre (En: Best Vampire)Nominated
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV Actor: Sci-Fi/FantasyNominated
2016Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV: Liplock (with Leah Pipes)Nominated
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV ActorNominated
2018Teen Choice AwardsChoice Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV ActorNominated

External links