JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN
After The Walking Dead, Making Films
Well, The Walking Dead fans, the OG series based on the graphic novel of the same name is coming to an end. The final season of TWD, which sparked a couple of spin-offs, will air in August. That means we’ll have to say goodbye to one of our favorite characters — Negan (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan).
The antagonist turned good guy wielded his iconic spike-covered bat with glory. A recent episode told the tale of his first wife, Lucille, the bat’s namesake. Lucille was portrayed perfectly by Morgan’s wife IRL, Hilarie Burton (famous for her role on One Tree Hill). In that episode, Morgan gives a raw, emotional performance as he holds his dying wife.
“I am sorry that I left you. I was a coward. I couldn’t face the pain of losing you, so I ran away,” Negan says. “And then I made myself not feel anything because I didn’t want to feel the shame. The problem is that… shame is the one thing that I still felt. Uh… I’m sorry that you went out like that. I should have been there. I am sorry that I named a stupid baseball bat after you. I’m sorry for all the pain that I put you through. I hope that you found someone in the afterlife and that you are screwing your brains out. Well… not really, but… fair is fair. I miss you. I loved the shit out of you. And I am gonna do your fighting for you.”
Negan was indeed an icon, just like Morgan, who has been in the biz since the early ’90s. The highlights of his TV career include playing John Winchester on Supernatural and Danny Duquette on Grey’s Anatomy. Not to mention he played the Comedian in the film version of Watchmen.
Following The Walking Dead, Morgan has the film The Integrity of Joseph Chambers lined up. The movie is currently in post-production and is expected later this year. In it, Morgan plays a police chief. The Integrity of Joseph Chambers comes from The Killing of Two Lovers director Robert Machoian, so it’s bound to be thrilling.
Though we’re a complete mess now that TWD is ending, we can’t wait to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan next on the big screen.
