Debbi Morgan
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
A petite, attractive and commanding black actress, Debbi Morgan has long been known to fans of daytime dramas but it took her galvanizing performance as Mozelle, the psychic aunt of the child heroine of "Eve's Bayou" (1997) for film critics and audiences to take notice. Born in North Carolina but raised in the South Bronx, she began acting in high school productions. Morgan began working with both the Negro Ensemble Company and the New Federal Theatre in NYC and appeared in the Broadway production of "What the Wine Sellers Buy" in 1974. Her stage success led to her film debut as one of the slaves in the dreadful "Mandingo" (1975). Morgan found more or less steady work as a guest player on TV shows, including playing recurring roles on "Good Times" and "What's Happening!." In the 1979 ABC miniseries "Roots: The Next Generation," she was cast as Alex Haley's aunt Elizabeth. In her first regular series role on the CBS drama "Behind the Screen," Morgan was cast as an aspiring soap opera actress. Ironically, she would garner the most steady work of her career in that genre.
Settling in NYC, Morgan debuted as Angie on ABC's "All My Children" in the early 80s. Coupled romantically onscreen with Darnell Williams, the pair were one of the first blacks to headline a major soap love story. During her long tenure on the show, Morgan earned two Daytime Emmy nominations, winning the trophy in 1989. She was also able to fit in other work as well, including hosting the syndicated "New York Hot Tracks" from 1984 to 1986 and co-starring with Dorian Harewood in "The Jesse Owens Story" (syndicated, 1984) and "Guilty of Innocence: The Lennel Jeter Story" (CBS, 1986). After leaving "All My Children," Morgan assumed the role of Chantal on the Los Angeles-based NBC soap "Generations," then reprised her award-winning part on ABC's "Loving" in 1993. She and Darnell Williams were again partnered onscreen (although he was playing a different character). When that show was revamped, Morgan was among the cast who was retained for the new series, "The City" (ABC, 1995-97) but the show failed to find its audience. Undaunted, Morgan returned to Los Angeles and created the role of the demanding resident Dr Ellen Burgess on "Port Charles," a spin-off of the popular "General Hospital," a role she played from 1997 to 1998.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1974
Appeared on Broadway in "What the Wine Sellers Buy"
1975
Made feature acting debut in "Mandingo"
1976
Appeared as a guest in several episodes of the CBS sitcom "Good Times"
1976
Had recurring role on the ABC sitcom "What's Happening!"
1979
Appeared in the ABC miniseries "Roots: The Next Generation" as Alex Haley's Aunt Elizabeth
1981
Had featured role in the CBS primetime serial "Behind the Screen," about the workers on a daytime soap called "Generations"
1982
Portrayed Angie Hubbard on the ABC soap "All My Children"; won Daytime Emmy as Best Supporting Actress in 1989
1984
Co-starred opposite Dorien Harewood in the syndicated miniseries "The Jesse Owens Story"
1986
Hosted the syndicated TV series "New York Hot Tracks"
1987
Starred opposite Dorien Harewood in the CBS TV-movie "Guilty of Innocence: The Lennel Jeter Story"
1990
Played Chantal on the short-lived NBC soap "Generations"
1997
Earned widespread acclaim for her performance in the film "Eve's Bayou"
1997
Cast on the ABC soap "Port Charles" as Dr. Ellen Burgess
1999
Landed bit role as an eccentric art teacher in the teen romantic comedy "She's All That"
2000
Played recurring role on the Fox drama series "Boston Public"
2001
Cast in a recurring part on the Showtime series "Soul Food"
2002
Made recurring guest appearances on "Charmed" (The WB) as the evil Seer
2004
Cast in drama feature "Woman Thou Art Loosed," based on the self-help novel by Bishop T.D. Jakes
2005
Reunited with her "Eve's Bayou" co-star Samuel L. Jackson in sport drama "Coach Carter"
2006
Joined the cast of CBS's daytime series "The Bold and the Beautiful" as District Attorney Jennifer Tartaro
Family
Companions
