Morgan Spector

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Morgan Spector
Spector at SXSW 2024
Born (1980-10-04) October 4, 1980 (age 44)
Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
EducationReed College (BA)
American Conservatory Theater (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2004–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2015)​
Children1

Morgan Spector (born 4 October 1980) is an American actor. He first gained recognition for his appearances in the television series Homeland (2018) and The Plot Against America (2020) as well as the films Christine (2016), A Vigilante (2018), and Boston Strangler (2023). He has since starred the HBO historical drama The Gilded Age (2022 –present).

Early life and education

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Spector grew up in Guerneville, California.[1] His father was an attorney and his mother worked in public education as a teacher and then as an administrator.[1] Spector is Jewish on his father's side; his paternal grandmother was an actress in the New York Yiddish Theatre District.[1][2][3][4][5] His mother is of mostly Irish Catholic descent.[6]

Spector acted for the first time in community theater at the age of eight; and later acted in high school and college productions.[7]

After graduating from Reed College, in Portland, Oregon, he enrolled in the acting school of the American Conservatory Theater, in San Francisco. He next pursued work in regional theater, including a tour in The Lion King.[7] In 2006, he moved to New York City.[7]

Career

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In 2010, Spector made his Broadway debut as Rodolpho in Gregory Mosher's revival of Arthur Miller's play A View from the Bridge. He was originally cast in a bit part, but moved into the major role when the actor scheduled for it was injured during previews.[7] In 2012 he played the role of Boris in The Russian Transport, by Erika Sheffer. It was produced Off-Broadway by The New Group.[7]

In 2014, he co-starred with Rebecca Hall in a Broadway revival of Sophie Treadwell's Machinal. They later married; they appeared together on stage in New York again in June 2017, in Clare Lizzimore's play Animal.[8] They have also appeared together on-screen in the 2016 drama Christine and the 2017 film Permission.[7]

In 2018, Spector starred alongside Olivia Wilde in the drama A Vigilante.[9] In 2019, he starred alongside Gina Torres in the legal drama Pearson on USA Network, a spin-off of Suits.[10]

In 2020, he starred in the HBO miniseries adaptation of Philip Roth's The Plot Against America, alongside Winona Ryder.[4][5][11] In 2022, he also headlined alongside Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski in HBO's The Gilded Age.[12][13]

Personal life

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In September 2015, Spector married actress Rebecca Hall, whom he had first met the year before, during their work together in the Broadway play Machinal.[7] Their first child was born in 2018.[14]

Spector is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America[15] and helped produce the documentary, The Big Scary "S" Word.[16] In 2024, along with 30 other artists, Spector participated in publicly reading the dossier of South Africa's genocide case against Israel, which was brought before the International Court of Justice. The reading was organised by Palifest.[17]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2004 Raspberry Heaven Kurt Callaway
2010 The Last Airbender Lead Fire Nation Soldier
2011 Musical Chairs Kenny
2013 All Is Bright Vladimir
Burning Blue William Stephensen
2014 Grand Street Nino
The Drop Andre
2016 Christine Dr. Parsons
Chuck Sylvester Stallone
2017 Great Choice Waiter
Split Derek
Man with Van Kier
Permission Reece
2018 A Vigilante Sadie's Husband
2021 With/In: Volume 1 Segment: "Mother!!"; also director
2022 Nanny Adam [18]
2023 Boston Strangler James McLaughlin [19]
2024 I Don't Understand You Massimo [20]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2009–2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Player #1/Tech 2 episodes
2010 How to Make It in America Scott 2 episodes
2011–2013 Person of Interest Peter Yogorov 5 episodes
2013 Do No Harm Roman Spektor Episode: "Morning, Sunshine"
Orange Is the New Black Patrick Episode: "Lesbian Request Denied"
Boardwalk Empire Frank Capone 4 episodes
Zero Hour Golem 3 episodes
2014 Unforgettable Dean Episode: "Cashing Out"
2015 Allegiance Victor Dobrynin 13 episodes
2015–16 Friday Night Tykes Narrator 20 episodes
2016 Friday Night Tykes: Steel Country Narrator 12 episodes
2017 The Mist Kevin Copeland 10 episodes
2018 Homeland Dante Allen Main role (season 7)
Suits Mayor Bobby Novak Episode: "Good-Bye"
2019 Pearson Mayor Bobby Novak Main role
2020 The Plot Against America Herman Levin
2022–present The Gilded Age George Russell
2025 Black Rabbit Campbell miniseries

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2010 A View from the Bridge Rodolpho Cort Theatre, Broadway
2012 Russian Transport Boris Acorn Theatre, Off-Broadway
Harvey Lyman Sanderson M.D. Studio 54, Broadway
2014 Machinal A Lover American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2016 Ironbound Performer Rattlestick Theater, Off-Broadway
Incognito Performer New York City Center, Off-Broadway
2017 Animal Tom Atlantic Stage 2, Off-Broadway

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
2021 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries The Plot Against America Nominated [21]
2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series The Gilded Age Nominated [22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Matthew Blank. PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Machinal Star Morgan Spector Playbill. January 21, 2014
  2. ^ Adrianna Chaviva Freedman. Get Ready For A Very Jewish Philip Roth TV Show, The Forward. April 16, 2019
  3. ^ Gerri Miller. The Jewish Stars of Summer TV, Jewish Journal. May 28, 2019
  4. ^ a b Gerri Miller. 'The Plot Against America' Explains How Genocide 'Can Happen Here' Says Producer, Jewish Journal. March 11, 2020
  5. ^ a b Jessica Zack. Morgan Spector's political perspective aptly cast in 'The Plot Against America'. Datebook, San Francisco Chronicle. March 13, 2020
  6. ^ Frick, Evelyn (March 21, 2022). "I Said I Wanted to Eat Babka Off Morgan Spector's Abs. He Responded". Hey Alma. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Alexis Soloski. 012). Angel or Devil, an Actor Finds Peace With It All The New York Times. February 9, 2012
  8. ^ Alexis Soloski. Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector: Together, Onstage and Off, 'The New York Times. May 25, 2017
  9. ^ Owen Gleiberman. SXSW Film Review: 'A Vigilante' Variety. March 17, 2018
  10. ^ LaToya Ferguson. Pearson: Come for Gina Torres, Then Decide Whether to Stay Paste. July 17, 2019
  11. ^ The Plot Against America Trailer Warns That the Fascism Call Is Coming From Inside the House Vulture. January 30, 2020
  12. ^ Denise Petski, Nellie Andreeva. 'The Gilded Age': Christine Baranski, Cynthia Nixon, Amanda Peet & Morgan Spector To Star In HBO Period Drama Deadline. September 26, 2019
  13. ^ Dave Itzkoff. HBO's 'The Gilded Age' finally arrives as the 'next Downton Abbey'. Preview, Houston Chronicle. January 21, 2022
  14. ^ Jen Juneau Rebecca Hall and Morgan Spector Expecting First Child - See the Hilarious Double Announcement. People. January 1, 2018
  15. ^ Alter, Rebecca (June 22, 2025). "The Gilded Age's Cynthia Nixon Thinks Ada's Temperance Crusade Is 'Perhaps Misguided'". Vulture. Morgan Spector and I are DSA folks, and we're often finding each other at the same events.
  16. ^ "The Big Scary "S" Word | International Documentary Association".
  17. ^ "Renowned Artists Lend a Voice to South Africa's ICJ Submission Against Israel". January 15, 2024.
  18. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 29, 2021). "Morgan Spector And Phylicia Rashad Join Thriller 'Nanny' For Stay Gold Pictures And Topic Studios". Deadline. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  19. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 16, 2022). "'Gilded Age's Morgan Spector Joins 'Boston Strangler' Movie At 20th Century Starring Keira Knightley". Deadline. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  20. ^ Milliken, Paul (June 5, 2025). "Stars get muddy and bloody in new film 'I Don't Understand You'". FOX 5 Atlanta. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
  21. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 7, 2021). "Critics Choice Awards: 'Nomadland', 'The Crown' Among Top Honorees – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  22. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
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