Debbi Morgan

Biography: If awards were bestowed for versatility, the graceful and congenial African-American actress Debbi Morgan would take first place. A veritable decades-long mainstay in the casts of A-list dramatic features, soap operas, acclaimed prime-time series dramas, big-screen exploitationers, sitcoms, and telemovies, Morgan has proven herself equally adept at each, while the number of roles she tackles each year suggests a die-hard craftswoman with no signs of slowing down. Born September 20, 1956, in Dunn, NC, Morgan moved with her family to New York City at the age of three. Despite the family's residence in a South Bronx housing project, they managed without difficulty. Five years into the move, Morgan's father died, which forced her mother, Lora, to support the two children (Debbi and younger sister Terry) as a secretary; she funded the girls' parochial educations through the end of high school. The photogenic Debbi sought out an entertainment career in her teens -- initially againstIf awards were bestowed for versatility, the graceful and congenial African-American actress Debbi Morgan would take first place. A veritable decades-long mainstay in the casts of A-list dramatic features, soap operas, acclaimed prime-time series dramas, big-screen exploitationers, sitcoms, and telemovies, Morgan has proven herself equally adept at each, while the number of roles she tackles each year suggests a die-hard craftswoman with no signs of slowing down. Born September 20, 1956, in Dunn, NC, Morgan moved with her family to New York City at the age of three. Despite the family's residence in a South Bronx housing project, they managed without difficulty. Five years into the move, Morgan's father died, which forced her mother, Lora, to support the two children (Debbi and younger sister Terry) as a secretary; she funded the girls' parochial educations through the end of high school. The photogenic Debbi sought out an entertainment career in her teens -- initially against the wishes of her mother. Lora issued stringent objections, terrified that Debbi -- a high-honors student -- would drift in with a bad element and engage in aberrant behavior. This never occurred; Debbi rapidly launched herself as an actress -- first in a series of commercials, then onto the Broadway stage (in the 1975 play What the Wine Sellers Buy) and in feature films (with a role in, regrettably, the Richard Fleischer-directed debacle Mandingo). After moving to L.A. in her early '20s, Morgan commenced series television work, with guest appearances on such ethnically oriented sitcoms as What's Happening!!, Good Times, and Sanford. Morgan's crowning network achievement arrived at the tail end of the '70s, with her acclaimed portrayal of Elizabeth (Alex Haley's aunt) in the smash miniseries Roots: The Next Generations. After a stint on the CBS series Trapper John, M.D. during the early '80s, Morgan discovered, through her agent, that the producers of the wildly popular daytime soap All My Children needed a young African-American actress to portray the romantic interest of the character Jesse (Darnell Williams). Morgan auditioned for the role and signed instantly, recurring on the series, intermittently, for 14 years. During the early to mid-'80s, Morgan also memorably essayed the part of Ruth Owens, the love interest of track star Jesse Owens (Dorian Harewood), in the critically praised epic telemovie The Jesse Owens Story (1984); in fact, Morgan's plaintive, emotionally charged protests regarding Owens' discriminatory treatment gave the film several of its most memorable scenes and images. Morgan continued her TV work throughout the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s, with guest appearances on a myriad of series programs -- everything from The Cosby Show to Boston Public and Charmed. During the late '90s, however, Morgan broke from the small screen and made two enduring contributions to A-list features. She played Aunt Mozelle in Eve's Bayou, actress-cum-director Kasi Lemmons' acclaimed, finely wrought gothic drama of Southern life, and Mae Thelma Carter, the wife of wrongfully accused and incriminated boxer Rubin Carter (Denzel Washington), in Norman Jewison's Oscar-nominated biopic The Hurricane (1999). More recently, Morgan portrayed Twana in director Michael Schultz's cinematization of T.D. Jakes' play, Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004). Expand

Debbi Morgan's Scores

Average career score: 66
Highest Metascore: 75 Power: Season 2
Lowest Metascore: 57 Power: Season 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 2
  2. Negative: 0 out of 2
2 tv reviews
Title: Year: Credit: User score:
tbd Family Feud: Season 24 Sep 26, 2022 Debbi Morgan tbd
tbd Power: Season 6 Aug 25, 2019 Estelle tbd
tbd Power: Season 5 Jul 1, 2018 Estelle tbd
tbd Power: Season 4 Jun 25, 2017 Estelle 7.6
tbd Power: Season 3 Jul 17, 2016 Estelle 8.3
75 Power: Season 2 Jun 6, 2015 Estelle 8.5
57 Power: Season 1 Jun 7, 2014 Estelle 7.5
tbd All My Children: Season 43 Apr 29, 2013 Angie Baxter Hubbard / Angie Baxter Hubbard tbd
tbd The Young and the Restless: Season 40 Mar 26, 2012 Harmony Hamilton tbd
tbd The View: Season 15 Sep 6, 2011 Guest tbd
tbd The Young and the Restless: Season 39 Mar 28, 2011 Harmony Hamilton tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 42 Jan 5, 2011 Angie Baxter Hubbard tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 41 Jan 5, 2010 Angie Baxter Hubbard tbd
tbd The View: Season 13 Sep 8, 2009 Debbi Morgan tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 40 Jan 5, 2009 Angie Baxter Hubbard tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 39 Jan 7, 2008 Angie Baxter Hubbard tbd
tbd The View: Season 11 Sep 10, 2007 Debbi Morgan tbd
tbd The Bold and the Beautiful: Season 21 Mar 23, 2007 Jennifer Tartaro tbd
tbd Close to Home: Season 2 Sep 22, 2006 Lizette Carter tbd
tbd The Bold and the Beautiful: Season 20 Mar 23, 2006 Jennifer Tartaro tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 36 Jan 5, 2005 Dr. Angie Baxter Hubbard (#1) (1982-1990) tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 35 Jan 5, 2004 Dr. Angie Baxter Hubbard (#1) (1982-1990) tbd
tbd Port Charles: Season 7 Jun 2, 2003 Dr. Ellen Morgan Burgess #1 (June 3, 1997- November 1998) [Original Cast Member] tbd
tbd Port Charles: Season 6 Apr 2, 2003 Dr. Ellen Morgan Burgess #1 (June 3, 1997- November 1998) [Original Cast Member] tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 34 Jan 6, 2003 Dr. Angie Baxter Hubbard (#1) (1982-1990) tbd
tbd Charmed: Season 5 Sep 22, 2002 The Seer 5.1
tbd Soul Food: Season 3 Jun 26, 2002 Lynette tbd
tbd All My Children: Season 33 Jan 7, 2002 Dr. Angie Baxter Hubbard (#1) (1982-1990) tbd
tbd Charmed: Season 4 Oct 4, 2001 The Seer / Seer 5.0
tbd Providence: Season 4 Sep 28, 2001 Marilyn Chase tbd