Lamorne Morris
Lamorne Morris (born August 14, 1983) is an American actor, comedian and television personality. He played Winston Bishop in the Fox sitcom New Girl (2011-2018) and Darrin Morris in the National Geographic docudrama Valley of the Boom (2019). He has also had supporting roles in the films Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), Game Night (2018), and The Christmas Chronicles (2018). He will star in the upcoming 2020 Hulu comedy Woke.[1]
Lamorne Morris | |
|---|---|
 Morris at PaleyFest in March 2012 | |
| Born | August 14, 1983 |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 2002–present |
Life and career
Morris is originally from Glen Ellyn, a suburb near Chicago. He attended Glenbard South High School. Morris graduated from the College of DuPage in 2003,[2] The Second City Training Center, and was a member of Second City's Outreach And Diversity Ensemble. He made his TV debut as host of his own show HotWyred on BET, a witty interactive tech and gaming show. Morris has since become a familiar funny guy as one of BET’s most visible on-air personalities, with his comedic antics and coverage for many of the network’s top-rated shows. From signature skits like “The Package” leading up to the annual BET Awards to segments for 106 & Park, BET’s Spring Bling: Fashion 5-0, 106 & Party, Top 100 Countdown, Grammy Nomination Special, and many more. Most recently Morris has been seen as the co-host of the daily music and entertainment news show BET Now with Alesha Renee.
Morris has appeared in several award-winning independent films and shorts including April Fools (Code Black), One Word (Panel Select at Cannes) and voiceover work for animated comedy Urban Group Squirrels. He studied theatre at the College of DuPage near Chicago and is a recipient of the Chris Farley Memorial Acting Scholarship. With his recent relocation from New York to Los Angeles, Morris has begun developing several of his own show concepts and is up for several film and television projects.
Morris can be seen in commercials including ones for State Farm Insurance, Taco Bell, Twix, Miller Lite, Las Vegas, 7 Up, Edge, Sears, Microsoft Windows, Chili's, McDonald's, Ford, Bank of Montreal, and Hornitos Tequila.
Morris is featured in the supporting role of Winston in the Zooey Deschanel anchored comedy series New Girl, which premiered September 20, 2011, on Fox.[3] However, Morris did not appear until the second episode[4] - originally, Damon Wayans Jr. was a member of the cast, in the supporting role of Coach. However, Wayans' other comedy series, Happy Endings, had already been picked up for a second season on rival network ABC. The producers of New Girl initially planned to recast Wayans' role,[5] but later decided not to recast and instead wrote his character out in the second episode.
Morris has also appeared in some YouTube videos by the channels Funny or Die and, more recently, "Water". Morris featured in one of Water's videos starring Matt Damon which aim to increase awareness about the lack of water in developing countries. Also, Morris starred in a parody music video of the song "Wiggle" by Jason Derulo in the YouTube channel "Bart Baker" as Jason Derulo in August 2014.
In November 2018 it was announced that Hulu would be producing a half-hour sitcom, titled Woke, based on cartoonist Keith Knight's autobiographical comic strip The K Chronicles. Morris will be playing Knight.[6]
Morris is an avid baseball and basketball fan, supporting the Chicago White Sox, and mentioning that every room in his house has something to do with basketball [7]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Urban Ground Squirrels | Little David | Voice |
| 2009 | To Have & Have More | Michael's Agent | |
| 2012 | Belizean James: No Gold Anything | Belizean James | Short film |
| 2014 | Sex Ed | Bobby the Bouncer | |
| 2016 | Barbershop: The Next Cut | Jerrod | |
| 2017 | Sandy Wexler | Bling | |
| 2018 | Game Night | Kevin Sterling | |
| 2018 | The Christmas Chronicles | Mikey Jameson | |
| 2019 | Yesterday | Head of Marketing | |
| Jumanji: The Next Level | Heater Repair Man | ||
| 2020 | Bloodshot | Wilfred Wigans | |
| Desperados | Sean McGuire | ||
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Middle | Salesman | Episode: "Royal Wedding" |
| 2011 | The Assistants | Scott Smiley | Television film |
| 2011 | The Guild | Craven | Episode: "Megagame-o-ramacon!" |
| 2011–2018 | New Girl | Winston Bishop | Principal cast, 7 seasons Nominated – Teen Choice Awards TV Breakout Star: Male |
| 2013 | Drunk History | Martin Luther King Jr. | Episode: "Atlanta" |
| 2013 | Dear Secret Santa | Jack | Television film |
| 2014 | Kroll Show | Tony Bell | Episode: "Krolling Around with Nick Klown" |
| 2015 | Lucas Bros. Moving Co. | Karlton (voice) | Episode: "Nutopia" |
| 2017 | Star vs. the Forces of Evil | Grandmaster (voice) | Episode: "All Belts Are Off" |
| 2017 | SMILF | Adult Larry | Episode: "Run, Bridgette, Run or Forty-Eight Burnt Cupcakes & Graveyard Rum" |
| 2018 | Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Guest diner; Episode: "All–Star Finale" |
| 2019 | Valley of the Boom | Darrin Morris | |
| 2019 | Squinters | Frank |
References
- "Lamorne Morris reluctantly becomes 'Woke' in an exclusive trailer for the new Hulu series". EW.com. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
- "Lamorne Morris - TV Guide". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- Wright, Emily (September 5, 2013). "Recap: 'New Girl' star Lamorne Morris chats about the show, more". Boston.com.
- Goldberg, Lesley (July 8, 2011). "'New Girl': Lamorne Morris Replaces Damon Wayans Jr. in Fox Comedy". The Hollywood Reporter.
- Andreeva, Nellie (13 May 2011). "ABC Renews 'Happy Endings', Fox's 'New Girl' To Recast Damon Wayans Jr". Deadline.com. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
- Goldberg, Lesley. "Lamorne Morris Will Play Cartoonist Keith Knight in 'Woke' Comedy for Hulu," Hollywood Reporter (NOVEMBER 02, 2018).
- "Go Inside Lamorne Morris' Grown-Up Fun House | PeopleTV".
External links
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