Donald A. Morgan is an American cinematographer. He has won 11 Emmy Awards, including seven for Home Improvement and three for The Ranch. In 2022, he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. As of 2021, he held the record for the most awarded Black person at the Emmys.[1]

Early life

Morgan was born in Philadelphia to American jazz musician Al Morgan and his wife, though the family moved to Los Angeles when his mother took a job as a pathologist at the University of California, Los Angeles.[2] Following in his father's footsteps, Morgan was a musician, playing the stand-up bass in middle school and the bass guitar in high school.[3]

After graduating from Alexander Hamilton High School, Morgan attended Los Angeles Trade–Technical College, where he studied graphic art and architecture.[2][3]

Career

One of the first Black directors of photography at a major network, Morgan started his television career in KTTV's mailroom, advancing to their lighting department.[4] During the 1970s, he worked in Norman Lear productions such as All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time.[4] Due to the diverse casts in the shows, Morgan had to learn new techniques to appropriately and adequately provide lighting for people with varying skin tones. In 1983, he was named Director of Photography, one of the first Black people to hold such a role on a major network.[3] Morgan went on to contribute to series such as Three's Company, Silver Spoons, Gloria, Home Improvement, and The Ranch, in addition to lighting for other programs, including Baryshnikov on Broadway and the NAACP Image Awards.[4]

Morgan has received various honors for his work. In 1985, he received an Emmy for his work on Mr. Belvedere, which was followed by seven additional Emmys for Home Improvement and three for The Ranch. He has received a total of 21 Emmy nominations,[5] as well as the Career Achievement in Television Award from the American Society of Cinematographers.[6] In 2022, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences inducted him into the Television Hall of Fame.[7][8] He is the first director of photography to earn the latter honor.[9]

Morgan serves as the Co–Chairman of DEI for the IA Local 600 Cinematographers Guild.[5]

Personal life

Morgan is married to Hollywood make-up artist Geneva Nash-Morgan.[2]

Awards and honors

In 2020, Morgan received the American Society of Cinematographers Career Achievement in Television Award,[6][10] and in 2022, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences inducted him into the Television Hall of Fame.[7][8] He is the first director of photography to earn the latter honor.[9]

Awards for Morgan's work[5]
Year Title Award Result Ref.
1985 Mr. Belvedere Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) Winner
1990 Bagdad Cafe Emmy Award for Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Nominee
1992 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
1993 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
1994 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
1995 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
1996 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
1997 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Nominee
1998 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
1999 Home Improvement Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Comedy Series Winner [1]
2003 Girlfriends Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Nominee
2011 Retired at 35, "Rocket Man" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Nominee
2014 Last Man Standing, "Eve's Boyfriend" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Nominee
2017 The Ranch, "Easy Come, Easy Go" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Winner [1]
2018 The Ranch, "Do What You Gotta Do" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Nominee [11]
2019 The Ranch, "Reckless" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Winner [1]
2020 The Ranch, "It Ain't My Fault" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Winner [1]
2021 Last Man Standing, "Time Flies" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Nominee [1][12]
2021 The Conners, "A Stomach Ache, a Heart Break, and a Grave Mistake" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series Nominee [1][12]
2021 The Upshaws, "Big Plans" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series Nominee [1][12]
2022 The Conners, "The Wedding of Dan and Louise" Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series Nominee

Filmography

Film

Morgan's roles in film[13]
Year Title Role
1979 Bear Island Aerial camera operator
1983 Off the Wall Cinematographer
1988 Rattle and Hum Lighting technician
1992 Saved by the Bell: Hawaiian Style Cinematographer
2006 Let Me Count the Ways (short)
  • Cinematographer
  • Co–executive producer

Television

Morgan's roles in television[13]
Year Title Role
1979 The Facts of Life Lighting director
1985 227 Cinematographer
1985 Mr. Belvedere Lighting director
1985 New Love American Style Lighting director
1985–86 The Golden Girls Lighting designer
1986 The Last Chance Cafe Lighting director
1987 Changing Patterns (pilot) Lighting designer
1987 Marblehead Manson Cinematographer
1987 The Pursuit of Happiness Cinematographer
1988 Cadets (pilot) Lighting director
1989 Coming to America Cinematographer
1989 Homeroom
  • Lighting consultant
  • Lighting designer
1989 The Robert Guillaume Show Lighting director
1989 Sister Kate Cinematographer
1989 Somerset Gardens (pilot) Lighting director
1990 Bagdad Cafe
1990 Hurricane Sam
1990-92 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Lighting director
1991 Clippers (pilot) Cinematographer
1991 In the House (pilot) Lighting director
1991–92 Home Improvement
  • Cinematographer
  • Lighting designer
  • Lighting director
1992 Rachel Gunn, R.N Cinematographer
1992–94 Where I Live Cinematographer
1993 The Barbara Walters Special Cinematographer
1993 Count on Me Lighting designer
1993 The Nanny (pilot) Cinematographer
1993 Saved by the Bell Lighting director
1993–94 Boy Meets World Cinematographer
1994 All–American Girl Cinematographer
1994 South Central Cinematographer
1994 Thunder Alley Cinematographer
1994-95 In the House Lighting director
1994–95 Martin Cinematographer
1994–95 The Parent 'Hood Cinematographer
1995 The Preston Episodes Cinematographer
1995–96 Moesha Cinematographer
1996 Bedtime Cinematographer
1996 Buddies Lighting director
1997 Bouncers (pilot) Cinematographer
1997 Built to Last Cinematographer
1997 The Gregory Hines Show Cinematographer
1997 Life … and Stuff Cinematographer
1997 Merry Christmas, George Bailey Lighting designer
1997 Party Girl Cinematographer
1997 Soul Man Cinematographer
1997 Teen Angel Cinematographer
1998 Brother's Keeper Cinematographer
1998 Costello Cinematographer
1998 Damon Cinematographer
1998 Linc's Cinematographer
1998 Oh Baby Cinematographer
1998 Solo en America Lighting consultant
1999–00 Grown Ups Cinematographer
2000 Daddio Cinematographer
2000 Martha Stewart's Christmas Dream Cinematographer
2000 Viva Vegas! Lighting consultant
2000–07 Girlfriends Cinematographer
2001 32nd NAACP Image Awards Lighting designer
2001 Reba Lighting consultant
2001–04 My Wife and Kids Cinematographer
2002 33rd NAACP Image Awards Lighting designer
2003 34th NAACP Image Awards Lighting designer
2003 Essence Awards Lighting designer
2003 Lost at Home Cinematographer
2003 The Tracy Morgan Show Cinematographer
2004 35th Annual NAACP Image Awards Lighting designer
2004 Gas Cinematographer
2005 36th Annual NAACP Image Awards Lighting designer
2005 The Big Black Comedy Show, Vol. 2 Cinematographer
2005 Stacked Cinematographer
2005 Wild 'n Out Cinematographer
2005–07 The War at Home Cinematographer
2006 37th NAACP Image Awards Lighting designer
2006 Let Me Count the Ways (short)
  • Cinematographer
  • Co–executive producer
2007 38th NAACP Image Awards
  • Cinematographer
  • Lighting designer
2007 The Return of Jezebel James Cinematographer

Further reading

  • Rogers, Pauline B. (1998). Contemporary Cinematographers on Their Art. Performing Arts.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Montgomery, Daniel (August 24, 2021). "The two most awarded Black individuals in Primetime Emmy history could win more this year". GoldDerby. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Silberg, Jon (February 14, 2020). "Multi-Talented: Donald A. Morgan, ASC". American Society of Cinematographers. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "Foundation Interview: Donald A. Morgan, ASC". Television Academy. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "Donald A. Morgan, ASC Subject of New Career-Spanning Interview". The American Cinematographer. June 22, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Donald A. Morgan, ASC". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Donald A. Morgan". International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Panaligan, E. J. (October 25, 2022). "Sean Penn to Receive TV Academy Humanitarian Award as Ken Burns, Rita Moreno Become Hall of Fame Inductees". Variety. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Gardner, Chris (October 26, 2022). "Sean Penn to Receive Bob Hope Humanitarian Award at TV Academy's Hall of Fame Event". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Foundation Interview: Donald A. Morgan, ASC". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  10. ↑ "American Society of Cinematographers To Honor Elmes, Morgan, Delbonnel, McCuaig". SHOOTonline. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Emmys: The nominees and winners for Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 "2021 Creative Arts Emmys: WandaVision Wins Three Awards, First Victory For Marvel". News18. September 13, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Morgan, Donald A. (Don Morgan, Donald Morgan) |". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
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