Tracy Morgan

Early life

Morgan was born on November 10, 1968, in Brooklyn and raised in Brooklyn's Marlboro Houses and Tompkins Houses in its Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood. He is the third cousin of rapper Nas.

His father named him Tracy in honor of a platoon mate and friend who shipped off to Vietnam with him and was killed in action days later.

The target of bullies as a child, Morgan attended DeWitt Clinton High School. His father died in January 1987, aged 38.

Morgan married his girlfriend Sabina that year and dropped out of high school just four credits short of his diploma to care for his ailing father. but began earning money performing comedy on the streets after his best friend was murdered. He said in 2009: "He would say to me, 'Yo, Tracy, man, you should be doing comedy.' A week later, he was murdered. And that for me, that was like my Vietnam. I had my survival guilt when I started to achieve success. Why I made it out and some guys didn't."

Morgan embarked on a stand-up comedy career, successfully enough that he "finally moved to a nice community in [The Bronx neighborhood of] Riverdale, from a run-down apartment next to Yankee Stadium in the Bronx."

Career

Early work in comedy and television

Morgan made his screen debut playing Hustle Man on the sitcom Martin. The character sold various items from the "hood", always greeting people with his trademark "What's happ'n, chief?," and had a pet dog he dressed as a rapper. (Later, in the 2003 Chris Rock film Head of State, Morgan appeared as a man watching television, often questioning why they are not watching Martin.)

Morgan was also a regular cast member on Uptown Comedy Club, a sketch-comedy show filmed in Harlem that aired for two seasons, from 1992 to 1994.

Morgan joined the cast of the comedy series Saturday Night Live in 1996, and performed as a regular until 2003. Producer Lorne Michaels chose him over Stephen Colbert in the final round of auditions. Morgan's regular characters included the kindly but deluded vagrant Woodrow; outspoken apartment maintenance man Dominican Lou; lusty Astronaut Jones whose shorts skits ended with blunt sexual propositions towards beautiful extraterrestrial ladies; and Safari Planet host Brian Fellow who was enthusiastic but deeply ignorant about animals. Morgan's celebrity impressions on SNL included Della Reese, Harry Belafonte, Maya Angelou and Little Richard.

Post-''SNL'', ''30 Rock'', and film career

After leaving the cast of SNL in 2003, Morgan starred in his own sitcom, The Tracy Morgan Show, debuting in 2003. The show was subsequently canceled after one season. During the same year, he was featured on an episode of Punk'd in which his car was towed from valet parking.

Morgan also returned to host SNL on March 14, 2009, and reprised his roles as Brian Fellow and Astronaut Jones. He later made a guest appearance on the 2011 Christmas show, hosted by Jimmy Fallon, and again hosted the show on October 17, 2015.

In addition to his television and comedy career, Morgan has acted in several comedy movies, alongside Adam Sandler, Eddie Murphy, and Will Ferrell. In Adam Sandler's film The Longest Yard, he plays a transgender inmate. He has also taken on a number of voice acting roles. He plays Spoonie Luv on the Comedy Central program Crank Yankers and as Woof in the animated series Where My Dogs At?. He also was the voice of Luis in the animated film Rio.[[File:Tracy Morgan standup 1.jpg|thumb|Morgan performing stand-up in 2008.]]

Morgan has had a number of solo stand-up specials produced throughout his career. One Mic was produced and aired on Comedy Central in 2002. His other comedy specials include Tracy Morgan: Bona Fide in 2014 and Staying Alive in 2017, released after he was severely injured in a 2014 car accident. Morgan made a surprise appearance at the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards on September 20, 2015, and was greeted with a standing ovation. He also hosted the first Spike Guys' Choice Awards, which aired on June 13, 2007.

Current work

Morgan acted in commercials for NFL 2K, NBA 2K, and NHL 2K, co-starring with Warren Sapp, Ben Wallace and Jeremy Roenick.

In July 2019, he hosted the ESPYs in Los Angeles.

In 2022, the New York Friars Club bestowed the Entertainment Icon Award on Morgan at the club's spring gala. Morgan is the ninth recipient of the prestigious comedy award, and the first Black recipient.

In May 2025 it was announced that Morgan would star in the Tina Fey-produced television series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Erika Alexander. In October 2025, the sitcom Crutch starring Morgan was released on Paramount+. The show follows Morgan playing a recent widower who is a devilish yet loving father to two adult children who move back home to Harlem.

Autobiography

On October 20, 2009, Morgan's autobiography, I Am the New Black, was released. The book includes stories about living in Tompkins Projects in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, to becoming a cast member on Saturday Night Live. Morgan appeared on National Public Radio's Fresh Air hosted by Terry Gross, at times becoming very emotional about his former life in a New York ghetto.

Influences

Morgan has listed Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, Jackie Gleason, Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, and Richard Pryor as among his primary comedic influences.

Personal life

Family

In 1987, while in high school, Morgan married his girlfriend Sabina. The pair have three sons together. Morgan filed for divorce in August 2009, after having been separated for approximately eight years. Morgan credits one of his sons with having saved him from his alcoholism. Of his extended family, Morgan said in 2009, "I'm estranged from my own mother and most of my family, and I'm not sure that's going to change much". Morgan dated Tanisha Hall. She donated one of her kidneys to Morgan in December 2010.

In September 2011, on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards, Morgan announced he and model Megan Wollover had become engaged six months earlier in San Francisco. Their first child, a daughter, was born in New York City on July 2, 2013. Morgan and Wollover married on August 23, 2015. Morgan filed for divorce July 2020.

In 2023, on an episode of Finding Your Roots, Morgan discovered he is third cousins with American rapper Nas.

Health

In 1996, Morgan was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and for years has been an alcoholic. Morgan has conceded that many of his own troubles were incorporated within 30 Rock episodes. In early December 2010, Morgan received a kidney transplant necessitated by his diabetes and alcohol use.

In August 2023, Morgan responded to a comment about his healthy appearance during an episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna by disclosing that he was using semaglutide. In March 2024, he told Jimmy Fallon that he had "learned to out-eat Ozempic" and "gained 40 lbs," but later clarified that he was joking, saying "Ozempic did great by me and I was glad to use it."

On March 17, 2025, while sitting courtside at an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden between the New York Knicks and Miami Heat, Morgan experienced an episode of food poisoning, which caused him to vomit onto the basketball court sideline and suffer a bloody nose. He joked on his Instagram post from the hospital saying, "More importantly, the Knicks are now 1-0 when I throw up on the court so maybe I'll have to break it out again in the playoffs."

Comments on homosexuality

During a performance in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 3, 2011, Morgan made remarks about homosexuals, reportedly stating that if his son were gay, his son better speak to him like a man or he would "pull out a knife and stab him." Morgan apologized, saying that he had "gone too far." In response, head of NBC Entertainment Bob Greenblatt and Morgan's coworker on 30 Rock, Tina Fey, stated they did not condone the comments made by Morgan, and were happy to see him make a sincere apology.

2014 traffic collision and lawsuit

On June 7, 2014, Morgan was a passenger in a Mercedes Sprinter minibus involved in a six-vehicle crash in New Jersey. Just after 1:00 am the vehicle was traveling northbound on the New Jersey Turnpike near Cranbury, when it was struck from behind by a Walmart tractor-trailer, causing a chain reaction crash. Morgan and three other comedians, including Harris Stanton, along with Morgan's assistant and two limousine company employees, were returning from an engagement at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Dover, Delaware, as part of Morgan's "Turn it Funny" stand-up comedy tour. The crash killed Morgan's friend and collaborator, 62-year-old comedian James McNair (Jimmy Mack).

Morgan was taken by helicopter to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, with a broken femur, broken nose, a traumatic brain injury, and several broken ribs, and underwent surgery on his leg on June 8. From June 20 until July 12, 2014 Morgan stayed in a rehabilitation facility to recover from the injuries sustained during the crash.

The driver of the Walmart transport-truck, Kevin Roper of Jonesboro, Georgia, pleaded not guilty to one count of death by auto and four counts of assault by auto. The complaint alleges Roper dozed off and hit Morgan's limousine after swerving to avoid slowed traffic ahead of him. A preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board revealed that Roper had been on the clock since 11:20 the previous morning and was very close to the federal limits of 14 hours per day and 11 hours behind the wheel.

On July 10, 2014, Morgan sued Walmart for negligence. The suit alleged that Walmart either knew or should have known that Roper had not slept for more than 24 hours. The complaint alleged that before his shift, Walmart forced Roper to drive from his home in Jonesboro to a Walmart distribution center in Smyrna, Delaware—a distance of some 750 mi over 11 hours—even though there were several other distribution centers within a much more reasonable driving distance. Morgan filed the suit on behalf of himself, comedian Ardie Fuqua, Morgan's personal assistant Jeffrey Millea, and Millea's wife Krista. Fuqua and Millea were both on the bus with Morgan and injured in the crash, while at the time of the crash, Krista Millea was eight months pregnant, and the suit charges that she suffered loss of consortium due to the injuries suffered by her husband. In September 2014, Walmart in court papers cast partial blame on Morgan and the other victims for not wearing seat belts, a claim both Morgan and his counsel denied, noting that the driver who caused the crash had been charged with vehicular homicide and that the police report stated that seat belts were not an issue in the case. On May 27, 2015, Walmart settled the lawsuit for a multi-million-dollar amount, estimated near $90 million US.

On June 1, 2015, Morgan made his first public appearance since the crash, in an interview with Matt Lauer on Today, stating he still suffered from symptoms of his injuries. On the November 3, 2016 episode of Conan, Morgan said that he was no longer angry about the collision and had forgiven Roper. Morgan's 2017 Netflix standup special Staying Alive joked about Walmart and the lawsuit, while detailing his hospitalization, rehab and recovery.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

• Emmy Awards
  • 2009, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 30 Rock, nominated
  • 2016, Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, Saturday Night Live, nominated
• Image Awards
  • 2007, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 30 Rock, nominated
  • 2008, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 30 Rock, nominated
• New York Friars Club
  • 2022, Entertainment Icon Award

References

References

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2. (2022-09-27). "Tracy Morgan Born in Brooklyn". Jimmy Kimmel Live.
3. Lipton, Michael A.. (January 12, 2004). "Bowling 'em Over". [[People (magazine).
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5. (April 7, 2014). "Tracy Morgan and Jo Koy". [[The Adam Carolla Podcast]].
6. Lynette Rice. (June 13, 2011). "Tracy Morgan: 'I know bullying can hurt'".
7. In 1985, during his senior year, he learned that his father had contracted HIV from hypodermic needle use.The Star Ledger. section 1. pg 20. June 8, 2014
8. (2014). "Historical Dictionary of African American Television". Rowman & Littlefield.
9. "Tracy Morgan Emmy Award Nominee". emmys.com.
10. Rosen, Christopher. (June 16, 2020). "A 30 Rock Reunion Is Happening, in a Very 30 Rock Sort of Way".
11. "Review: Tracy Morgan's 'The Last O.G.' is a waste of Tiffany Haddish".
12. Mitovich, Matt Webb. (April 27, 2022). "Tracy Morgan's The Last O.G. Not Returning for Season 5 at TBS".
13. Itzkoff, Dave. (October 28, 2008). "For Tracy Morgan, Every Day Is a Show". [[The New York Times]].
14. April 21, Chris Morgan {{!}}. "Tracy Morgan: Bona Fide".
15. Baker, D. R.. (2017-05-21). "'Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive' Comedy Special Review".
16. Conway, Tyler. "Video: Tracy Morgan Reveals Role as 2019 ESPYs Host, Makes Kevin Durant Joke".
17. (17 February 2022). "Tracy Morgan to Be Feted With Friars Club Entertainment Icon Award".
18. "Tracy Morgan Makes History as First Black Recipient of Friar's Club Entertainment Icon Award". MSN.com.
19. (May 12, 2025). "Tracy Morgan, Daniel Radcliffe Comedy from '30 Rock' Team Ordered to Series at NBC".
20. (2025-11-03). "Review: 'Crutch,' Tracy Morgan's feel-good comedy series, has a strong cast that lifts familial jokes".
21. (May 18, 2013). "Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor ... Carol Burnett? Tracy Morgan on His Influences". [[ABC News (United States).
22. (August 8, 2009). "'30 Rock' star, 'Saturday Night Live' regular Tracy Morgan files for divorce from wife Sabina". [[Daily News (New York).
23. (February 17, 2010). "Guest: Tracy Morgan | PBS". [[Tavis Smiley]] via YouTube.
24. (24 August 2015). "Tracy Morgan weds fiancee after turbulent year". [[The Washington Post]].
25. Gicas, Peter. (September 19, 2011). "No Joke! Funnyman Tracy Morgan Announces Engagement on the Emmy Red Carpet". [[E! News]].
26. Nudd, Tim. (July 2, 2013). "Tracy Morgan Welcomes Daughter Maven Sonae". People.
27. (August 23, 2015). "Tracy Morgan Marries Megan Wollover During Emotional Ceremony". [[People (magazine).
28. (2020-07-29). "Tracy Morgan and wife Megan Wollover split after nearly 5 years of marriage".
29. Jessica Wang. (December 11, 2023). "Tracy Morgan discovered he's related to longtime friend Nas: 'He started crying, I started crying'".
30. Itzkoff, Dave. (October 28, 2008). "For Tracy Morgan, Every Day Is a Show". [[The New York Times]].
31. (March 29, 2024). "Tracy Morgan Clarifies Comment About Gaining 40 Lbs. on Ozempic: 'That Was Just a Joke'". [[People magazine]].
32. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. (2024-03-19). "Tracy Morgan Out-Ate Ozempic; Found Out He’s Related to Rapper Nas {{!}} The Tonight Show".
33. (2025-03-18). "Tracy Morgan: Food poisoning caused MSG illness".
34. Oldenburg, Ann. (June 12, 2011). "Tina Fey:Tracy Morgan is 'not a hateful man'". [[USA Today]].
35. Villarreal, Yvonne. (June 10, 2011). "'30 Rock's' Tina Fey and NBC honcho Bob Greenblatt respond to Tracy Morgan's homophobic comments". [[Los Angeles Times]].
36. (June 7, 2014). "Georgia truck driver charged in crash that injured Tracy Morgan". [[Chicago Tribune]].
37. (June 7, 2014). "Actor Tracy Morgan in critical condition after six-vehicle accident in New Jersey". CNN.
38. "Morgan lawsuit against Walmart".
39. (June 7, 2014). "Actor Tracy Morgan in ICU After Crash". [[NBC]].
40. (June 8, 2014). "Tracy Morgan 'More Responsive' Day After Crash, Rep Says".
41. Deerwester, Jayne. (July 13, 2014). "Tracy Morgan released from rehab hospital".
42. (June 16, 2014). "Tracy Morgan's condition improves". [[CBS News]].
43. Robillard, Kevin. (June 6, 2014). "NTSB: Driver in Tracy Morgan crash had been working for 13 hours". [[Politico]].
44. (July 12, 2014). "Tracy Morgan sues Walmart over deadly crash". CNN.
45. Couch, Aaron. (July 12, 2014). "Tracy Morgan Sues Walmart Over Deadly Crash". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
46. Gregorian, Dareh. (September 30, 2014). "Tracy Morgan: 'I can't believe Wal-Mart is blaming me for an accident that they caused'". Daily News.
47. Reaney, Patricia. (May 27, 2015). "Tracy Morgan settles lawsuit with Wal-Mart for undisclosed sum". [[Reuters]].
48. Stempel, Jonathan. (August 7, 2017). "Wal-Mart, insurers settle lawsuits over 2014 Tracy Morgan crash". Reuters.
49. (September 18, 2017). "Tracy Morgan Medical Malpractice Law Suit".
50. Feig, Zakk. (4 November 2016). "Tracy Morgan says he forgives driver".
51. Jung, E. Alex. (May 11, 2017). "Tracy Morgan Reflects on Life, Death, and Why He Doesn't Care for Politics".
52. (March 19, 2019). "Mind Games and Broken Hearts: Jim Carrey and Michel Gondry on Making Eternal Sunshine".
53. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (2019-03-22). "Warner Bros' Animated Scooby-Doo Finds Its Fred & Daphne In Zac Efron & Amanda Seyfried".
54. (March 2019). "Will Forte, Gina Rodriguez and Tracy Morgan to Star in Animated Scooby-Doo Movie (Exclusive)".
55. Ramachandran, Naman. (November 20, 2020). "'Coming 2 America' Sets March 2021 Release Date on Amazon".
56. Grobar, Matt. (January 7, 2026). "Netflix's 2026 Film Slate: Dates For 'War Machine' & Other Titles, New Cast For Animated 'Swapped' Plus First-Look Pics For 'Enola Holmes 3,' More".
57. Morabito, Greg. (2018-06-27). "Watch Phil Rosenthal Embark on a Culinary Quest in the New 'Somebody Feed Phil' Trailer".
58. (November 1, 2021). "Tracy Morgan To Voice Early Cuyler In Adult Swim's 'Squidbillies' In Final Season".
59. Rice, Lynette. (May 3, 2023). "'The Santa Clauses' Nabs Tracy Morgan For Carrot-Eating Cameo On Disney+ Comedy".
60. (2025-05-08). "Octopus!". Amazon MGM Studios, Jigsaw Productions, Wells Street Films.