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.
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. Following in his father's footsteps, Morgan was a musican, playing the stand-up bass in middle school and the bass guitar in high school.
After graduating from Alexander Hamilton High School, Morgan attended Los Angeles Trade–Technical College, where he studied graphic art and architecture.
Career
On 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. During the 1970s, he worked in Norman Lear productions such as All in the Family, The Jeffersons, and One Day at a Time. 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. Morgan went onto 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.
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, as well as the Career Achievement in Television Award from the American Society of Cinematographers. In 2022, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences inducted him into the Television Hall of Fame. He is the first director of photography to earn the latter honor.
Morgan serves as the Co–Chairman of DEI for the IA Local 600 Cinematographers Guild.
Personal life
Morgan is married to Hollywood make-up artist Geneva Nash-Morgan.
Awards and honors
In 2020, Mogran received the American Society of Cinematographers Career Achievement in Television Award, and in 2022, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences inducted him into the Television Hall of Fame. He is the first director of photography to earn the latter honor.
Filmography
Film
Television
Further reading
References
External links
ASC Close-Up: Donald A. Morgan
[Cool Jobs Hollywood] Be a Cinematographer (Interview with Ebony)
Living people
American cinematographers
Year of birth missing (living people)