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Season six of The Walking Dead signed off last night by introducing an all-new villain. Negan is one of the most nefarious characters in The Walking Dead comics and he’s being brought to life by none other than Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Now, Morgan’s a familiar face to film and television fans. He’s made a name for himself over the years by popping up in scene-stealing roles in some of the most popular shows and movies. Still, he’s never crossed over into mainstream superstardom and Negan has the potential to possibly him over the edge (or to push us over the edge in absolute fear).
If you want the lowdown on Jeffrey Dean Morgan, we’ve compiled a streaming dossier for you. It’s kind of like a “meet cute” in a romantic comedy, but because it’s all streaming, we’re calling it your “meet queue.” So get ready to fall under the spell of Jeffrey Dean Morgan…
Supernatural Seasons 1-3 (2005 – 2008)
After more than a decade of bit parts and guest roles, Jeffrey Dean Morgan landed his first truly “mythic” role on Supernatural. The show started out as a creepy, crawly thriller, but as it evolved it spun out into a massively complex fantasy universe. At the center of it all: the Winchesters. Morgan played the family patriarch, John Winchester. His life, death, and choices affect the lives (and deaths) of his two sons Dean and Sam. [Watch Supernatural on Netflix]
Grey’s Anatomy Seasons 2-5 (2006-2009)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan soon wooed the entire nation when he joined the uber-popular Grey’s Anatomy. Morgan played Denny Duquette, a patient who falls in love with Izzie (Katherine Heigl) while waiting for a heart transplant. The beloved character passes away in season three, but comes back as in dream sequences and as a symptom of Izzie’s brain tumor. Morgan’s ample charm was on full display in this role. [Watch Grey’s Anatomy on Netflix]
Magic City (2012-2013)
After years of killing it in recurring guest roles, Morgan finally took a stab at being a bonafide series lead. The actor starred in the short-lived Starz series Magic City. Morgan played Ike Evans, the owner of a glamorous 1950s Miami hotel. Ike soon finds himself caught up in the world of a mob. Needless to say, the show was seedy, sexy, and cool — and part of a wave of shows that were green lit to capitalize off the success of Mad Men. [Watch Magic City on Netflix]
The Good Wife (2015-2016)
After a few years bouncing around various Hollywood films and cable TV shows, Morgan returned to the kind of part that had made him famous in the first place: the dashing and flirty scene-stealer on a hit network show. Morgan joined The Good Wife this year, playing a hard-boiled investigator poised to replace Kalinda after actress Archie Panjabi’s scandal-ridden exit from the show. So far, it looks like he’s having fun stirring the pot. A few weeks ago, the show made headlines when Alicia Florrick (Julianna Margulies) gave Morgan’s character a hand job. [Watch The Good Wife on CBS All Access]
The Walking Dead Season 6 (2016)
After months and months of build up, The Walking Dead finally introduced Negan. Fans are split on whether or not the writers gave the infamous character his proper due last night, but no one’s mad about Morgan’s approach to the role. Negan is at once blisteringly terrifying and undeniably charismatic. It’s a vibe that Morgan has honed over the years and it should be fun to see him tear into the role next season. Until then, though, fans will just have to speculate on which character met their doom when they met Negan’s barb-wire-covered bat Lucille.
You can watch past seasons of The Walking Dead on Netflix by clicking here.
For more on where to buy last night’s episode on VOD, click here.
[Photos: ABC, Everett Collection, CBS, AMC]
