Lamorne Morris is one of the most popular comedic actors in Hollywood. He is known for supporting roles in seven films totaling $1.1 billion at the box office. Read more about the actor’s career and Lamorne Morris net worth.
Like Steve Zahn, Morris’ film career thrived in primarily supporting roles. An actor of his caliber came close to earning a nomination or bagging a major award. 2020 bore one of those moments when Morris became a headliner for the hit comedy series, Woke.
Before landing the lead for the popular series on Hulu, Lamorne Morris was best known as one of the principal casts of the Fox sitcom New Girl. He portrayed Winston Bishop for seven seasons and was nominated for Teen Choice TV Breakout Performance – Male in 2012.
The actor-comedian had seven major films where he played supporting roles. Out of all his projects, the 2019 movie Jumanji: The Next Level was the most successful. The fourth and most recent installment of the franchise reached a global box office of $798.33 million.
Lamorne Morris net worth of $4 million is a modest estimation of the actor’s successful career. Morris entered the mainstream in 2011 and currently has 62 acting credits in his name.
[Related Reads: George Chakiris Net Worth]
Lamorne Morris – Short Bio
Lamorne Morris was born on August 14, 1983, in Chicago, Illinois. The family moved to Glen Ellyn when Lamorne was a teenager, where he attended Glenbard High School. He has a brother named Devon. The siblings were raised by their mother, who worked at the US Postal Office.
As a kid, Lamorne was a notorious prankster and troublemaker whose days often ended up in detention. But his juvenile career as a class clown led to an unexpected interest in acting. Lamorne studied theater at the College of DuPage, where he received a scholarship for acting.
Lamorne Morris also trained at the world-renowned Second City Theater. The program installed him as part of Second City’s Outreach and Diversity group because of his likable personality. And to sustain his studies and living expenses, Lamorne worked at a restaurant.
The place wasn’t just any restaurant. Lamorne worked at Ed Devebic’s retro bar, known for its food and humorous twist. Servers have to act rudely to customers, similar to character cafes popularized by the Japanese. It’s the perfect employment for an aspiring actor and comedian.
Lamorne Morris’ Career
Before Lamorne got his big break as an actor, he appeared in numerous commercials for companies like Taco Bell, 7 Up, Twix, McDonald’s, and Chilli’s Grill & Bar, to name a few. Morris also did advertisements for Microsoft, Ford, and Sears and spoke for BMO Harris Bank.
Morris became the host of the television show, Hotwyred, alongside Aleshia Renee, in 2006. After winning the Black Entertainment Television, or BET, “New Face” Search, the duo got the gig. Hotwyred debuted in July 2006 and last aired in May 2007, completing a handful of episodes.
The duo proceeded to host their own shows, Alesha moved to The 5ive, and Morris became the star of the live-action game show, BrainRush. Sadly, the show only lasted six episodes. The Cartoon Network original was canceled in July 2009 due to poor content and bad reviews.
After the stint with Cartoon Network, Morris kept his career afloat with a few television and film appearances. In the 2009 indie film, To Have and Have More, he played a minor role with actress Kate Cobb. Then Morris appeared in the TV series; The Middle and The Guild. He got the role of Scott Smiley in the Television film, The Assistants. The shows were aired in 2010 and 2011.
New Girl 2011 to 2018
Lamorne Morris wasn’t part of the original cast members. He replaced Damon Wayans Jr., who was supposed to take on the role of Coach. But Wayans also starred in Happy Endings and was picked up for a second season. On top of that, the show was aired under ABC, Fox’s rival network.
At first, the producers decided to recast Wayans for Coach’s character, to reappear in a later episode. But after weighing their options, the show opted for a less disruptive solution which was to cut Wayans after the pilot episode and bring in a different actor to fill the gap.
Ironically, Fox initially offered the role of Coach to Morris. Despite auditioning four times for the character, the actor declined New Girl and took on a project with CBS. But after shooting the pilot episode, Happy Endings was signed for a second season, and Wayans had to go.
The casting director went back to Morris and offered him a spot with the replacement character, but the actor had to audition for the role eleven times before getting a deal. Half of the bigwigs were skeptical that a commercial model was capable of filling in the shoes of someone like Damon Wayans Jr.
The following year in 2012, Lamorne Morris was nominated for Choice TV Breakout Performance at Teen Choice Awards for New Girl. He also co-wrote the episode “Par 5” in season four and directed the final season episode that told the story of Winston and his dad.
Aside from the first episode, Lamorne rode the whole seven seasons with the entire cast and crew of New Girl. The show debuted on September 20, 2011, and last aired on May 15, 2018.
Woke 2020 to Present
After his success with New Girl, Lamorne Morris soon found himself with another big project, but it was not a side character or replacement. Lamorne was offered the lead.
The American subscription-based streaming platform, Hulu, approached Morris and pitched their plan for the comedy TV series, Woke. It is famously known that Walt Disney Entertainment broadly owns the leading premium streaming service in the country.
With Sony and Disney involved, Woke was sure to rope viewers in through a wild adventure with an amazingly told story line. And as expected, the show and Morris didn’t disappoint. Rumors even circulated that Morris could be next in line to receive a Golden Globe.
After Ramy Youssef received an award for Best TV Comedy Actor for the Hulu series, Ramy, Morris hoped to continue the trend for Hulu with Woke.
Lamorne Morris Net Worth – Frequently Asked Questions
How Much is Lamorne Morris Net Worth?
Lamorne Morris net worth is estimated at $4 million as of the current year. The actor started out doing commercials for big brands and companies like Mcdonald’s, Taco Bell, and Ford. His career took off in 2011 after becoming a cast member in the Fox series New Girl.
How Much Did New Girl Actors Make?
According to the lead actress, Zooey Deschanel, their pay ranged from $90,000 to $125,000 per episode. A leap from an “extra’s” pay to a cast member’s salary is sure to have been a life-altering boost to Lamorne Morris net worth.
What is Lamorne Morris Doing Now?
Lamorne Morris has four active projects. The first two are in post-production, the third is the short film 19 Weeks, and the fourth is the Hulu TV series Woke. The show released its second season on April 8, 2022.
[Related Read: Suzanne Bass Net Worth]
Lamorne Morris Net Worth – Final Thoughts
The Golden Globe buzz wasn’t just to follow a trend. Lamorne Morris’ performance in Woke was on point, and viewers’ reception had been spectacular. Fans have been clamoring for the show’s release on other popular premium services like HBO and Netflix.
Though not everybody is born built for the spotlight, a slow but steady pace can win any race. The idea is accurate for veteran actors like Neal McDonough and Robert Vaughn, whose careers are mostly made up of supporting roles. Their hard work was rewarded by lasting fame and wealth.
Here’s a fun fact, have you noticed how famous actors for mostly supporting roles have lasted longer in the business compared to talents who took center stage from the beginning of their career? Some run away from the weight of fame, while others become too drunk from it.
Which one do you think it is?
Lamorne Morris net worth is a fair reflection of his achievements. His career was two decades in the making, but he finally broke out of his shell with New Girl and took off for higher heights with Woke. How far up can the Hulu series carry Lamorne Morris with season two?
Related Read:
