Jeffrey Dean Morgan: Son wants to leave the school for Hollywood

Jeffrey Dean Morgan (59) faces a dilemma that many parents of famous stars know: his 15-year-old son Augustus “Gus” Morgan burns to leave school and step into his footsteps. “He is ready to cancel school and become an actor,” reveals the “Walking Dead” star

The talent is obviously in the family. Morgan remembers a formative moment when Gus was only three years old: “We took him to ‘Hamilton’. After the show we went backstage, and he went on stage, dressed up like Hamilton. I remember how I watched him and thought: ‘He knows exactly what he will do now.’ He’s really good. “

Gus demonstrated his acting skills in 2021 when he had a short appearance as a zombie in the final season of “The Walking Dead”. Morgan proudly shared at the time and wrote: “We are super proud of Gus Dean.”

A special highlight was also the family appearance at the Canneseries Festival in April, where not only the world premiere of “The Walking Dead: Dead City” was celebrated, but also had Morgan immortalized his hands in the Walk of Fame by Cannes. “It was fantastic,” enthuses Morgan. “It was George’s first red carpet. They stole the show. I thought Gus would go away with a three-film deal.”

But despite the obvious talent and passion of his son, Morgan deliberately holds him back. Together with his wife Hilarie Burton (42), with whom he has been married since 2019, he would like to ensure that GUS receives well -founded training.

“We hold him back because I want him to have an apprenticeship; his mother wants him to have an apprenticeship,” explains Morgan. The couple’s caution also stems from larger concerns about the Hollywood industry. “We want him to be really sure of his decision, because it is not the easiest way, even if nepotism is involved, and business changes so much.”

Morgan, who has been working in the industry for years, sees the dramatic changes in Hollywood with concern: “Years ago when I started, there were much more low-budget films. There have been so many TV jobs in the past 20 years, and now it is a ghost town. La is a ghost town.”

Nevertheless, the parents support their son in his ambitions. Gus soon goes to a school that specializes in the arts. “This year we are changing school so that he has the opportunity to really concentrate on what he wants to do,” says Morgan. “He can take courses on the other side of the camera – write, director, stage construction, film acting and theater acting.”

Burton also regularly takes Gus with musicals and plays. Morgan can imagine that his son could land on Broadway: “He has this kind of talent.