In the parking lot of a restaurant near the home of Jeffrey Dean Morgan, the actor was recently approached by one of his fans.
"My wife says you're dying, but you look healthy enough to me," the fan told Morgan.
"You can't die," the man's wife pleaded. "You're too cute to die!"
This conversation, hardly the first of its kind, elicited a good laugh from Morgan, who plays charming heart patient Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy. The character has emerged as a fan favorite as he woos the beautiful Dr. Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl, above) from his hospital bed while awaiting a transplant.
Not only are Morgan's services winning praise, but they are in high demand -- sometimes for roles that require him to actually stand up and walk, no less. He has appeared twice on the Showtime series Weeds as Mary-Louise Parker's dead husband (via home videos and flashbacks), and plays an MIA dad on the WB's Supernatural, which airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays. Somewhat like Denny, his character is a man targeted for death... only by evil forces.
"It's basically Dad and boys hunting what killed my wife and one of their girlfriends, and trying to bring an end to it," Morgan, who is in talks about returning next season, told USA Today.
Whether he returns to the Supernatural set (where he plays John Winchester, below) will depend on -- you guessed it -- the fate of Denny. Soon, the Grey's Anatomy cast will do its read-through of the two-part season finale, and learn the details of the cliffhanger for the first time. Morgan, who turned 40 Saturday, is just hoping to live another season.
"The last decade has been a little rough, so I'm hoping to start this one on the right foot," he said. "I would bend over backward to be back on Grey's. Any day, I'll choose lying in bed with [Izzie] looking over me over getting thrown against walls by supernatural persons at 5 in the morning."
The Insider finds it hard to argue with that logic. Morgan is enjoying his first taste of true fame despite a successful career as a working actor, which included regular roles on UPN's The Burning Zone (1996-97) and CBS' The Handler (2004). Directors have told him he has a certain level of maturity that makes him a hot hot commodity.
But, like Denny, it could be curtains for Morgan at any minute.
Lately, Morgan has been getting encouraging words and pats on the back from Grey's co-stars at every read-through, as they collectively worry each that episode will be his last. He has, understandably, become particularly close to Heigl. Any chance their on-screen spark could carry over to real life?
"Katie's one of my best friends. I love her to death, but she's got a great boyfriend. And you shouldn't date your co-stars. It's never a good idea," Morgan said.
So what is he looking for in a mate?
"Well," he said, smiling, "someone to laugh with. And fidelity would be nice."
Amen to that, and here's hoping that Denny can get himself that transplant. Paging Dr. Burke!
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25 Comments
May 4th, 2006 9:12 PM
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the hottest and sexiest guest star in Grey's Anatomy - should be in the cast! Don't kill him off!!! Or create a show with him in the lead, and give him a character as wonderful as Denny.
May 8th, 2006 9:46 AM
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is the ONLY, I repeat, ONLY reason I watch GA. He's got my heart. He puts "Dr. McDreamy" to shame.
May 8th, 2006 9:53 AM
AMEN!!!! I love Denny and it'll break my heart if they get rid of him!
May 15th, 2006 10:05 AM
After last nights precursor to the season finale, I am very fearful for Denny! I just love his character and the sweet romance that he and Izzy have. I just can't see him surviving tonight's season finale....it just doesn't look good. Burke was his saving grace and now he may die too.....OMG!
May 15th, 2006 3:08 PM
I love Denny, too!! He and Izzie belong together. If they kill him off, I don't think I'll watch the show again.
May 15th, 2006 9:24 PM
Wow, I can't believe Denny is gone now. My heart is broken lol I cried and cried like I had lost a family member. The writers of Greys Anatomy are genius for making a show that could get ME to feel that way.
May 16th, 2006 12:48 AM
I can't believe that Denny is actually dead now, I cried so much as if someone I knew died it sucks so much I wish they would have kept him alive it sucked that they made you think he lived, and would move on to marry izzie only to then be killed off.
May 16th, 2006 8:05 AM
I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who was crying last night...Denny's death really hit an emotional nerve with me and I cried til 2am! Sometimes a girl just needs a good cry :) Denny was the most charming, lovable, sexy character I've seen on tv in a long time....guys just don't seem to get how a guy in a hospital bed can be sexy to us women, but we know it's the voice, the eyes, that cute dimple and the incredible charm and wit that his character has. I was very sad to see him go...ABC would be smart to bring the actor back as Denny's equally charming twin brother who comes to collect Denny's remains...and who has fallen hopelessly in love with Izzy from the letters that his dying twin wrote him from the hospital bed...we all know the odd connection that twins have. Let Alex try to compete with a perfectly healthy Denny clone! :)
May 16th, 2006 9:31 AM
I loved Denny. So Sad to see him Dye.
Im hoping Izzy was having a bad dream and they will get married and lice happly ever after.
Denny is my kind of man
May 16th, 2006 9:53 AM
I am glad to see I'm not the only one!... Thought I was going crazy! LOL... I bawled my eyes out like a little baby... it's the next day and I'm STILL upset.. Oh what I wouldn't give to see that man in person! *Sigh*... I am really ticked that they killed him off the show... I too am hoping it's 'just a dream' and he'll be back on for next season.. somehow I doubt it though.. I love the show but I bet the ratings will go down now that Denny is gone!!
xo