Donald A. Morgan, ASC

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Donald A. Morgan, ASC

Donald A. Morgan, ASC

Photo credit: 
Vince Bucci/Invision/AP

As Director of Photography and Lighting Designer, among other roles, Donald (Don) A. Morgan's artistic vision, lighting design and technical skills have made a mark on the last 35 years of American television.

As Director of Photography and Lighting Designer, among other roles, Donald (Don) A. Morgan's artistic vision, lighting design and technical skills have made a mark on the last 35 years of American television.

From starting out as a lighting engineer on hit '70s series including Maude and One Day at a Time, to becoming Lighting Director and Director of Photography on Good Times, The Jeffersons, Three's Company, Silver Spoons, Gloria, The Facts of Life, Golden Girls, Home Improvement, My Wife and Kids, Girlfriends, Malibu Country and Last Man Standing (to name a few), Don has broken barriers in the industry and opened the door for many behind him to follow. Starting out as one of the first African-American lighting directors at a major network in the early '80s, Don decided to disregard the industry's limiting view of television cinematographers and went on to shoot 4-5 TV pilots annually and over 1500 television episodes to date. From film and episodic TV to awards and variety shows, it is safe to say that Don has shaped the majority of popular television for the last 50 years.

In 1985, Don won his first Emmy for Outstanding Lighting Design on Mr. Belvedere. Don went on to earn another seven Emmy Awards for his work on Home Improvement and three for the Netflix series The Ranch. Don's peers at the Television Academy have nominated him a total of 21 times for his work that also includes the series Girlfriends, Baghdad Café, Saved By the Bell, The Conners and The Upshaws. In 2020, the American Society of Cinematographers honored Don with the Career Achievement in Television Award.

Not allowing himself to be stereotyped as a "television series cinematographer" that would limit his scope of opportunities, Don's portfolio also includes shooting the annual two-hour live NAACP Image Awards at the Kodak, the Shrine and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion each year between 2001-2011, as well as variety shows, MTV productions, and feature films he takes on during the Summers. Don has traveled the world for Sony International Pictures to consult on high-definition TV, and was the first to do a four-camera Hi-Def sitcom (the 1993 pilot Sunday in Paris).

Don is currently Co-Chairman of DEI for IA Local 600 Cinematographers Guild. He consistently pushes the envelope of foot candles in this medium, prompting lens and filter companies to evolve to accommodate lower levels of light, and allowing for atmospheric looks in four camera settings. Don's lighting innovation "bounce front fill" has become an industry standard. His most recent projects include Lopez and Lopez for NBC and The Conners for ABC.

updated 10.6.22

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Awards & Nominations

22 Nominations | 11 Emmys | 1 Honor
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series (Half-Hour) - 2024
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Conners
  • "Fire And Vice"
  • ABC
  • Werner Entertainment
Hall of Fame - 2022
  • Winner
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, as Honoree
  • Television Academy
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2022
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Conners
  • "The Wedding Of Dan And Louise"
  • ABC
  • Werner Entertainment
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2021
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Conners
  • "A Stomach Ache, A Heart Break And A Grave Mistake"
  • ABC
  • Werner Entertainment
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2021
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • Last Man Standing
  • "Time Flies"
  • FOX
  • 20th Television
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2021
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Upshaws
  • "Big Plans"
  • Netflix
  • Savannah Sweet Productions and Push It Productions for Netflix
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2020
  • Winner
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Ranch
  • "It Ain't My Fault"
  • Netflix
  • Netflix
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2019
  • Winner
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Ranch
  • "Reckless"
  • Netflix
  • Ranch Hand Productions
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series - 2018
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Ranch
  • "Do What You Gotta Do"
  • Netflix
  • A Netflix Original Production
Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series - 2017
  • Winner
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC, Director of Photography
  • The Ranch
  • "Easy Come, Easy Go"
  • Netflix
  • Ranch Hand Productions
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-camera Series - 2014
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, Director of Photography
  • Last Man Standing
  • "Eve's Boyfriend "
  • ABC
  • Twentieth Century Fox Television
Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-camera Series - 2011
  • Nominee
  • Donald A. Morgan, ASC
  • Retired At 35
  • "Rocket Man"
  • TV Land
  • TV Land Productions
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DIRECTION (ELECTRONIC) - 1985

The Television Academy database lists prime-time Emmy information. Click here to learn more

Donald A. Morgan
Donald A. Morgan
Donald A. Morgan
Donald A. Morgan
Donald A. Morgan, ASC
Hall of Fame inductee Donald A. Morgan speaks
Monica Raymund presents the Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series to Donald A. Morgan for The Ranch at Night Three of the Creative Arts Emmys.
Donald A. Morgan accepts his award at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys.
2018 Cinematography/Lighting, Camera, and Technical Arts Nominee Reception
2018 Cinematography/Lighting, Camera, and Technical Arts Nominee Reception
Christian LaFountaine, Donald Morgan, George Mooradian, and Brian Lataille at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.
Christian and Shelley LaFountaine with Don Morgan at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.
John O'Brien (looking on), Donald Morgan, and Kenneth Zunder at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.
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Fill 1
Donald A. Morgan
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Donald A. Morgan

Tomasso Boddi/Getty Images
Donald A. Morgan
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Donald A. Morgan

Tomasso Boddi/Getty Images
Donald A. Morgan
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...on the set of Home Improvement...

Courtesy of Donald A. Morgan
Donald A. Morgan
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... on the backlot shooting The Conners.

Courtesy of Donald A. Morgan
Donald A. Morgan, ASC
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Donald A. Morgan, ASC

Hall of Fame inductee Donald A. Morgan speaks
Camera

Hall of Fame inductee Donald A. Morgan, ASC, accepts his honor

Danny Moloshok/Invision/AP
Monica Raymund presents the Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series to Donald A. Morgan for The Ranch at Night Three of the Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Monica Raymund presents the Emmy for Outstanding Cinematography For A Multi-Camera Series to Donald A. Morgan for The Ranch at Night Three of the Creative Arts Emmys. 

Invision/AP
Donald A. Morgan accepts his award at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys.
Camera

Donald A. Morgan accepts his award at the 2019 Creative Arts Emmys.

Invision/AP
2018 Cinematography/Lighting, Camera, and Technical Arts Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governor Gary Baum, Christian Sprenger, Patti Lee, Donald A. Morgan, and Patrick Cady at the 2018 Cinematography/Lighting, Camera, and Technical Arts Nominee Reception on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
2018 Cinematography/Lighting, Camera, and Technical Arts Nominee Reception
Camera

Television Academy Governor Gary Baum, and Donald A. Morgan at the 2018 Cinematography/Lighting, Camera, and Technical Arts Nominee Reception on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Christian LaFountaine, Donald Morgan, George Mooradian, and Brian Lataille at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.
Camera

Christian LaFountaine, Donald Morgan, George Mooradian and Brian Lataille at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
Christian and Shelley LaFountaine with Don Morgan at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.
Camera

Christian and Shelley LaFountaine with Don Morgan at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
John O'Brien (looking on), Donald Morgan, and Kenneth Zunder at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.
Camera

John O'Brien, Emmy nominee Donald Morgan, and Kenneth Zunder at the Cinematographers/Electronic Production Nominee Reception in North Hollywood, California.

Invision/AP
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