Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton’s teenage son, Augustus “Gus” Morgan, already has the passion and the talent for a career in acting. But while the 15-year-old is eager to leave school behind and jump headfirst into showbiz, his parents are urging him to hit the brakes. In an exclusive conversation, Morgan opens up about what it means to raise a child with big dreams in an uncertain Hollywood — and why sometimes love means saying “not yet.” Jeffrey Dean Morgan knows exactly what it’s like to chase a dream in Hollywood — and now he’s watching his son prepare to do the same. But as much as 15-year-old Augustus Morgan seems ready to take the leap, the Walking Dead actor is encouraging patience. “He’s ready to drop out of school and be an actor,” Morgan says with a knowing smile. “I think that he’s known that since we took him to Hamilton when he was 3 years old.”
A talented teen with Broadway dreams
These days, Gus is even more committed to the craft. And while his enthusiasm is contagious, Morgan and his wife, One Tree Hill alum Hilarie Burton, are taking a more measured approach to nurturing their son’s creative ambitions.
“We’re holding him back just because I want him to have an education; his mom wants him to have an education,” Morgan explains. “We want him to be real sure about this choice because it’s not the easiest path, even if there’s nepotism involved.”
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The concern isn’t just about academics — it’s also about timing. “The business is changing so much,” Morgan adds. “Years ago, when I came up, there were a lot more low-budget films to do. In the last 20 years, there have been so many TV jobs available, and now it’s a ghost town. L.A.’s a ghost town. Even Georgia, where we shot The Walking Dead, was booming. Now it’s really quiet.”
The industry’s volatility is one reason why Morgan is trying to give Gus the tools to succeed in a wide range of creative paths — not just acting. That’s why the teen will soon start attending a school that specializes in the arts.
“This year, we’re changing schools so he can have the opportunity to really focus in on what he wants to do,” Morgan says. “He can take classes from the other side of the camera — writing, directing, set builds, film acting and theater acting.” It’s clear that Gus is already standing out. Recently, Burton proudly shared on Instagram that her son had been inducted into his school’s theater society. “Watch out world. Gus Morgan (who still has ZERO social media, ya weirdos) is gonna dazzle you. #proudmama ????????????,” she wrote. Morgan sees something special in his son. “He’s that kind of talent,” he says. “Stuff I could never do, he already shines at. I could absolutely see him on Broadway.”
Balancing work, family, and red carpets
These days, Morgan is juggling a demanding schedule of his own. Alongside acting projects, he’s hosting Destination X, NBC’s globe-trotting reality competition series. The show, which follows ten contestants on a mystery journey through Europe, films far from home — and far from Gus and younger daughter George, 7, who live with Morgan and Burton on a sprawling farm in Rhinebeck, New York.
“I find a way to get home every weekend if I can,” Morgan says of balancing family life with filming abroad. “With this show, it was a bit harder when you’re across the world, and they didn’t come out.” Still, he managed to rally the entire family for a glamorous appearance at Canneseries in April. Gus, George, and Burton accompanied Morgan to France, where he premiered the second season of The Walking Dead: Dead City and was honored with a handprint ceremony on the Cannes Walk of Fame.
“It was awesome,” Morgan says of the experience. “It was George’s first red carpet. They stole the show. I thought Gus was going to walk away with a three-picture deal. It was cool.”
Rooted in reality
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Despite all the glitz, Morgan is adamant that he and Burton are preparing Gus for the realities of the entertainment business — not just the red carpets and applause. The couple, who married in 2019 after more than a decade together, are raising their children with grounded values and a healthy dose of pragmatism.
“He’s going to have a really cool opportunity that I never got — and Hilarie never got,” Morgan says. “But that doesn’t mean we’re rushing it.”
Though proud of his son’s drive and talent, Morgan’s priority is ensuring Gus knows exactly what kind of career — and life — he’s signing up for. “We’re not saying no,” he emphasizes. “We’re just saying: be sure.”
What’s next
For now, Gus is continuing to grow as a student, a performer, and a teenager with dreams larger than most. Whether it’s Broadway, Hollywood, or somewhere entirely unexpected, his future looks bright. And if his debut as a zombie is any indication, he already knows how to make an unforgettable first impression.
