Entertainment TV Jeffrey Dean Morgan Reveals the Role That 'Almost' Made Him Quit Acting: 'It Was Horrible' "I've never been on a set where I went home at night and just thought, 'What am I doing?'" the Walking Dead star recalled By Dory Jackson Dory Jackson Instagram Twitter Website Dory Jackson is an Associate Editor for PEOPLE's digital TV team. While at the brand, she's had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She also recaps popular TV shows like The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Vanderpump Rules.The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus in Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. She also previously co-hosted a podcast called "Idol Nation." People Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 2, 2021 05:37 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Way back in the day, Jeffrey Dean Morgan almost decided to put his acting career behind him. During an appearance on the web series Hot Ones, Morgan said his 2003 appearance on Star Trek: Enterprise made him contemplate his future in the entertainment business. "It turns out I'm claustrophobic. I had a really hard time doing the makeup process, and I had straws in my nose," the Walking Dead star, 54, told host Sean Evans. "I've never been on a set where I went home at night and just thought, 'What am I doing? I've made the worst f---ing decision of my life. I don't ever want to be an actor again.' Like, I was sure that this was just wrong, and it almost made me quit. It was horrible." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Morgan played a Xindi-Reptilian during his early aughts Star Trek gig. During an interview with Entertainment Weekly about the part in 2012, he opened up about complications surrounding the prosthetic he was required to wear. "I had to pay my bills. I knew I'd play some guy saying some stuff. Then I got a call saying I needed to go in for a prosthetic fitting," he said at the time. "I remember them dripping goop on my face, and I had straws sticking out of my nose. I couldn't eat lunch. I was claustrophobic. I'd go home in tears." Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a Xindi-Reptilian on Star Trek: Enterprise. CBS via Getty Jeffrey Dean Morgan Calls Working with Wife Hilarie Burton the 'Highlight of My Career' Of course, he stuck it out — and went on to land roles in a number of prominent shows, including The Good Wife and Supernatural. He has also appeared in various films, such as Rampage and Watchmen. One of Morgan's favorite roles was that of Denny Duquette on Grey's Anatomy. During his Hot Ones appearance, he said he "begged" series creator Shonda Rhimes to let him stay on the show, though his character was ultimately killed off during season 5 in 2009. "Grey's Anatomy, I knew was something special. That's the one time that I saw my death coming and was trying anything I could to get out of that death," he said. "That character Denny and that love story with Izzie [Katherine Heigl] took the world by storm." "I knew how f---ing lucky I was to be there, and I was like, 'Please don't kill me,'" Morgan added. "I did, I begged [Shonda]. That's what changed my life. Being Denny, where I never got out of bed, is why [director] Zack Snyder hired me to be the Comedian [in Watchmen]. That's how special that was."