‘Fargo’ Was Just One Step in Lamorne Morris’ Busy Career Path

Lamorne Morris is a name synonymous with comedy, known for his roles in popular TV series like “New Girl” and “Woke,” as well as movies such as “Barbershop: The Next Cut.” However, Morris is now diving into new territory with his performance in the fifth season of “Fargo,” earning him his first Emmy nomination. In this season, Morris plays North Dakota state trooper Witt Farr, a rare decent man amidst the chaos crafted by showrunner Noah Hawley. Witt gets wounded while trying to help the protagonist Dot (Juno Temple) escape from ruthless kidnappers sent by her ex, Sheriff Roy Tillman (Jon Hamm). Despite his injuries, Witt’s determination to repay his debt to Dot sees him navigating the rest of the season on crutches, facing an array of violent characters.

Morris is juggling multiple projects these days. Besides his role in “Fargo,” he has been substitute hosting for Jimmy Kimmel, appearing in episodes of “Ghosts” and “Unstable,” and co-hosting the “New Girl” recap podcast “The Mess Around” and the celebrity chat podcast “The Lamorning After.” This fall, audiences will also see him portraying Garrett Morris in the “SNL” docudrama “Saturday Night.” Additionally, he’s gearing up for Prime Video’s “Spider-Noir” series, where he will play journalist Robbie Robertson to Nicolas Cage’s Spider-Man.

At 41, Morris is understandably excited about the new directions his career is heading. The cold, wintry setting of “Fargo” represented a significant shift in his journey.

How does it feel to be recognized for this role?

It feels surreal to be nominated for a role that’s so different from what people usually see me do. But it’s also incredibly rewarding. It has boosted my confidence in other projects I’m involved in. While my previous roles in “Barbershop,” “Game Night,” and “Woke” were more on the comedic side, it’s nice to showcase my serious side. As actors, we train in various mediums, and it’s satisfying to flex those muscles.

How did you approach the character of Witt?

I had several discussions with Noah about the direction I wanted to take Witt. Given the silliness of some other characters, I aimed to play Witt as straight and real as possible. I wanted his moments of levity to be genuine, not forced. Unlike my character in “New Girl,” Witt’s humor is subtle and infrequent.

Witt faces little overt racism, but as a Black man in a MAGA-dominated area…

There’s a tense moment in Episode 3 involving Joe Keery’s character, who threatens Witt with the same violence he used against a Black boy. This encounter sets the tone for who Witt is dealing with. Despite understanding the racial tensions, Witt keeps his head down and focuses on his duty. However, he’s drawn into situations he can’t ignore, and he has to navigate through the racism and foolishness of the people around him.

It’s weird to be nominated for something that people haven’t seen you do before. But that is awesome.

Lamorne Morris

There’s a Men’s Health article about how you lost 40 pounds after making “Fargo,” and you look totally ripped…

When discussing the character with Noah, I envisioned Witt as a burly man who wasn’t very active, mainly due to his job and the cold climate. Gaining the weight was easy, thanks to Calgary’s excellent food scene and the bitter cold deterring me from the gym. I think I reached around 200 pounds, from my usual 175. Once I got the call for “Saturday Night,” I had to drop the weight, aiming for Garrett’s 160 pounds. That meant cutting out sugar and carbs and hitting the gym. It’s something that will benefit me in future roles, hopefully.

What was the toughest aspect of making “Fargo”?

The biggest challenge was being away from my nearly four-year-old daughter. Traveling back and forth or having her travel was tough. It’s hard to stay focused when you haven’t seen your child in weeks. FaceTime helps, but it’s not the same as being there. Kids are a stress reliever; they’re cheerful and playful, which helps you de-stress. This was my first project where I was away from her for an extended period, making it a unique challenge.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.