Glen Morgan (born July 12, 1961) is an American television producer, writer and director who has shaped popular genre television through his long-running partnership with James Wong. Their collaborative work on The X-Files established them as architects of modern supernatural television, while their contributions to the Final Destination franchise and multiple television projects spanning three decades have demonstrated remarkable versatility across formats. Morgan’s career encompasses successful film directing, television writing, and executive production, with continued influence through recent work on The X-Files revivals and executive production roles with prominent companies including Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions.
Morgan was born in Syracuse, New York, and relocated to El Cajon, California at age 14. While attending El Cajon Valley High School, he met James Wong, who would become his lifelong friend and professional collaborator. Both Morgan and Wong pursued film education at Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television, graduating together in 1983. Their early bond over storytelling and genre themes foreshadowed the successful creative partnership that would define both their careers.
Path to Producing
Morgan initially did not want to work in television, but ultimately accepted a writing position on 21 Jump Street with James Wong as his partner. Their successful collaboration led to steady employment at Stephen J. Cannell Productions, where they continued developing their craft through various television projects throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. Following their work on The Commish in 1992, their former supervisor Peter Roth invited them to join the production team developing a new show at 20th Television, which would become The X-Files. This opportunity marked the beginning of Morgan’s breakthrough in genre television.
Glen Morgan’s Career
Early Career (1983–1992)
After graduating from Loyola Marymount University in 1983, Morgan worked steadily in television writing, building experience in episodic storytelling and character development. His partnership with James Wong proved fruitful, leading to positions on increasingly prominent series. Their tenure at Stephen J. Cannell Productions allowed them to develop their distinctive approach to genre storytelling, combining suspenseful narratives with compelling character work that would later define their most successful projects.
Breakthrough (1993–1999)
The X-Files premiered on Fox in 1993 and became a cultural phenomenon, running for eleven seasons and establishing Morgan and Wong as master storytellers within science fiction and supernatural television. Morgan co-wrote numerous episodes with Wong during the show’s early years, helping to establish the mythology and character dynamics that attracted millions of devoted viewers worldwide. Their collaborative approach to the series created some of its most memorable installments.
Notable Works and Milestones
After leaving The X-Files following its second season, Morgan and Wong created Space: Above and Beyond, a science fiction military drama that aired for a single season but demonstrated their ambition to explore new genre territory. They returned to executive produce The X-Files for its fourth season, then served as showrunners for Millennium season two, with Morgan establishing himself as a significant creative voice in genre television during this prolific period.
Film Success (2000–2010)
Morgan transitioned to feature films, co-creating the Final Destination franchise with Wong. The series became a successful horror property, spawning multiple sequels and establishing Morgan as a capable filmmaker beyond television. He also directed The One (2001), the 2003 remake of Willard, and the 2006 remake of Black Christmas, demonstrating his range across horror and thriller genres. Additional television work included The Others and The Lone Gunmen, a spinoff of The X-Files. In 2007, Morgan joined NBC’s Bionic Woman as executive producer but departed by September due to creative differences.
Return to Television (2010–2020)
Morgan returned to television with executive producer roles on Cartoon Network’s Tower Prep (2010), The River (2012), and A&E’s Those Who Kill (2014). He wrote and executive produced Intruders for BBC America in 2014, a supernatural thriller series that showcased his continued affinity for dark, suspenseful narratives. These projects demonstrated Morgan’s adaptability across different television platforms and formats while maintaining his focus on genre storytelling.
In 2016, Morgan rejoined The X-Files as executive producer for its tenth-season event series, writing and directing the episode “Home Again.” He continued in this capacity for the eleventh season, writing and directing “This” and “Rm9sbG93ZXJz,” both episodes receiving positive critical response. Morgan also executive produced Amazon’s Lore in 2017 and the Twilight Zone reboot for Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions in 2019, continuing his influence on contemporary genre television.
Glen Morgan’s Family
Morgan is married to actress Kristen Cloke, whom he met while working on Space: Above & Beyond. They married in 1998 and have two children together. Morgan also has a daughter from his previous marriage to Cindy. Cloke has appeared in several of his projects, including Millennium, Willard, Final Destination, The X-Files, and Black Christmas, establishing a long-standing creative partnership alongside their family life.
Personal Life
Morgan is the older brother of writer Darin Morgan, who also contributed to The X-Files as a writer, continuing a family legacy within the television industry. Morgan has maintained a relatively private personal life throughout his decades-long career while continuing to influence genre television and film through his ongoing projects and collaborations.