Jeffrey Dean Morgan lost 40 pounds ‘in the most unhealthy way possible’

5:11 PM

Here’s a promotional still of Jeffrey Dean Morgan in Texas Rising. The 10-hour miniseries debuted on Monday evening on The History Channel with impressive ratings. If you haven’t seen Jeffrey in awhile (which is understandable, as he keeps a low paparazzi profile), this picture may be shocking. He plays the role of Erastus “Deaf” Smith, who suffers from tuberculosis. Jeffrey lost a lot of weight for the role. For an already svelte dude, a 40-pound drop is significant. Jeffrey visited Today and admitted he lost the weight in an extreme manner:

“He had a consumption of tuberculosis. And so I got there and I was probably about 175. I left and I was about 130. I ate a can of tuna fish a day. I did it in the most unhealthy way possible … I didn’t consult with a doctor or anything. We had said maybe we should lose, like, 10 pounds, and I just kept going and going, and by the end of the movie, I was just [moving] like a snail.”

[From Today]

One can of tuna fish per day! The mere thought makes my stomach growl. I’m always fascinated at the lengths actors will go to play a role. Someone usually wants an Oscar when they gain or lose weight for a role. This is for a television miniseries, so perhaps Jeffrey wants an Emmy. Tuna is a popular staple for actors who go on these diets. I remember reading how Michael Fassbender ate a can or two per day for Hunger, and Matthew McConaughey ate one can per day plus an apple for Dallas Buyers Club. At least Jeffrey realizes now that he lost the weight in an unhealthy way. He looks so different at 40 pounds lighter.

For comparison’s sake, here’s some pictures of Jeffrey in August 2012.