Revealed: Grey's Anatomy hunk Jeffrey Dean Morgan survived on ONE can of tuna A DAY to play sickly character on History Channel's Texas Rising

Published: 14:04 EST, 26 May 2015 | Updated: 15:40 EST, 26 May 2015

View
comments

Former Grey's Anatomy star Jeffrey Dean Morgan lived for weeks on one can of tuna a day for his his role in the History Channel miniseries Texas Rising.

The 49-year-old actor, who played Katherine Heigl's love interest Denny Duquette on the ABC medical drama, shed more than 40 pounds thanks to his starvation diet.

He said on NBC's Today he did it because he wanted to be convincing as Erastus 'Deaf' Smith, a Texas backwoodsman who has consumption, also known as tuberculosis.

Scroll down for video

Slimmed down: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, seen left in 2009, dropped from 175 to 130 pounds for his role in the History Channel miniseries Texas Rising, right in 2015. He did it by surviving on one can of tuna a day

History: The actor, 49, is part of the star studded cast that includes Bill Paxton and Ray Liotta. The miniseries tells the story of the formation of the legendary Texas Rangers in the 1830s and the battle for independence

'I got there and I was probably about 175. I left and I was about 130,' he said while promoting Texas Rising on Today last week.

'I did it in the most unhealthy way possible. I didn't consult with a doctor or anything, he revealed. 'We had said maybe we should lose, like, 10 pounds, and I just kept going and going.'

Unsurprisingly, he says he now can't even look at a can of tuna.

Committed: Morgan says he starved himself in order to get into character as the sickly consumptive Erastus 'Deaf' Smith. He said he ate so much tuna for the role he's now sickened by the sight of it

Cowboy: Morgan revealed one of the best part of making Texas Rising was the bond he forged with his horse, seen right. He says he 'fell in love' with the mare and it was hard to say goodbye when filming ended

Texas Rising, directed by The Mission's Roland Joffe, tells the story of the formation of the legendary Texas Rangers in the fight for an independent Texas in the 1830s.

The star studded cast includes Bill Paxton, Olivier Martinez, Kris Kristofferson, Ray Liotta and Brendan Fraser.

Morgan said he had a great time filming in Durango, Mexico, and became really attached to the horse he rode for 15 hours a day during shooting.

'It was a real love story. I fell in love with her and it was very hard for me to leave her,' he said.

'The highlight of my day always was, after work we would get to ride our horses a mile back to the stables or wherever at sunset with these beautiful vistas.'

Broke hearts: Morgan played Denny Duquette, the love interest of Katherine Heigl's Grey's Anatomy character Izzie Stevens on the CBS medical drama from 2006 to 2009

Morgan became a fan favorite when he appeared on Grey's Anatomy between 2006 and 2009 as a heart patient who captured Heigl's affection before tragically dying of a blood clot.

He went on to star in the films Texas Killing Fields, The Posession and Red dawn and most recently starred in the CBS TV series extant with Halle Berry.

Texas Rising airs this week on The History Channel.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe official trailer