Way back in the day,Jeffrey Dean Morganalmost decided to put his acting career behind him.
During an appearance on the web seriesHot Ones, Morgan said his 2003 appearance onStar Trek: Enterprisemade 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,” theWalking Deadstar, 54, told hostSean 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 forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto 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 aughtsStar Trekgig. During an interview withEntertainment Weeklyabout 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 togo 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
Of course, he stuck it out — and went on to land roles in a number of prominent shows, includingThe Good WifeandSupernatural. He has also appeared in various films, such asRampageandWatchmen.
One of Morgan’s favorite roles was that of Denny Duquette onGrey’s Anatomy. During hisHot Onesappearance, he said he “begged” series creatorShonda Rhimesto let him stay on the show, though his character was ultimately killed off during season 5 in 2009.
“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 Snyderhired me to be the Comedian [inWatchmen]. That’s how special that was.”
source: people.com
