'Walking Dead' star Jeffrey Dean Morgan wishes he was 'more prepared' for the coronavirus outbreak

By Stephen Iervolino

Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Hilarie Burton are putting their time in quarantine to very good use.

Not only is crafty Burton, 37, churning out masks for hospitals and other facilities near their upstate New York farm, but the pair are collaborating on their own AMC TV show, "Friday Night in With the Morgans," to connect with their famous friends during the lockdown and highlight people who are doing good during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The irony of the situation isn't lost on Morgan, 53, who plays Negan on "The Walking Dead," a show about a fictional outbreak.

"It's very surreal," he admitted to ABC Audio via Skype.

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Fifty new panels cut. I try very hard not to ask people to do things I am not willing to do myself. I am asking you to sew. We are in this for the long haul, and even more people will need masks. Nursing homes. Children’s Homes. Essential workers. Immune compromised individuals. Specialists offices. And all the family members that live with those folks. Every day I post addresses on twitter for people who have DM-d me looking for masks. So, I implore you, if you have a needle and thread, there is a pattern in the link in my bio. Another great pattern is on the https://sarahmaker.com/how-to-sew-a-surgical-face-mask-for-hospitals-free-pattern/ site. So many people have asked me for help. I can’t do it by myself. Be creative. Be ambitious. Be a helper. Xoxoxo #rawhands #washyourhands #makemasks #noexcusessewingclub

A post shared by Hilarie Burton Morgan (@hilarieburton) on Apr 14, 2020 at 11:49am PDT

"You'd think that I'd be more prepared for this," he said.

"I definitely have Negan in me, but it's really hard to bash a virus ... with a baseball bat," the actor laughed, adding that given the situation, they're "very thankful" to have their farm right now.

Of his series' gentleman farmer, he said: "I'll tell you that I feel more like Hershel than I do Negan, to be honest with you."

For Burton, the call to do something was immediate.

"I see people posting that they're bored and that kind of frustrates me," she said, "because there are so many things that we could be doing to fill our time to help others."

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Friday Night In with the Morgan’s! I did 100 takes with the donkeys... at least. I was out of breath physically lifting them up into position... and it sure DID NOT WORK!! We tried. Paxton didn’t want anyone else in but him... and I have bite marks on my rear to prove it. Asses run amok @themischieffarm @amc_tv @hilarieburton @amctalkingdead and of course @amcthewalkingdead Friday nights, 10pm AMC!! #fridaynightinwiththemorgans

A post shared by Jeffrey Dean Morgan (@jeffreydeanmorgan) on Apr 11, 2020 at 3:29pm PDT

"If we're not making masks, we've been getting people who've been DMing me addresses of facilities that need masks or other PPE," she continued. "And so then it just becomes an issue of connecting makers and places in need. Yeah, we've been sewing a lot."

Morgan is the delivery man for the finished supplies.

"I think I've gotten three hours' sleep since this whole thing started," he joked.

"Friday Night in With the Morgans" debuts Friday at 10 p.m. ET on AMC.