Comedian and actor Tracy Morgan, now 57, is embracing a chapter of life defined by gratitude, generosity, and family. Recently, he demonstrated that commitment by donating more than $200,000 to the Hackensack Meridian Health Foundation, a contribution that helped provide food for approximately 19,000 vulnerable families. Morgan shared the news exclusively with People while promoting his new Paramount+ sitcom, Crutch.

While Morgan has spent decades receiving applause and recognition for his work, he believes true fulfillment comes from giving back. “It’s fun to get the love and support, but it’s better when you give it back,” he said. “That’s what I want to teach my children. More than a great education, I just want Maven and her brothers to be empathic and understand other people’s struggles.”

At this stage of his life, Morgan says his priorities are crystal clear. Fame, accolades, and outside noise no longer matter as much as time with his family. “At this point in my life, spending time with my children—that’s it,” he emphasized. “I don’t care about nothing else in this world.”

Morgan is a father to four children: his 12-year-old daughter, Maven Sonae, whom he shares with ex-wife Megan Wollover, and his three adult sons—Gitrid, 39, Malcolm, 38, and Tracy Jr., 34—from his marriage to his late ex-wife, Sabina Morgan. Sabina passed away from cancer in 2016, a loss that profoundly shaped Morgan’s outlook on life, love, and fatherhood.

That perspective was further transformed by a near-fatal highway accident in 2014, which claimed the life of his close friend and fellow comedian James McNair and left Morgan critically injured. Reflecting on his recovery, Morgan recalled words spoken by his grandmother when he awoke in the hospital: “Just when you thought you was doing bad, there’s people out there doing worse.” The message stayed with him. “That gave me perspective,” he said. “So I feel fortunate every day.”

Gratitude now guides not only his personal life but also his professional decisions. “Anything with a heart—that’s what I want to do,” Morgan explained. “If it doesn’t have a heart, I don’t wanna do it.” That philosophy is evident in his current and upcoming projects, which he says reflect both his life experiences and his growth as a performer.

Morgan currently stars in Crutch, a spinoff of the CBS comedy The Neighborhood, now streaming on Paramount+. He plays Francois “Frank” Crutchfield, a flamboyant yet deeply loved Harlem shop owner whose world is turned upside down when his adult children—a sophisticated son and a free-spirited daughter—move back home. The role, Morgan says, feels deeply personal. “I’ve been prepping my whole life for this,” he shared in an interview with CBS Mornings. “I’ve got kids. My real wife died. I know this guy. I lived this guy.”

Up next, Morgan will reunite with longtime collaborator Tina Fey, his former 30 Rock co-star, in a new NBC comedy titled The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. Produced by Fey, the series will feature Morgan as a disgraced former football player, starring opposite Daniel Radcliffe. For Morgan, choosing projects now is about enjoyment as much as purpose. “You gotta have fun,” he said simply.

Looking back on his decades-long career, Morgan says he feels more satisfied than ever. “I love everything that I’ve done,” he reflected. With age and experience, he believes the work has only become richer. “It’s that much fun now—actually even better.”

To explain his outlook, Morgan used a vivid metaphor: “You can’t see how big the mountain is if you’re right up on it. You have to step back and look at it and say, ‘Wow, that mountain is big.’ Now I see how big it is. Now I’m gonna climb it—not because I have to, but just because it’s there.”

These days, Morgan is focused on living well and taking care of himself. He maintains a disciplined routine that includes walking two and a half miles a day and training regularly. He has also made changes to his health regimen, transitioning from Ozempic to Mounjaro as part of his wellness journey.

Ultimately, Morgan says he is no longer preoccupied with the end of life, but with how he lives each day. “I’m just trying to live good,” he said. “I’m not worried about how I’m gonna die. I’m worried about how I live—and I’m living good.”

When asked what advice he would give his younger self, Morgan didn’t hesitate. His message was reassuring and confident: “Keep doing what you’re doing. You’re doing fine.”