Gemma Teller Morrow

Gemma Teller Morrow (née Madock) is a fictional character on the FX television series Sons of Anarchy, played by Katey Sagal. Gemma is the widow of John Teller, a founding member of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO). At the beginning of the series, she is the matriarch of the club and wife of club President Clay Morrow and mother of Vice President Jax Teller. She is unapologetic about the lengths she'll go to in order to protect the club and is beloved by all of its members. Throughout the series, however, she has a tumultuous relationship with her daughter-in-law Tara Knowles, continuously affecting her relationship with Jax. Her character is based on Gertrude; the Queen of Denmark and Prince Hamlet's mother from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet. Biography Gemma was born on September 15, 1957, to Nate and Rose and is a native of Charming, California; her maiden name is Madock. According to Police Chief Wayne Unser, she left Charming when she was sixteen and returned "ten years later with a baby and a motorcycle club". She was married to John Teller, a Vietnam War veteran and founder of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, with whom she had two children: Jackson in 1978 and Thomas in 1984. Gemma has a scar on her chest which is explained when her grandson Abel has surgery. Gemma has a genetic heart disorder from her mother's side which she passed on to her children — Thomas died in 1990 from complications of the disorder, and Abel nearly died from heart complications and maternal drug abuse after his premature birth. After John was hit by a semi-truck and died in 1993, she quickly married John's friend and club member Clay Morrow. Her tough, but relatively classy, image includes hair highlights and a tattoo on her breast. Sons of Anarchy Season 1