Posted on 12/07/2011 9:18:42 AM PST by Borges
Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series “M*A*S*H,” died Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96. His son Charles confirmed his death.
In more than 100 movies, Mr. Morgan played Western bad guys, characters with names like Rocky and Shorty, loyal sidekicks, judges, sheriffs, soldiers, thugs and police chiefs.
On television, he played Officer Bill Gannon with a phlegmatic but light touch to Jack Webb’s always-by-the-book Sgt. Joe Friday in the updated “Dragnet,” from 1967 to 1970. He starred as Pete Porter, a harried husband, in the situation comedy “Pete and Gladys” (1960-62), reprising a role he had played on “December Bride” (1954-59). He was also a regular on “The Richard Boone Show” (1963-64), “Kentucky Jones” (1964-65), “The D.A.” (1971-72), “Hec Ramsey” (1972-74) and “Blacke’s Magic” (1986).But to many fans he was first and foremost Col. Sherman T. Potter, commander of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit in Korea. With a wry smile, flat voice and sharp humor, Mr. Morgan played Colonel Potter from 1975 to 1983, when “M*A*S*H” went off the air. He replaced McLean Stevenson, who had quit the series, moving into the role on the strength of his performance as a crazed major general in an early episode.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
NO this episode about danger of pot that it about they taking LSD too they combine it
I hear of Blue Boy episode that first episode of 1960 revival of Dragnet
OH YEAH they show it other day on Antenna TV the Christmas episode
The list of Morgan's movie roles is incredible.
I loved M*A*S*H but Dragnet was the real deal, an absolute classic.
Mr. Morgan lived a long time and his acting will still be with us. Rest in peace.
96 is a good long run, but you still hate to see an old favorite like Morgan go. Loved him as Colonel Potter, and he was excellent (as others have pointed out) in Ox-Bow Incident and The Shootist. Dragnet was more of a guilty pleasure for me, but he was good in that, as well.
A fine, fine actor and a good American.
I recall Harry Morgan as the flight engineer in a B-36 with Jimmy Stewart in ‘Strategic Air Command’ (1955) and so many other films like ‘The Flim Flam Man’ playing a southern Sheriff to perfection, naturally ‘Dragnet’, but he (in my opinion) found his perfect character-calling when he became Colonel Potter in M*A*S*H, my most poignant memory of him was in the final episode when he was riding his horse Sophie out of camp and down the trail.
Rest in Peace Sir, you will be missed.
"Rule number one is that in war, young men die. Rule number two is that there's nothing doctors can do to change rule number one."
Huh? I’ll reread after a few more brews.
“recall Harry Morgan as the flight engineer in a B-36 with Jimmy Stewart in ‘Strategic Air Command’ (1955”
Wow, thanks. Forgot about that one. Great flick.
Last weekend THIS TV network was showing that movie Support your local gunfighter
Farewell, Mr. Morgan. Gone but never forgotten.
Enjoyed his work. RIP.
Harry Morgan was/is a true icon. He looked 20 years older than he really was I believe at all times during his life.
RIP.
Harry Morgan discusses Col. Sherman Potter on M.A.S.H
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSsNagf0do0&feature=related
Last night before this news broke, I just happened to be showing my class the final scene from The Ox-Bow Incident, where Henry Fonda reads the condemned man’s letter. As Fonda reads, Morgan’s hat covers Fonda’s eyes. What a moving scene!
He was an adult when Pearl Harbor was attacked. What a long life. RIP.
thanks Borges, additional:
http://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2817293/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2817327/posts
RIP Mr. Morgan.
When Trapper John and Colonel Blake were still with the show, it was M.A.S.H. When they left, it became the Alan Alda show.
RIP. But I remember Mr. Morgan more from films like “The Glenn Miller Story” and “Support Your Local Gunfighter.”
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