Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg; April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor and director whose television and film career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter in both ''

December Bride ''December Bride'' is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959. It was adapted from the original CBS radio network series of the same name that aired from June 1952 through September 1953. Overview ''De ...

'' (1954–1959) and ''

Pete and Gladys ''Pete and Gladys'' is an American sitcom television series starring Harry Morgan and Cara Williams that aired on CBS on Mondays at 8:00 p.m. Eastern and Pacific time for two seasons, beginning on September 19, 1960. The last episode was b ...

'' (1960–1962); Officer Bill Gannon on '' Dragnet'' (1967–1970); Amos Coogan on '' Hec Ramsey'' (1972–1974); and his starring role as

Colonel Sherman T. Potter This is a list of characters from the ''M*A*S*H'' franchise, covering the various fictional characters appearing in the novel ''MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors'' and its sequels, the 1970 MASH (film), film adaptation of the novel, and t ...

in ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker. The ...

'' (1975–1983) and ''

AfterMASH ''AfterMASH'' is an American sitcom television series produced as the first spin-off (second overall) and a continuation of ''M*A*S*H'' that aired on CBS from September 26, 1983 to May 31, 1985. It was developed as the sequel series as it takes ...

'' (1983–1985). Morgan also appeared in more than 100 films.

Early life and career

Morgan was born Harry Bratsberg in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

, the son of Hannah and Henry Bratsberg.United States Census for 1930; Census Place: Muskegon, Muskegon, Michigan; Roll: 1014; p. 7B; Enumeration District: 27; Image: 830.0. His parents were of Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. In his interview with the Archive of American Television, Morgan spelled his Norwegian family surname as "Brasburg". Many sources, however, including some family records, list the spelling as "Bratsburg". According to one source, when Morgan's father Henry registered at junior high school, "the registrar spelled it Brasburg instead of Bratsberg. Bashful Henry did not demur." Morgan was raised in

Muskegon, Michigan Muskegon ( ') is a city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Muskegon County. Muskegon is known for fishing, sailing regattas, pleasure boating, and as a commercial and cruise ship port. It is a popular vacation destination because of the expa ...

, and graduated from

Muskegon High School Muskegon High School is a public high school located in Muskegon, Michigan, and was the first high school in Muskegon County, Michigan. History The Class of 1875, consisting of two girls, was the first from Muskegon High School. Records show ...

in 1933, where he achieved distinction as a statewide debating champion. He originally aspired to a J.D. degree, but began acting while a junior at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, U of C, or UChi) is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chicago is consistently ranked among the b ...

in 1935. He began acting on stage under his birth name, in 1937, joining the Group Theatre in New York City formed by

Harold Clurman Harold Edgar Clurman (September 18, 1901 – September 9, 1980) was an American theatre director and drama critic. In 2003, he was named one of the most influential figures in U.S. theater by PBS.

Cheryl Crawford Cheryl Crawford (September 24, 1902 – October 7, 1986) was an American theatre producer and director. Biography Born in Akron, Ohio, Crawford majored in drama at Smith College. Following graduation in 1925, she moved to New York City and ...

, and

Lee Strasberg Lee Strasberg (born Israel Strassberg; November 17, 1901 – February 17, 1982) was an American theatre director, actor and acting teacher. He co-founded, with theatre directors Harold Clurman and Cheryl Crawford, the Group Theatre in 1931 ...

in 1931. He appeared in the original production of the

Clifford Odets Clifford Odets (July 18, 1906 – August 14, 1963) was an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. In the mid-1930s, he was widely seen as the potential successor to Nobel Prize-winning playwright Eugene O'Neill, as O'Neill began to withdra ...

play '' Golden Boy'', followed by a host of successful Broadway roles alongside such other Group members as

Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (born Leo Jacoby; December 8, 1911February 11, 1976) was an American actor, known both for film roles and his work on the Broadway stage. He often played arrogant, intimidating and abrasive characters, but he also acted as respectabl ...

Elia Kazan Elia Kazan (; born Elias Kazantzoglou ( el, Ηλίας Καζαντζόγλου); September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was an American film and theatre director, producer, screenwriter and actor, described by ''The New York Times'' as "one o ...

John Garfield John Garfield (born Jacob Julius Garfinkle, March 4, 1913 – May 21, 1952) was an American actor who played brooding, rebellious, working-class characters. He grew up in poverty in New York City. In the early 1930s, he became a member of ...

, Sanford Meisner, and

Karl Malden Karl Malden (born Mladen George Sekulovich; March 22, 1912 – July 1, 2009) was an American actor. He was primarily a character actor, who according to Robert Berkvist, "for more than 60 years brought an intelligent intensity and a homespun aut ...

. Morgan also did

summer stock In American theater, summer-stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes. Summer stock the ...

at the

Pine Brook Country Club Pine Brook Country Club is a private lake association in Nichols, Connecticut, a village within the Town of Trumbull. It began when Benjamin Plotkin purchased Pinewood Lake and the surrounding countryside on Mischa Hill. Plotkin built an audito ...

located in the countryside of

Nichols, Connecticut Nichols, a historic village in southeastern Trumbull in Fairfield County, Connecticut, is named after the family who maintained a large farm in its center for almost 300 years. The Nichols Farms Historic District, which encompasses part of t ...

Film work

Harry Morgan Cara Williams Pete and Gladys 1960

Morgan made his screen debut (originally using the name "Henry Morgan") in the 1942 movie ''

To the Shores of Tripoli ''To the Shores of Tripoli'' is a 1942 American Technicolor film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring John Payne, Maureen O'Hara and Randolph Scott. The film was produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. Its cinematography was nominated for an Ac ...

''. His screen name later became "Henry 'Harry' Morgan" and eventually Harry Morgan, to avoid confusion with the popular humorist of the same name. In the same year, Morgan appeared in the movie ''

Orchestra Wives ''Orchestra Wives'' is a 1942 American musical film by 20th Century Fox starring Ann Rutherford, George Montgomery, and Glenn Miller. The film was the second (and last) film to feature The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and is notable among the many sw ...

'' as a young man pushing his way to the front of a ballroom crowd with his date to hear

Glenn Miller Alton Glen Miller (March 1, 1904 – December 15, 1944) was an American big band founder, owner, conductor, composer, arranger, trombone player and recording artist before and during World War II, when he was an officer in the United States Arm ...

's band play. A few years later, still credited as Henry Morgan, he was cast in the role of pianist

Chummy MacGregor John Chalmers MacGregor (March 28, 1903 – March 9, 1973), better known as Chummy MacGregor, a musician and composer, was the pianist in The Glenn Miller Orchestra from 1936 to 1942. He composed the songs " Moon Dreams", " It Must Be Jelly ('Cau ...

in the 1954

biopic A biographical film or biopic () is a film that dramatizes the life of a non-fictional or historically-based person or people. Such films show the life of a historical person and the central character's real name is used. They differ from docudra ...

The Glenn Miller Story ''The Glenn Miller Story'' is a 1954 American biographical film about the eponymous American band-leader, directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart in their second non-western collaboration. Plot The film follows big band leader Glenn ...

''. Morgan continued to play a number of significant roles on the big screen in such films as ''

The Ox-Bow Incident ''The Ox-Bow Incident'' is a 1943 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman, starring Henry Fonda, Dana Andrews and Mary Beth Hughes, with Anthony Quinn, William Eythe, Harry Morgan and Jane Darwell. Two cowboys arrive in a Western ...

'' (1943), ''

Wing and a Prayer ''Wing and a Prayer, The Story of Carrier X'' (also known as ''Queen of the Flat Tops '' and ''Torpedo Squadron Eight'') is a black-and-white 1944 war film about the heroic crew of an American aircraft carrier in the desperate early days of Wor ...

'' (1944), ''

A Bell for Adano ''A Bell for Adano'' (1945) is a film directed by Henry King and starring John Hodiak and Gene Tierney. It was adapted from the 1944 novel of the same title by John Hersey, which won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1945. In his review of t ...

'' (1945), '' Dragonwyck'' (1946), '' The Gangster'' (1947), ''

The Big Clock ''The Big Clock'' is a 1946 novel by Kenneth Fearing. Published by Harcourt Brace, the thriller was Fearing's fourth novel, following three for Random House (''The Hospital'', ''Dagger of the Mind'', ''Clark Gifford's Body'') and five collections ...

'' (1948), ''

The Well The Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link, normally shortened to The WELL, was launched in 1985. It is one of the oldest continuously operating virtual communities. By 1993 it had 7,000 members, a staff of 12, and gross annual income of $2 million. ...

'' (1951), ''

High Noon ''High Noon'' is a 1952 American Western film produced by Stanley Kramer from a screenplay by Carl Foreman, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and starring Gary Cooper. The plot, which occurs in real time, centers on a town marshal whose sense of ...

'' (1952), ''

Torch Song A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affecte ...

'' (1953), and several films in the 1950s for director

Anthony Mann Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. Mann initially started as a theatre actor appearing in numerous stage productions. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood where ...

, including ''

Bend of the River ''Bend of the River'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, and Rock Hudson. Based on the 1950 novel ''Bend of the Snake'' by Bill Gulick, the film is about a tough cow ...

'' (1952), ''

Thunder Bay Thunder Bay is a city in and the seat of Thunder Bay District, Ontario, Canada. It is the most populous municipality in Northwestern Ontario and the second most populous (after Greater Sudbury) municipality in Northern Ontario; its population ...

'' (1953), ''

'' (1954), ''

The Far Country ''The Far Country'' is a 1954 American Technicolor Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Ruth Roman, Walter Brennan, John McIntire and Corinne Calvet. Written by Borden Chase, the film is about a self-minded advent ...

'' (1955), and ''

Strategic Air Command Strategic Air Command (SAC) was both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile ...

'' (1955). In his later film career, he appeared in '' Inherit the Wind'' (1960), '' How the West Was Won'' (1962) (as

Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant (born Hiram Ulysses Grant ; April 27, 1822July 23, 1885) was an American military officer and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. As Commanding General, he led the Union Ar ...

), ''

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! ''John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!'' is a 1965 American comedy film based on the novel by William Peter Blatty published in 1963. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The film was shot in the Mojave Desert. In the film, an American militar ...

'' (1965), '' Frankie and Johnny'' (1966), ''

The Flim-Flam Man ''The Flim-Flam Man'' (titled ''One Born Every Minute'' in some countries) is a 1967 American comedy film directed by Irvin Kershner, featuring George C. Scott, Michael Sarrazin, and Sue Lyon, based on the 1965 novel ''The Ballad of the Flim-Fla ...

'' (1967), ''

Support Your Local Sheriff! ''Support Your Local Sheriff!'' (also known as ''The Sheriff'') is a 1969 American comedy Western film directed by Burt Kennedy and starring James Garner, Joan Hackett, and Walter Brennan. The supporting cast features Harry Morgan, Jack Elam, ...

'' (1969), '' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971), ''

Snowball Express ''Snowball Express'' is a 1972 American screwball comedy film produced by Ron Miller and Tom Leetch and directed by Norman Tokar. The film is about a man who leaves his middle class job to run a hotel left to him by his great uncle. Plot Johnn ...

'' (1972), ''

The Shootist ''The Shootist'' is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name.Swarthout, Glendon (1975). ''The Shootist'', New York, New York: Doubleday. It is John Wayne's final film ro ...

'' (1976), '' The Wild Wild West Revisited'' (1979), and as Captain Gannon in the film version of '' Dragnet'' (1987) with

Dan Aykroyd Daniel Edward Aykroyd ( ; born July 1, 1952) is a Canadian actor, comedian, producer, musician and writer. He was an original member of the "Not Ready for Prime Time Players" on ''Saturday Night Live'' (1975–1979). During his tenure on ''SNL'' ...

and

Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey Hanks (born July 9, 1956) is an American actor and filmmaker. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide, and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Ha ...

Radio and television

Morgan hosted the NBC radio series ''Mystery in the Air'' starring

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, first in Europe and later in the United States. He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before movin ...

in 1947. On

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS, the abbreviation of its former legal name Columbia Broadcasting System, is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainm ...

, he played Pete Porter in ''

'' (1960–1962), with Cara Williams as wife Gladys. ''Pete and Gladys'' was a spin-off of ''

'' (1954–1959), starring

Spring Byington Spring Dell Byington (October 17, 1886 – September 7, 1971) was an American actress. Her career included a seven-year run on radio and television as the star of ''December Bride''. She was a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract player who appeared in ...

, a show in which Morgan had a popular recurring role. In 1950, Morgan appeared as an obtrusive, alcohol-addled hotel clerk in the ''Dragnet'' radio episode "The Big Boys".

1960s: ''Dragnet'' and other roles

After ''Pete and Gladys'' ended production, Morgan guest-starred in the role of Al Everett in the 1962 episode "Like My Own Brother" on

Gene Kelly Eugene Curran Kelly (August 23, 1912 – February 2, 1996) was an American actor, dancer, singer, filmmaker, and choreographer. He was known for his energetic and athletic dancing style and sought to create a new form of American dance accessibl ...

's ABC drama series, ''

Going My Way ''Going My Way'' is a 1944 American musical comedy drama film directed by Leo McCarey and starring Bing Crosby and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Frank Butler and Frank Cavett based on a story by McCarey, the film is about a new young priest ta ...

'', loosely based on the 1944

Bing Crosby Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby Jr. (May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977) was an American singer, musician and actor. The first multimedia star, he was one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century worldwide. He was a ...

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

of the same name. That same year, he played the mobster

Bugs Moran George Clarence "Bugs" Moran (; Adelard Leo Cunin; August 21, 1893 – February 25, 1957) was an American Chicago Prohibition-era gangster. He was incarcerated three times before his 21st birthday. Seven members of his gang were gunned dow ...

in an episode of ABC's ''

The Untouchables Untouchables or The Untouchables may refer to: American history * Untouchables (law enforcement), a 1930s American law enforcement unit led by Eliot Ness * ''The Untouchables'' (book), an autobiography by Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley * ''The U ...

'', with

Robert Stack Robert Stack (born Charles Langford Modini Stack; January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was an American actor. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the highly successful ABC telev ...

. In 1963, he was cast as Sheriff Ernie Backwater on

Richard Boone Richard Allen Boone (June 18, 1917 – January 10, 1981) was an American actor who starred in over 50 films and was notable for his roles in Westerns, including his starring role in the television series ''Have Gun – Will Travel''. Early lif ...

's ''

Have Gun – Will Travel ''Have Gun – Will Travel'' is an American Western series that was produced and originally broadcast by CBS on both television and radio from 1957 through 1963. The television version of the series starring Richard Boone was rated number t ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

series on CBS, then worked as a regular cast member on the 1963–64 anthology series ''

The Richard Boone Show ''The Richard Boone Show'' is an anthology television series. It aired on NBC during the 1963-64 season. Synopsis Richard Boone hosted the series and starred in about half of the episodes, garnering an Emmy nomination for himself and a Golden G ...

''. In the 1964–1965 season, Morgan co-starred as Seldom Jackson in the 26-week NBC comedy/drama ''

Kentucky Jones ''Kentucky Jones'' is an American comedy-drama television series starring Dennis Weaver which centers around a widowed Southern California veterinarian and rancher raising an adopted Chinese boy. Original episodes aired from September 19, 1964, un ...

'', starring

Dennis Weaver William Dennis Weaver (June 4, 1924 – February 24, 2006) was an American actor and former president of the Screen Actors Guild, best known for his work in television and films from the early 1950s until just before his death in 2006. Weave ...

, formerly of ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

''. Morgan is even more widely recognized as Officer Bill Gannon,

Joe Friday Joe Friday is a fictional character created and portrayed by Jack Webb as the lead for his series ''Dragnet (franchise), Dragnet''. Friday is a detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. The character first appeared on June 3, 1949 in the ...

's partner in the revived version of '' Dragnet'' (1967–1970). Morgan had also appeared with ''Dragnet'' star

Jack Webb John Randolph Webb (April 2, 1920 – December 23, 1982) was an American actor, television producer, Television director, director, and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Joe Friday, Sgt. Joe Friday in the Dragnet (franchise) ...

in three

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

movies, '' Dark City'' (1950), ''

Appointment with Danger ''Appointment with Danger'' is a 1950 American crime film noir directed by Lewis Allen and written by Richard L. Breen and Warren Duff. The drama features Alan Ladd, Phyllis Calvert and Paul Stewart, among others. Plot At the Hotel Compton in ...

'' (1951) and '' Pete Kelly's Blues'' (1955), and was an early regular member of Jack Webb's stock company of actors on the original ''Dragnet'' radio show. Morgan later worked on two other shows for Webb: 1971's '' The D.A.'' and the 1972–1974 Western series, '' Hec Ramsey.'' Morgan also appeared in four episodes of ''Gunsmoke'' ("The Witness" – aired 11/23/1970, "Milligan" - aired 11/6/72, "The Wiving" - aired 10/14/1974 and "Brides and Grooms", sequel to The Wiving - aired 2/10/1975). Morgan appeared in the role of Inspector Richard Queen, uncle of

Ellery Queen Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1929 by American crime fiction writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee and the name of their main fictional character, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve ...

in the 1971 television film '' Ellery Queen: Don't Look Behind You''.

1970s: ''MAS*H''

Morgan's first appearance on ''M*A*S*H'' was in the show's third season (1974–1975), when he played the mentally unbalanced Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele in " The General Flipped at Dawn", which first aired on September 10, 1974. The following season, Morgan joined the cast of ''M*A*S*H'' as

. A fan of the sitcom, Morgan replaced

McLean Stevenson Edgar "Mac" McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 – February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the television series ''M*A*S*H'', which earned him a Golden Glob ...

, who left the show at the end of the previous season. Unlike Stevenson's character Henry Blake, Potter was a career Army officer who was a firm yet good-humored, caring father figure to those under his command. In 1980, Morgan won an

Emmy Award The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the calendar year, each with the ...

for his performance on ''M*A*S*H''. When asked if he was a better actor after working with the show's talented cast, Morgan responded, "I don't know about that, but it's made me a better human being." After the end of the series, Morgan reprised the Potter role in a short-lived spinoff series, ''

''. Morgan also appeared in several Disney movies throughout the decade, including ''

The Barefoot Executive ''The Barefoot Executive'' (also known as ''The Rating Game'') is a 1971 American comedy film starring Kurt Russell, Joe Flynn, Wally Cox, Heather North, Harry Morgan, and John Ritter (in his film debut), about a pet chimpanzee, named Raffles, ...

'', ''

Charley and the Angel ''Charley and the Angel'' is a 1973 American Disney family/comedy film set in an unidentified small city in the 1930s Depression-era Midwestern United States and starring Fred MacMurray in one of his final film appearances and his last movie fo ...

'', ''

The Apple Dumpling Gang ''The Apple Dumpling Gang'' is a 1971 novel by Jack Bickham, about a group of orphaned children during the California gold rush. They encounter a gambler who reluctantly helps them, as well as a pair of hapless robbers who are after the gold ...

'', ''

The Cat from Outer Space ''The Cat from Outer Space'' is a 1978 American science fiction comedy film directed by Norman Tokar (his final film before his death the following year) starring Ken Berry, Sandy Duncan, Harry Morgan, Ronnie Schell, Roddy McDowall and McLean Ste ...

'' (opposite

) and ''

The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again ''The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again'' is a 1979 American comedy-Western film directed by Vincent McEveety. Produced by Walt Disney Productions, it is a sequel to '' The Apple Dumpling Gang'' (1975), starring the comedy duo of Tim Conway and Do ...

''.

Later years

In 1986, he co-starred with

Hal Linden Hal Linden (born Harold Lipshitz, March 20, 1931) is an American stage and screen actor, television director and musician. Linden began his career as a big band musician and singer in the 1950s. After a stint in the United States Army, he began ...

in ''

Blacke's Magic ''Blacke's Magic'' is an American crime drama television series that aired for 13 episodes on NBC, from January 5 to May 7, 1986. Reruns later aired during the fall of 1988, to fill scheduling gaps caused by the 1988 Writers Guild of America stri ...

'', a show about a magician who doubled as a detective solving unusual crimes. One season was made. Morgan's character, Leonard Blacke, was a semiretired con artist. In 1987, Morgan reprised his Bill Gannon character, now a

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

, for a supporting role in another film version of ''Dragnet'', a parody and homage to the original series written by and starring

and costarring

and

Christopher Plummer Arthur Christopher Orme Plummer (December 13, 1929 – February 5, 2021) was a Canadian actor. His career spanned seven decades, gaining him recognition for his performances in film, stage, and television. He received multiple accolades, inc ...

. In 1987–1988, Morgan starred in the one-season situation comedy series '' You Can't Take It with You'' as family patriarch Martin Vanderhof. In the 1990s, Morgan starred alongside

Walter Matthau Walter Matthau (; born Walter John Matthow; October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American actor, comedian and film director. He is best known for his film roles in '' A Face in the Crowd'' (1957), ''King Creole'' (1958) and as a coach of a ...

in a series of television movies for CBS as Stoddard Bell, a judge who is an acquaintance/nemesis/partner of Matthau's Harmon Cobb, an attorney ('' The Incident''; '' An Incident in Baltimore'', and ''

Incident in a Small Town ''Incident in a Small Town'' is a 1994 American made-for-television drama film directed by Delbert Mann, and starring Walter Matthau, Harry Morgan and Stephanie Zimbalist. This is the third and final film featuring the characters Harmon Cobb ...

''). He also lent his voice to an episode of ''

The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, ...

'' from season seven, where he once again played Bill Gannon; in the episode "

Mother Simpson "Mother Simpson" is the eighth episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series ''The Simpsons''. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 19, 1995. After faking his own death to get a day off wo ...

", Gannon and Joe Friday (voiced by

Harry Shearer Harry Julius Shearer (born December 23, 1943) is an American actor, comedian, writer, musician, radio host, director and producer. Born in Los Angeles, California, Shearer began his career as a child actor. From 1969 to 1976, Shearer was a member ...

) are FBI agents trying to track down Homer's mother, who is a fugitive from justice. Morgan also had a recurring role on ''

3rd Rock from the Sun ''3rd Rock from the Sun'' is an American television sitcom created by Bonnie and Terry Turner, which originally aired from January 9, 1996, to May 22, 2001, on NBC. The show is about four Extraterrestrial life, extraterrestrials who are on an e ...

'' as Professor Suter, a colleague of Dick Solomon's. Morgan directed episodes for several TV series, including two episodes of ''

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was re ...

'', two episodes of ''Hec Ramsey'', one episode of ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the stre ...

'', and eight episodes of ''M*A*S*H''. Morgan had a guest role on ''

The Jeff Foxworthy Show ''The Jeff Foxworthy Show'' is an American sitcom television series created by Tom Anderson, starring comedian Jeff Foxworthy and based on Foxworthy's stand-up comedy routine. It originally aired from September 12, 1995 to May 5, 1997 on ABC (s ...

'' as Raymond and a guest role on ''

Grace Under Fire ''Grace Under Fire'' is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from September 29, 1993, to February 17, 1998. The show starred Brett Butler as a single mother learning how to cope with raising her three children alone after finally divorcing her ...

'' as Jean's pot-smoking boyfriend. In 2006, Morgan was inducted into the

Hall of Great Western Performers The Hall of Great Western Performers is a Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. It is located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and sometimes referred to as the "Western Performers Hall of Fame". It is a presentation that explo ...

at the

National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is a museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, with more than 28,000 American West, Western and Native Americans in the United States, American Indian art works and Artifact (archaeology), ar ...

in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Personal life

Morgan's first marriage was to Eileen Detchon from 1940 until her death in 1985. During Morgan's time on ''M*A*S*H'', a photograph of Detchon regularly appeared on the desk of his character. A drawing of a horse, seen on the wall behind Potter's desk, was drawn by Morgan's grandson, Jeremy Morgan. In addition, Eileen was the name of the wife of Officer Bill Gannon on ''Dragnet''. Morgan had four sons with his first wife: Christopher, Charles, Paul, and Daniel (who died in 1989). He then married Barbara Bushman Quine (granddaughter of silent film star Francis X. Bushman) on December 17, 1986. The marriage lasted until his death. In July 1996, he was arrested on domestic battery charges for striking his wife Barbara which caused her to be admitted to the hospital. The case was later dismissed. Morgan had two siblings, Marguerite and Arnold (both deceased). Morgan was close friends with bandleader

, whom he met while filming ''Orchestra Wives'' in 1942, until Miller's death two years later. Morgan was later cast in the 1954 movie about his friend, ''

'', playing

Death

Morgan died peacefully in his sleep at 3:00 a.m. local time in Los Angeles, on December 7, 2011, at the age of 96. His son, Charles, said he recently had been treated for pneumonia. His body was cremated and his remains were given to his family. Following Morgan's death,

Mike Farrell Michael Joseph Farrell Jr. (born February 6, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his role as List of M*A*S*H characters#B.J. Hunnicutt, Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series ''M*A*S*H (TV series), M*A*S*H'' (1975–83). Farrell ...

, who played

B.J. Hunnicutt This is a list of characters from the ''M*A*S*H'' franchise, covering the various fictional characters appearing in the novel ''MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors'' and its sequels, the 1970 MASH (film), film adaptation of the novel, and t ...

opposite Morgan in ''M*A*S*H'', released a statement:

Filmography

Films

*''

'' (1942) as Mouthy *''

The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe ''The Loves of Edgar Allan Poe'' is a 1942 drama film directed by Harry Lachman, starring Linda Darnell and Shepperd Strudwick. The film is a cinematic biography of Edgar Allan Poe that examines his romantic relationships with Sarah Elmira Roys ...

'' (1942) as Ebenezer Burling *''

The Omaha Trail ''The Omaha Trail'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Edward Buzzell. It stars James Craig and Pamela Blake. Cast * James Craig as Pat Candel * Pamela Blake as Julie Santley * Dean Jagger as Pipsestone Ross * Edward Ellis as Mr. V ...

'' (1942) as Henchman Nat *''

'' (1942) as Cully Anderson *''

Crash Dive A crash dive is a maneuver by a submarine in which the vessel submerges as quickly as possible to avoid attack. Crash diving from the surface to avoid attack has been largely rendered obsolete with the advent of nuclear-powered submarines, as they ...

'' (1943) as Brownie *''

'' (1943) as Art Croft *'' Happy Land'' (1943) as Anton 'Tony' Cavrek *''

The Eve of St. Mark ''The Eve of St Mark'' is a 1942 play by Maxwell Anderson set during World War II. It later became a 1944 film by 20th Century Fox that featured some of the same actors who repeated their roles in the film. The title is derived from the legend of ...

'' (1944) as Pvt. Shevlin *'' Roger Touhy, Gangster'' (1944) as Thomas J. 'Smoke' Reardon *''

'' (1944) as Ens. Malcolm Brainard *'' Gentle Annie'' (1944) as Cottonwood Goss *''

'' (1945) as Capt. N. Purvis *''

State Fair A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in th ...

'' (1945) as Barker *''

From This Day Forward ''From This Day Forward'' is a 1946 American drama film directed by John Berry, starring Joan Fontaine and Mark Stevens. Plot Army sergeant Bill Cummings ( Mark Stevens) is about to be discharged after service in World War II. He was a blue co ...

'' (1946) as Hank Beesley *''

Johnny Comes Flying Home ''Johnny Comes Flying Home'' is a 1946 American adventure film directed by Benjamin Stoloff and starring Richard Crane (actor), Richard Crane and Faye Marlowe; the supporting cast features Harry Morgan. The plot involves postwar pilots starting a ...

'' (1946) as Joe Patillo *'' Dragonwyck'' (1946) as Klaas Bleecker *'' Somewhere in the Night'' (1946) as Bath Attendant (uncredited) *''

It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog ''It Shouldn't Happen to a Dog'' is a 1946 American comedy crime film starring Carole Landis, Allyn Joslyn and Margo Woode, and directed by Herbert I. Leeds.Fleming p.270 Synopsis After returning from World War II, a journalist is assigned by h ...

'' (1946) as Gus Rivers *'' Crime Doctor's Man Hunt'' (1946) as Jervis (uncredited) *'' The Gangster'' (1947) as Shorty *''

'' (1948) as Bill Womack *'' All My Sons'' (1948) as Frank Lubey *''

Race Street ''Race Street'' is a 1948 American crime film noir directed by Edwin L. Marin. The drama features George Raft, William Bendix and Marilyn Maxwell. It was one of several collaborations between Raft and Marin. Plot When his bookie pal Hal is k ...

'' (1948) as Hal Towers *''

The Saxon Charm ''The Saxon Charm'' is a 1948 American film noir drama film written and directed by Claude Binyon based on the novel of the same name by Frederic Wakeman Sr. and starring Robert Montgomery (actor), Robert Montgomery, Susan Hayward, John Payne (ac ...

'' (1948) as Hermy *''

Moonrise Moonrise and moonset are times when the upper limb of the Moon appears above the horizon and disappears below it, respectively. The exact times depend on the lunar phase and declination, as well as the observer's location. As viewed from outside ...

'' (1948) as Billy Scripture *''

Yellow Sky ''Yellow Sky'' is a 1948 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Gregory Peck, Richard Widmark, and Anne Baxter. The story is believed to be loosely adapted from William Shakespeare's '' The Tempest''. The screenplay ...

'' (1948) as Half Pint *'' Down to the Sea in Ships'' (1949) as Britton *''

The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend ''The Beautiful Blonde from Bashful Bend'' is a 1949 romantic comedy Western film starring Betty Grable and featuring Cesar Romero and Rudy Vallee. It was directed by Preston Sturges and written by him based on a story by Earl Felton. The film ...

'' (1949) as Hoodlum (uncredited) *''

Madame Bovary ''Madame Bovary'' (; ), originally published as ''Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners'' ( ), is a novel by France, French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. The eponymous character lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities ...

'' (1949) as Hyppolite *'' Strange Bargain'' (1949) as Lt. Richard Webb *'' Red Light'' (1949) as Rocky *''

Holiday Affair ''Holiday Affair'' is a 1949 romantic comedy film directed and produced by Don Hartman and starring Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. It was based on the story ''Christmas Gift'' by John D. Weaver, which was also the film's working title. The film ...

'' (1949) as Police Lieutenant *''

Hello Out There ''Hello Out There!'' is a one-act play by the Armenian-American playwright William Saroyan written early in August 1941. Plot The play is set in a small Texas jail. There are two major characters, Photo-Finish and Emily, whom Saroyan refers to sim ...

'' (1949) as The Young Gambler *'' Outside the Wall'' (1950) as Garth *'' The Showdown'' (1950) as Rod Main *'' Dark City'' (1950) as Soldier *'' Belle Le Grand'' (1951) as Abel Stone *'' When I Grow Up'' (1951) as Father Reed (modern) *''

'' (1951) as George Soderquist *'' The Highwayman'' (1951) as Tim *''

'' (1951) as Claude Packard *'' The Blue Veil'' (1951) as Charles Hall *''

Boots Malone ''Boots Malone'' is a 1952 American drama film directed by William Dieterle. It stars William Holden as a down-on-his-luck sports agent and Johnny Stewart as a rich runaway who wants to become a jockey. Plot Down on his luck, jockey agent "Boot ...

'' (1952) as Quarter Horse Henry *''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as ...

'' (1952) as Biddle *''

'' (1952) as Shorty *''

My Six Convicts ''My Six Convicts'' is a 1952 American film noir crime drama directed by Hugo Fregonese. The screenplay was adapted by Michael Blankfort from the autobiographical book ''My Six Convicts: A Psychologist's Three Years in Fort Leavenworth'', written ...

'' (1952) as Dawson *''

'' (1952) as Sam Fuller *'' What Price Glory?'' (1952) as Sgt. Moran (uncredited) *'' Big Jim McLain'' (1952) as Narrator (voice, uncredited) *''

Apache War Smoke ''Apache War Smoke'' is a 1952 American Western film directed by Harold F. Kress and starring Gilbert Roland, Glenda Farrell, and Robert Horton. The film is based on the 1939 short story "Stage Station" by Ernest Haycox. It was released by M ...

'' (1952) as Ed Cotten *'' Toughest Man in Arizona'' (1952) as Verne Kimber *'' Stop, You're Killing Me'' (1952) as Innocence *''

'' (1953) as Rawlings *''

Arena An arena is a large enclosed platform, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theatre, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators ...

'' (1953) as Lew Hutchins *''

Champ for a Day ''Champ for a Day'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by William A. Seiter and written by Irving Shulman. The film stars Alex Nicol, Audrey Totter, Charles Winninger, Hope Emerson, Joseph Wiseman and Barry Kelley. The film was released on ...

'' (1953) as Al Muntz *''

'' (1953) as Joe Denner *''

'' (1954) as Chummy *''

Prisoner of War A prisoner of war (POW) is a person who is held captive by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The earliest recorded usage of the phrase "prisoner of war" dates back to 1610. Belligerents hold prisoners of wa ...

'' (1954) as Maj. O.D. Hale *''

The Forty-Niners 49er or Forty-Niner most often refers to: *A miner or other person that took part in the 1849 California Gold Rush *San Francisco 49ers, an American football team 49er or Forty-Niner may also refer to: Sports * Charlotte 49ers, athletic te ...

'' (1954) as Alf Billings *''

About Mrs. Leslie ''About Mrs. Leslie'' is a 1954 American drama film directed by Daniel Mann and starring Shirley Booth and Robert Ryan. It was nominated for a BAFTA Award in 1955. Plot Vivien Leslie, a Beverly Hills, California rooming house owner, reminisces i ...

'' (1954) as Fred Blue *''

'' (1954) as Ketchum *''

'' (1955) as Sgt. Bible (flight engineer) *''

Not as a Stranger ''Not as a Stranger'' is a 1955 American film noir drama film produced and directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Mitchum, Frank Sinatra and Gloria Grahame. It is based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Morton Thomp ...

'' (1955) as Oley *'' Pete Kelly's Blues'' (1955) (uncredited) *''

The Bottom of the Bottle ''The Bottom of the Bottle'' is a 1956 CinemaScope American drama film based on the novel written by Georges Simenon during his stay in Nogales, Arizona. The novel was adapted for film by Sydney Boehm and directed by Henry Hathaway. Plot Patric ...

'' (1956) as Felix – Barkeep *''

Backlash Backlash may refer to: Literature * '' Backlash: The Undeclared War Against American Women'', a 1991 book by Susan Faludi * ''Backlash'' (Star Wars novel), a 2010 novel by Aaron Allston * Backlash (Marc Slayton), comic book character * ''Backla ...

'' (1956) as Tony Welker *''Operation Teahouse'' (1956) as Himself *''

UFO An unidentified flying object (UFO), more recently renamed by US officials as a UAP (unidentified aerial phenomenon), is any perceived aerial phenomenon that cannot be immediately identified or explained. On investigation, most UFOs are id ...

'' (1956) as "Red Dog 1" (voice) *''

Star in the Dust ''Star in the Dust'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Charles F. Haas and starring John Agar, Mamie Van Doren and Richard Boone. In the town of Gunlock, sheriff Bill Jorden is due to hang Sam Hall for cattle-stealing. Jorden has to ...

'' (1956) as Lew Hogan *'' The Teahouse of the August Moon'' (1956) as Sgt. Gregovich *'' Under Fire'' (1957) as Sgt. Joseph C. Dusak *'' It Started with a Kiss'' (1959) as Charles Meriden *''

The Mountain Road ''The Mountain Road'' is a 1960 war film starring James Stewart and directed by Daniel Mann. Set in China and based on the 1958 novel of the same name by journalist-historian Theodore H. White, the film follows the attempts of a U.S. Army major ...

'' (1960) as Sgt. 'Mike' Michaelson *'' Inherit the Wind'' (1960) as Judge Mel Coffey *'' Cimarron'' (1960) as Jesse Rickey *'' How the West Was Won'' (1962) as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant *''

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home ''John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!'' is a 1965 American comedy film based on the novel by William Peter Blatty published in 1963. The film was directed by J. Lee Thompson. The film was shot in the Mojave Desert. In the film, an American milit ...

'' (1965) as Secretary of State Deems Sarajevo *'' Frankie and Johnny'' (1966) as Cully *'' What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?'' (1966) as Maj. Pott *''

'' (1967) as Sheriff Slade *'' Star Spangled Salesman'' (1968) as TV Cop *''

'' (1969) as Olly Perkins *''

Viva Max! ''Viva Max!'' is a 1969 comedy film directed by Jerry Paris and starring Peter Ustinov, Jonathan Winters and John Astin. The film was written by Elliott Baker and based on the 1966 novel of the same name by James Lehrer. Plot Riding a white h ...

'' (1969) as Chief of Police Sylvester *''

'' (1971) as E.J. Crampton *'' Support Your Local Gunfighter!'' (1971) as Taylor *'' Scandalous John'' (1971) as Sheriff Pippin *''

'' (1972) as Jesse McCord *''

'' (1973) as The Angel formerly Roy Zerney *''

'' (1975) as Homer McCoy *''

'' (1976) as Marshall Thibido *''Maneaters Are Loose!'' (1978) as Toby Waites *''

'' (1978) as General Stilton *''

'' (1979) as Maj. T.P. Gaskill *'' The Wild Wild West Revisited'' (TV, 1979) as Robert T. Malone *'' More Wild Wild West'' (TV, 1980) as Robert T. Malone *''

Scout's Honor Scout Law is a set of codes in the Scout movement. Since the publication of '' Scouting for Boys'' in 1908, all Scouts and Guides around the world have taken a Scout Promise or oath to live up to ideals of the movement, and subscribed to the Scou ...

'' (TV, 1980) as Mr. Briggs *''

The Flight of Dragons ''The Flight of Dragons'' is a 1982 animated fantasy film produced and directed by Jules Bass and Arthur Rankin Jr. loosely combining the speculative natural history book of the same name (1979) by Peter Dickinson with the novel '' The Dragon ...

'' (1982) as Carolinus (voice) *''

Sparkling Cyanide ''Sparkling Cyanide'' is a work of detective fiction by British writer Agatha Christie, first published in the US by Dodd, Mead and Company in February 1945 under the title of ''Remembered Death'' and in UK by the Collins Crime Club in the De ...

'' (TV, 1983) as Captain Kemp *'' Dragnet'' (1987) as Gannon *'' 14 Going on 30'' (TV, 1988) as Uncle Herb *'' The Incident'' (TV, 1990) as Judge Bell *'' Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore'' (TV, 1992) as Judge Bell *''

'' (TV, 1994) as Judge Bell *''Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick'' (1996) *'' Family Plan'' (1997) as Sol Rubins *''Crosswalk'' (1999) as Dr. Chandler

TV

*'' Have Gun Will Travel'' (1958) ''A Snare for Murder'' as Fred Braus; ''American Primitive'' (1963) as Sheriff Ernie Backwater *''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, aired on CBS and NBC between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers and mysteries. Between 1962 and 1965 it was ren ...

'' (1959) Episode 159 ''Anniversary Gift'' as Hermie Jenkins *''

'' (1962) Episode 100 ''Double Cross'' as George Bugs Moran *''

'' (1960–1962) *'' Dragnet'' (1967–1971) *''

'' (1975--1983) *'' The Bastard'' (TV miniseries, 1978) as Capt. Caleb *''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pac ...

'' (1978) *''

Backstairs at the White House ''Backstairs at the White House'' is a 1979 NBC television miniseries based on the 1961 book ''My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House'' by Lillian Rogers Parks (with Frances Spatz Leighton). The series, produced by Ed Friendly Productions, ...

'' (TV miniseries, 1979)IMDb as President Harry S. Truman *''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

'' (1987) Season 3, Episode 21 "The Days Dwindle Down" as Retired Lt. Richard Webb *'' You Can't Take It with You'' (1987–1988) as Martin Vanderhof *''

'' (1995) Episode 136 "Mother Simpson" as Bill Gannon *''

'' (1996) as Professor Suter

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Harry 1915 births 2011 deaths American people of Scandinavian descent 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors American male television actors American people of Norwegian descent American people of Swedish descent American television directors Television personalities from Los Angeles California Democrats Deaths from pneumonia in California Male actors from Detroit Male actors from Los Angeles Male Western (genre) film actors Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People from Muskegon, Michigan University of Chicago alumni

Early life and career

Film work

Radio and television

1960s: ''Dragnet'' and other roles

1970s: ''M*A*S*H''

Later years

Personal life

Death

Filmography

Films

TV

References

External links

1970s: ''MAS*H''