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'' (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. Th ...

'' (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 t ...

, 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 expans ...

, 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 university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois. Its main campus is located in Chicago's Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood. The University of Chic ...

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, 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,

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 th ...

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'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 ''

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 ...

'' (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'' (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 affect ...

'' (1953), and several films in the 1950s for director Anthony Mann, 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 i ...

'' (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'' (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 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 '' Pete and Gladys'' (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'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 tak ...

'', loosely based on the 1944 Bing Crosby film 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 tele ...

. 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 li ...

'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''. 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''. Friday is a detective in the Los Angeles Police Department. The character first appeared on June 3, 1949 in the premiere of the NBC ...

's partner in the revived version of '' Dragnet'' (1967–1970). Morgan had also appeared with ''Dragnet'' star Jack Webb in three film noir 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 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'', ''

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 ...

'' (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, for a supporting role in another film version of ''Dragnet'', a parody and homage to the original series written by and starring Dan Aykroyd 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 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 Simpson, Homer, Marge ...

'' 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'' 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'', 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 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum 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 Glenn Miller, 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 Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series ''M*A*S*H'' (1975–83). Farrell was a producer of ''Patch Adams'' (1998) starring Robin Willi ...

, 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'' (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'' (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 out ...

'' (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 French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. The eponymous character lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emp ...

'' (1949) as Hyppolite *''Strange Bargain'' (1949) as Lt. Richard Webb *''Red Light (film), Red Light'' (1949) as Rocky *''Holiday Affair'' (1949) as Police Lieutenant *''Hello Out There'' (1949) as The Young Gambler *''Outside the Wall (film), Outside the Wall'' (1950) as Garth *''The Showdown (1950 film), The Showdown'' (1950) as Rod Main *'' Dark City'' (1950) as Soldier *''Belle Le Grand'' (1951) as Abel Stone *''When I Grow Up (film), When I Grow Up'' (1951) as Father Reed (modern) *''

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

'' (1951) as Claude Packard *''The Blue Veil (1951 film), The Blue Veil'' (1951) as Charles Hall *''Boots Malone'' (1952) as Quarter Horse Henry *''Scandal Sheet (1952 film), Scandal Sheet'' (1952) as Biddle *''

'' (1952) as Shorty *''My Six Convicts'' (1952) as Dawson *'' High Noon'' (1952) as Sam Fuller *''What Price Glory? (1952 film), What Price Glory?'' (1952) as Sgt. Moran (uncredited) *''Big Jim McLain'' (1952) as Narrator (voice, uncredited) *''Apache War Smoke'' (1952) as Ed Cotten *''Toughest Man in Arizona'' (1952) as Verne Kimber *''Stop, You're Killing Me'' (1952) as Innocence *''

'' (1953) as Rawlings *''Arena (1953 film), Arena'' (1953) as Lew Hutchins *''Champ for a Day'' (1953) as Al Muntz *''

'' (1953) as Joe Denner *''

'' (1954) as Chummy *''Prisoner of War (film), Prisoner of War'' (1954) as Maj. O.D. Hale *''The Forty-Niners'' (1954) as Alf Billings *''About Mrs. Leslie'' (1954) as Fred Blue *''

'' (1954) as Ketchum *'' Strategic Air Command'' (1955) as Sgt. Bible (flight engineer) *''Not as a Stranger'' (1955) as Oley *''Pete Kelly's Blues (1955 film), Pete Kelly's Blues'' (1955) (uncredited) *''The Bottom of the Bottle'' (1956) as Felix – Barkeep *''Backlash (1956 film), Backlash'' (1956) as Tony Welker *''Operation Teahouse'' (1956) as Himself *''UFO (1956 film), UFO'' (1956) as "Red Dog 1" (voice) *''Star in the Dust'' (1956) as Lew Hogan *''The Teahouse of the August Moon (film), The Teahouse of the August Moon'' (1956) as Sgt. Gregovich *''Under Fire (1957 film), Under Fire'' (1957) as Sgt. Joseph C. Dusak *''It Started with a Kiss (film), It Started with a Kiss'' (1959) as Charles Meriden *''The Mountain Road'' (1960) as Sgt. 'Mike' Michaelson *'' Inherit the Wind'' (1960) as Judge Mel Coffey *''Cimarron (1960 film), Cimarron'' (1960) as Jesse Rickey *'' How the West Was Won'' (1962) as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant *''John Goldfarb, Please Come Home'' (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!'' (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 *'' Charley and the Angel'' (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 *''List of The Wild Wild West episodes, The Wild Wild West Revisited'' (TV, 1979) as Robert T. Malone *''List of The Wild Wild West episodes, More Wild Wild West'' (TV, 1980) as Robert T. Malone *''Scout's Honor (1980 film), Scout's Honor'' (TV, 1980) as Mr. Briggs *''The Flight of Dragons'' (1982) as Carolinus (voice) *''Sparkling Cyanide'' (TV, 1983) as Captain Kemp *'' Dragnet'' (1987) as Gannon *''14 Going on 30'' (TV, 1988) as Uncle Herb *''The Incident (1990 film), The Incident'' (TV, 1990) as Judge Bell *''Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore'' (TV, 1992) as Judge Bell *''Incident in a Small Town'' (TV, 1994) as Judge Bell *''Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick'' (1996) *''Family Plan (1997 film), 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'' (1959) Episode 159 ''Anniversary Gift'' as Hermie Jenkins *''

'' (1962) Episode 100 ''Double Cross'' as George Bugs Moran *'' Pete and Gladys'' (1960–1962) *''Dragnet (1967 TV series), Dragnet'' (1967–1971) *''

'' (1975--1983) *''The Bastard (novel), The Bastard'' (TV miniseries, 1978) as Capt. Caleb *''The Love Boat'' (1978) *''Backstairs at the White House'' (TV miniseries, 1979)IMDb as President Harry S. Truman *''Murder, She Wrote'' (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 *'' 3rd Rock from the Sun'' (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