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 Webbs 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 Blackes 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 ...
Every man
Harry Morgan with James Garner in "Support Your Local Sheriff"
RIP.
Ping
Yes, even in the sixties. In the nineties, my cousin’s son would try to get on tv, the culture of Cops, what you gonna do when they come for you? He liked being a bad boy.
What is the name of the movie you have posted with John Wayne and Harry Morgan?
I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a more foul mouthed actor. May he rest in peace.
He lived a long life. RIP Col Potter.
What movie is that photgraph from?
I think they did do a death pool a wk or so ago, so we’re not still waiting. Not sure if Morgan was in the most recent one.
Harry Morgan actually was in M.A.S.H twice...in one episode he played a looney-tunes general in “The General Flipped at Dawn”. At the end he was singing some kind of song about “beat your feet in the Mississippi Mud”. As the M.A.S.H
personnel gathered in ranks and he addressed them, he seemed stern then softened a bit as he came up to Radar. “Now this seems like someone who follows the regulations. Where
are you from Son?”
Radar: “Iowa, sir.”
General: (shouting) “NO TALKING IN RANKS!”
That’s from “How The West Was Won”, a collection of segments done by various directors. That scene was John Ford’s work, IIRC. Pretty heavy role for Harry there: Ulysses S. Grant.
Thank you
Veteran of a lot of movies and TV shows... loved him as COL Sherman Potter.
RIP, Mr. Morgan...
Facepalm! FWIW, my 30 year old Sister in law, knows who Harry Morgan is and has seen every episode of MASH at least twice.
RIP, Harry and thanks for the memories.
Lots of big name stars in this one.
Jimmy Stewart
Gregory Peck
Carl Maulden
George Peppard
Walter Brennan
Henry Fonda
Debbie Reynolds
and a bunch of others. Narration by James Whitmore Jr.
Movie is very much worth the time to watch.
Mike
I recall he was the sheriff in “The Flim-Flam Man. Against George C. Scott.
I wonder if these two are where the name Harry Potter came from.
He looks like he could be Fonda’s brother in that pic!!
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