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Harry Morgan | |
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Harry Morgan has the distinction of starring in numerous television series, dating back to the 1950s. Yet no role in this distinguished actor’s career has brought such critical acclaim or personal satisfaction as that of Colonel Sherman T. Potter, the commanding officer he portrayed on Twentieth Television’s M*A*S*H. Born in Detroit, Morgan intended to become a lawyer until public speaking and debating classes at the University of Chicago stirred his interest in the theater. While working in Washington, D.C. during a summer vacation, he joined a small theater group and ultimately made his professional acting debut in "At Mrs. Beam’s" with Frances Farmer and Mildred Natwick. From summer stock, Morgan moved up to Broadway, where he spent two years in the original production of "Golden Boy," whose cast included Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Luther Adler and Martin Ritt. In 1942, Morgan moved to California and was spotted by a Twentieth Century Fox talent scout after appearing in William Saroyan’s one-act play, "Hello, Out There." Morgan has been seen in more than 50 films since he debuted in "The Ox Bow Incident." Some of the highlights of his career include: "High Noon," "What Price Glory?," "My Six Convicts," "The Glenn Miller Story," "Inherit The Wind," "Strategic Air Command," "Viva Max!," "Support Your Local Sheriff," the remake of "Dragnet," "Family Plan" and "Crosswalk." On television, in the 1950s, he starred in "December Bride," and subsequently its spin-off "Pete and Gladys." He was a regular in "Kentucky Jones," "The Richard Boone Show," "Dragnet," "The D.A." and "Hec Ramsey," before he was introduced on M*A*S*H. During his years on the hit series, he received an Emmy award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He then starred in Twentieth Television’s M*A*S*H spin-off AfterMASH, and two other series, "Blacke’s Magic" and "You Can’t Take It With You." Morgan also guest starred on "The Love Boat" and a Paul Lynde special. He appeared in telefilms such as "Murder at the Mardi Gras," "Kate Bliss and the Ticker Tape Kid," "The Bastard," and he played the role of Judge Stoddard Bell in three telefilms with Walter Matthau: "The Incident"(1990), "Against Her Will: An Incident in Baltimore" (1992), and "Incident in a Small Town" (1994), the latter two directed by Delbert Mann. In 1996-97, he appeared as Dr. Suter in the TV series "3rd Rock from the Sun." Morgan has participated in two M*A*S*H reunions; the first in the 1991 "Memories of M*A*S*H" and the recent Fox two-hour TV special "M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion" in May, 2002, alongside his fellow cast members and producers. When not performing, Morgan likes to read books about history, the legal profession and poetry. He used to raise quarter horses at his Santa Rosa, California ranch. Harry Morgan has four children, one of whom, Chris, has followed his father’s footsteps into show business and is a television producer. |
