Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at 96

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: New York Times

Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series “M*A*S*H,” died Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96. His son Charles confirmed his death.

In more than 100 movies, Mr. Morgan played Western bad guys, characters with names like Rocky and Shorty, loyal sidekicks, judges, sheriffs, soldiers, thugs and police chiefs.

On television, he played Officer Bill Gannon with a phlegmatic but light touch to Jack Webb’s always-by-the-book Sgt. Joe Friday in the updated “Dragnet,” from 1967 to 1970. He starred as Pete Porter, a harried husband, in the situation comedy “Pete and Gladys” (1960-62), reprising a role he had played on “December Bride” (1954-59). He was also a regular on “The Richard Boone Show” (1963-64), “Kentucky Jones” (1964-65), “The D.A.” (1971-72), “Hec Ramsey” (1972-74) and “Blacke’s Magic” (1986).But to many fans he was first and foremost Col. Sherman T. Potter, commander of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital unit in Korea. With a wry smile, flat voice and sharp humor, Mr. Morgan played Colonel Potter from 1975 to 1983, when “M*A*S*H” went off the air. He replaced McLean Stevenson, who had quit the series, moving into the role on the strength of his performance as a crazed major general in an early episode.

In an interview for the Archive of American Television, Mr. Morgan said of his “M*A*S*H” character: “He was firm. He was a good officer and he had a good sense of humor. I think it’s the best part I ever had.” Colonel Potter’s office had several personal touches. The picture on his desk was of Mr. Morgan’s wife, Eileen Detchon. To relax, the colonel liked to paint and look after his horse, Sophie — a sort of inside joke, since the real Harry Morgan raised quarter horses on a ranch in Santa Rosa. Sophie, to whom Colonel Potter says goodbye in the final episode, was Mr. Morgan’s own horse.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/arts/television/harry-morgan-mash-and-dragnet-actor-dies-at-96.html?_r=1&smid=tw-nytimesarts&seid=auto

[elleng]

1. So sorry. Will try to watch some today.

[James48]

55. So long, Colonel Potter. Till we meet again. N/T

[grasswire]

2. consummate actor -- RIP

I always enjoyed his style.

[GreenTea]

3. I will always remember Harry Morgan as "General Steele" on MASH - "But first, a number.....

well come on boy.......it's in your blood". (Morgan playing the completely insane nut-job General Steele).

"MASH means Mobile Army Surgical Hospital and mobile you shall be" - A great & funny episode and a very funny man was Harry Morgan!

Colonel Blake saying to Hawkeye & Trapper, as Steele is pounding on his jeeps horn - "Come on, let's not keep old ding-dong waiting".

At least a dozen other great lines in that one episode, if a man's long career (especially His comedy career) can be narrowed down to just one great 30 minutes - This episode of M*A*S*H with Morgan as the guest star is it!

[Frank Cannon]

26. I remember the General Steele episode too. He was hilarious.

I was surprised when they brought Mr. Morgan back as a different character, but I can understand why. He was a wonderful actor. Glad to see that he lived a long life.

[Richardo]

29. "Steele - three 'e's, not all in a row."

I still quote that to this day.

[neverforget]

69. "Horse Hockey!" Monkey Muffins!" Loved the show and loved the guy.

RIP Harry Morgan.

[red dog 1]

72. well, come on boy, it's in your blood.."Hey hey, Uncle Dud, It's a treat to beat you feet on the

....Mississippi mud, it's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud.."

Later, when he played Colonel Sherman T. Potter, he sang in the shower one day....
"I like to go swimmin' with bow-legged women and swim between their legs, swim between their legs, swim between their legs..."

[xchrom]

4. Loved him. Very sad. Nt

[dhill926]

5. RIP.......

to a real pro.

[oldhippydude]

6. as often happens

i have been thinking of him lately.. another good guy icon passing, you will be misssed

[6000eliot]

7. RIP Harry.

My favorite Potter line as he's painting Winchester who is in a snit, "Don't change the color of your face! I'm out of umber."

[Myrina]

8. Sad but, IIRC he was a curmudgeonly old cuss arrested for domestic assault ...

... a time or three.

[Still Blue in PDX]

12. ha, no wonder he reminded me of a father figure. nt

[FarPoint]

13. I believe it was due to

Early Alzheimer's....not that he was dysfunctional.

[CRK7376]

9. Rest in Peace

COL Potter. You will be missed.

[Liberal Veteran]

10. He was also in my favorite movie: Inherit the Wind.

:cry:

He will be missed.

[leftynyc]

37. My 2nd favorite movie

after Casablanca and I watched it just this past weekend (when both Bachman and Santorum stated they wanted creationism taught alongside evolution). A terrific actor.

RIP

[Still Blue in PDX]

11. Strange that I remember him so well as Pete Porter.

I was 7 or so years old when Pete and Gladys went off the air, and there is almost nothing I remember of my "real life" childhood, but I remember both December Bride and Pete and Gladys.

RIP, Mr. Morgan. I think you may have been my first celebrity crush.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

24. I do, too

He was my parents' favorite character on "December Bride."

[catchnrelease]

44. Another Pete and Gladys fan

I also remember both of those shows. If I recall correctly, you never saw Gladys in the series, just Pete. (December Bride was a favorite cuz my grandma looked like Spring Byington)

[Tansy_Gold]

54. iirc that was one of the reasons for creating the spin-off

Gladys was never seen in December Bride, but was delightfully played by Cara Williams in the second series.

[catchnrelease]

76. Ahhh you're right!

I do remember her now that you say that.

[krispos42]

14. RIP, Mr. Morgan n/t

[RushIsRot]

15. He had a marvelously long run. He will be missed, but his

recorded work will live on forever.

[Faygo Kid]

16. It was (mostly) a wonderful life for the native Michigander

Like me, born in Detroit and of Swedish and Norwegian descent, so I feel a kinship. Great career.

[Politicalboi]

17. I remember hearing

He abused his wife.

[The Second Stone]

28. Dementia is ruthless, and this was very sad

I remember him also from The Ox Bow Incident, an allegory about the red scare.

[Ken Burch]

58. From what I heard, that incident led to his being diagnosed

with Alzheimers'. I don't know if that was a life-long thing for Harry to have done that.

[No Elephants]

74. A poster upthread suggested that may have been due to Alzheimer's.

[SoapBox]

18. RIP

...I just hate that SO many that I grew up with on TV and in movies are now passing.

[dbackjon]

19. RIP to one of my favorite actors

[Roland99]

20. I also remember him from The Apple Dumpling Gang and The Cat From Outer Space

:)

[jaded_old_cynic]

67. Don't forget the

Don't forget the "Support Your Local Gunfighter" and "Support Your Local Sheriff" movies with James Garner. Camp, funny stuff. R.I.P. Harry.

[DreamSmoker]

21. At my age now

Its getting very apparent to me lately that I am not young anymore..
This Man is another of so many Great Actors that have left us..
He was the other half of Dragnet...
I loved this Show when I was a kid..
May his Family have peace through this Holiday with this loss..
Harry is with God now and laughing at us..
He won't be forgotten..

[hamsterjill]

33. I hear ya!

I remember Dragnet very well.

RIP Officer Gannon.

[geardaddy]

22. I share a birthday with him.

[Phoonzang]

23. Wait...what? I thought he had died years ago..

Hmm... RIP

[greyghost]

25. RIP eom

[AlbertCat]

27. best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter

Really???

I remember Bill Gannon more....


Mainly because I hate and despise the TV show M*A*S*H.

The movie on the other hand.....

[slay]

30. Oh man - he was great. RIP. Here's a short clip of his rant about ending the war:

short but powerful. what a great actor.

M.A.S.H - Colonel Potters Rant S10E16 -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpIgQTeAD9c&feature=related

[deacon]

31. One of the great ones. RIP Harry. :(

[onehandle]

32. A long, productive life. Godspeed, Harry. nt

[MarkCharles]

34. Dragnet, anyone? Anyone remember him there?

I do, but I'm older than most people who should not be allowed to have computers due to our advanced age, and I remember Howdy Doody in black and white, too, at 5 PM Eastern, while I was in first grade.

[Still Blue in PDX]

50. Oh, gosh, yes.

He's the only partner I remember, but I guess he wasn't the original.

[Tansy_Gold]

53. I believe

Ben Alexander was the original.

[MarkCharles]

57. Yes, second series casting. Ben Alexander was first.

You are right.

Only role in which I objected to him was here in Dragnet, but I got used to him, and it turned out okay.

[Charlemagne]

80. Im 29 and I remember him

Reruns of those shows were on well into the 1990s. I was born in 82 and grew up on Dragnet, Bewitched, I dream of genie, Green Acres, Mr Ed, Dick van Dyke, and so on.

Mash was an awesome show. I remember Morgan just as fondly when he was a sidekick to Joe Friday.

[xxqqqzme]

81. Shame on you for reminding me

Howdy Doody was in black & white.


Loved the early M.A.S.H. episode where he was the crazed Steele.

[brucefan]

35. RIP

[tularetom]

36. I keep calling him "Harry Potter"

M*A*S*H got a hell of a lot better when he replaced Henry Blake.

And I always got the impression he was playing his Dragnet role tongue in cheek.

The man was one of the great character actors of all time. I'll miss him.

[Arugula Latte]

38. Rest in peace you wonderful man.

:(

[booley]

39. I am not sad at all

The guy had along distinguished career doing what he clearly loved and died at a very advanced age leaving behind a family that obviously loved him and a legacy that will outlive most of us.

We all should be so lucky.

[FedUp_Queer]

63. Amen to that sister (or brother).

[lunatica]

40. I love Harry Morgan!

His body of work was immense!

Rest in Peace Sir.

[Ian David]

41. The Party's Over (Everybody's Gone) Sam Neely

The Party's Over (Everybody's Gone) Sam Neely
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Enz1f3yBgX0

[rwsanders]

42. I owe all the MASH cast and crew a huge debt of gratitude...

In my high school years I was determined to join the military until I started watching MASH. Realized it isn't like the movies, wish my nephew had realized it wasn't like his video games before he signed up.

[No Elephants]

75. My non-violent nature thanks you for not serving.

I don't know how to make that sound "unsarcastic," but no sarcasm whatever is intended.

[Skittles]

82. I was able to serve four years without being violent

just saying

[Doctor_J]

43. Also in the cast of All My Sons, the Arthur Miller play about

corruption in the MIC

[liberal N proud]

45. He was a great actor

Always loved him in MASH

[roguevalley]

46. awwwww. I loved him.

[dballance]

47. So sad

I loved Colonel Potter. Mr. Morgan will be missed but he left a legacy everyone can still share with him and enjoy.

[SteveM]

48. Harry Morgan was one of those stars who bloomed on T.V....

Our family was long-familiar with Morgan from the old Dragnet T.V. series, and in other work. But it was M.A.S.H. where he really shined. His characterization of Potter was correct and clear to all; he kept the lid on a group of self-centered, intelligent rowdies, got the job done, and ran interference for the 4077 when a "higher up" martinet tried to get his outfit in line. Such wonderful deadpan humor, esp. with Radar. Our folks loved him.

Think he's romping with his horses?

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

49. I loved him on Pete & Gladys when I was a kid in the early '60s -- may he RIP

[Tx4obama]

51. R.I.P. Harry. n/t

[GigiMommy]

52. He was a childhood friend of my Husband's Great Uncle.

I saw him when he was a child in Hubby's family's old home movies (probably one of his earliest moments on film). Another member of Hubby's family used to babysit him. The Great Uncle has passed on; his wife, my husband and now Harry Morgan. R.I.P. Harry Morgan. I hope you see your old friends Bob and Mary again.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

56. Rest in Peace, Harry. My condolences to your family

:( :hug: :patriot:

[DissedByBush]

59. So long Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele

I always thought he was funny in his first MASH role, before Potter.

[FedUp_Queer]

64. A radish....

will never stand in the way of victory....Marshall Foch.

[slackmaster]

60. He was great as Colonel Potter, but I could never get past thinking of him as Officer Bill Gannon

On Dragnet.

[BumRushDaShow]

61. R.I.P.

For all the laughs, dry wit and feistyness that you brought to your parts... Rest in peace sir. :toast:

[PatrynXX]

62. kinda preferred the movie than the tv show

but I was amazed he was still around. try not to let those things drag me down right now

[roberto IS beto]

65. 4 points

In the "ghoul pool" a 96-year-old is only worth 4 points.

[underpants]

66. "To me, that's like a tiptoe through the tulips"

RIP

[Skittles]

68. farewell to a wonderul man and actor

Hawkeye: "But why didn't you tell me?"
Col Potter: "Because when they made me colonel they took the bone out of my nose that made me explain orders." :rofl:

[MrsBrady]

70. "All that good whiskey, shot to hell" "Horse Puckey!"

Favorite lines!

[DinahMoeHum]

71. "Bull Cookies!" "Pear Pits!"

I'll miss him, but we can still watch "M.A.S.H." and "Dragnet" on cable.

[MikeH]

73. I remember Harry Morgan from Dragnet; RIP Harry

Actually I find it hard to believe that Harry Morgan had still been alive up until just now.

I remember him playing Officer Bill Gannon in Dragnet. I liked him in that role, though he did seem to be a yes-man to Sergeant Joe Friday (as played by Jack Webb who died in 1982).

I remember one episode in which Bill Gannon was adding a lot of sugar to his coffee, and he made the comment that sugar was the salt of the earth.

[Daphne08]

77. I'm old enough to remember watching "December Bride" on TV

in the '50s with a wonderful actress named Spring Byington.

He's always been one of my favorites.

RIP, Harry Morgan.

[AngryAmish]

78. It seems like a lot of people from M*A*S*H are dying

First Trapper John, then Radar's Uncle Ed and now Harry Morgan.

M*A*S*H curse?

[qb]

79. Col. Potter made M*A*S*H a thoroughly enjoyable show. RIP, Harry

:yourock: