Sad news today about the passing of actor Harry Morgan.

Like actors such as Denholm Elliot and Brian Dennehy, Morgan never seemed to land that elusive starring role, but that didn’t matter. His talents as a character actor were always impressive and he often stole the limelight.

I remember Harry Morgan best from shows such as Dragnet and made-for-tv movies such as Support your local sheriff.

But of course it was his fatherly role as Col. Sherman T Potter in M*A*S*H that won him critical acclaim and a serious fan base. He first appeared in a small, one-off role as nut-job Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele (“That’s three e’s, not all in a row!”) in 1974 and then went on to replace McLean Stevenson the following year, after Stevenson left the show. Morgan won an Emmy award for his performance on M*A*S*H, in 1980.

Yet acting apparently wasn’t his first choice of career.

Born in Detroit (1915), Morgan studied pre-law at the University of Chicago, when a series of public speaking classes sparked his interest in the stage.

He did stints with both small theatre groups and a 2-year engagement on Broadway, in the original production of Golden Boy, with Karl Malden. In 1942 he went to Hollywood and was signed by 20th Century Fox, after a scout spotted him in the one-act play.

Post-M*A*S*H saw Morgan took on a wide variety of roles, including a reprise of his role as Bill Gannon in a Parody version of Dragnet.

He died aged 96, at his Los Angeles home after contracting pneumonia.

RIP Harry…and thanks

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