Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Harry Morgan
Harry Morgan Facts
| Sign | Aries |
| Born |
Apr 10, 1915 Detroit, MI |
| Died |
Dec 7, 2011 Los Angeles, CA |
| Age | Died at 96 |
| Total Facts | 61 |
According to his son, Charles, he suffered pneumonia, at the time of his death.
After his last guest-starring role on "Love & Money" (1999), he retired from acting at age 84.
After the deaths of Dean Miller and Frances Rafferty, both in 2004, he became the last surviving cast member of "December Bride" (1954).
Appeared with Lee J. Cobb, the father of his future daughter-in-law Julie Cobb in How the West Was Won (1962).
Attended University of Chicago with a major of pre-law, but a lack of finances dropped him out.
Before he was a successful actor, he worked as a salesman.
Began his career as a contract player with 20th Century Fox in 1942.
Best remembered by the public for his starring roles as Officer Bill Gannon on "Dragnet 1967" (1967) and as Colonel - later Surgeon - Dr. Sherman T. Potter on "M*A*S*H" (1972).
By the time Morgan was a junior in high school at Muskegon High School, he won the Debate Championship at the University of Michigan's Hill Auditorium, in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Despite high ratings, his second series "Dragnet 1967" (1967) was canceled at the end of the fourth season, due to Jack Webb's planning on leaving the show, to continue producing both successful series: "Adam-12" (1968) and "Emergency!" (1972). Later, Morgan would work with Webb again on both short-lived series: "The D.A." (1971) and "Hec Ramsey" (1972).
Despite not appearing in the same seasons of "M*A*S*H" (1972) with McLean Stevenson, though Morgan guest-starred for one episode, they both starred in The Cat from Outer Space (1978). Morgan played the general, Stevenson played the doctor.
Despite not being an original cast member, next to Mike Farrell, he appeared in each and every episode of "M*A*S*H" (1972), with the exception of 2, after he joined the cast in 1975, until its series cancellation in 1983.
Died 10 days before his 25th Wedding Anniversary to Barbara Bushman.
Enjoyed golfing, traveling, dining, fishing, spending time with his family, reading, raising quarter-horses, horseback riding, animals, painting and poetry.
Father of producer Christopher Morgan.
Graduated from Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan, in 1933.
Grandfather of Rosemary Morgan and Jeremy Morgan.
Grandfather of Spencer Morgan (son of Charles and Charlotte Morgan) of Los Angeles, California.
Had four sons by his first wife: Charles and Paul are both attorneys, Christopher Morgan, a TV producer, and Daniel, who died in 1989.
Harry Morgan passed away on December 7, 2011. This day was also actor Eli Wallach's 96th birthday. He and Morgan were both featured actors in the 1963 film How the West Was Won (1962).
Has a wine store named after him in West Los Angeles, California.
He and Jack Webb were best friends from 1949 to Thursday, December 23rd, 1982, when Jack Webb lost his life.
He and future co-star Mike Farrell were both fans of the "M*A*S*H" (1972) series, in the early years, before they both joined the cast in 1975.
He replaced McLean Stevenson in the role of Colonel Sherman Potter on "M*A*S*H" (1972), for the series' fourth season, primarily because of his long association with Gene Reynolds.
He was an active opponent of the anti-communist witch hunts in Hollywood.
His "M*A*S*H" (1972) character was a heavy drinker and a smoker, as was Morgan, in real-life.
His favorite actor was Alan Alda, who grew up watching him before he co-starred with Morgan on "M*A*S*H" (1972).
His parents were Henry Bratsberg, a mechanic born in Norway, and Anna Olsen, a housewife born in Sweden.
In 1942, Morgan had a small part in Orchestra Wives (1942) featuring Glenn Miller. In 1953, co-starred in The Glenn Miller Story (1954).
In several episodes of "M*A*S*H" (1972), Col. Potter was seen painting portraits, mainly of the other characters. These portraits were actually painted by Morgan.
In the episode "Murder, She Wrote: The Days Dwindle Down (#3.21)" (1987), he played an LAPD Detective named Webb. In 1967, he had starred as a member of the LAPD in "Dragnet 1967" (1967) which was created by and costarred Jack Webb.
In various episodes of "M*A*S*H" (1972), his real-life wife, Eileen Detchon, stood in for his character's wife, Mildred's portrait on his character's desk.
Of Norwegian descent, his grandparents were immigrants from Scandinavia.
Once belonged to the Group Theater in New York.
Once said that he enjoyed playing Colonel Potter on "M*A*S*H" (1972) so much that he felt that he could have "gone on forever" playing that character.
One of his sons was the friend of one of James Arness's children. One of Morgan's sons spent the night at Arness' ranch.
Played Off. Bill Gannon, four times on: "Dragnet" (1951), "Dragnet 1967" (1967), Dragnet (1987) and "The Simpsons" (1989).
Prior to joining the cast of "M*A*S*H" (1972) in the fourth season as the stern but decent Colonel Potter, he appeared in the third season episode "M*A*S*H: The General Flipped at Dawn (#3.1)" (1974) as a crazed general who wanted to move the 4077 unit closer to the front line.
Remained friends with Mike Farrell, Loretta Swit, amongst the rest of the "M*A*S*H" (1972) cast, during and after the series' cancellation.
Reprised his "Dragnet 1967" (1967), Dragnet 1966 (1969) (TV) and Dragnet (1987) character (Officer Bill Gannon) in "The Simpsons" (1989) episode "Mother Simpson".
Second wife, Barbara Bushman, is the granddaughter of silent screen star Francis X. Bushman and the daughter of Ralph Bushman.
Shortly after his birth, his family moved to Muskegon, Michigan, 42 miles north of Grand Rapids.
Shortly before his death, he and his family had lunch with ex-"M*A*S*H" (1972) co-star, Mike Farrell, with his second wife, Shelley Fabares.
Started using Harry rather than Henry when comedian Henry Morgan became popular on radio and TV in the early 1960s. Ironically, they were only born 11 days apart.
Survived by his wife, Barbara, of nearly 25 years, his 3 children and 3 grandchildren.
The older of three children.
Upon his death he was cremated, his ashes are in possession of family.
Upon his return to Muskegon, Michigan, his mother, Anna Olsen, passed away in 1942.
Was a Democrat.
Was a spokesperson for both ERA real estate and Toyota in the 1980s.