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Harry Morgan

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Harry Morgan Famous memorial

Original Name
Bratsberg
Birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA
Death
7 Dec 2011 (aged 96)
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Burial
Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Actor, Director, Radio Announcer. He began acting on the New York stage in the 1930s. Out of a long career that saw him in roughly 100 movies and numerous television series, he shall be remembered as Officer Bill Gannon from "Dragnet" and as Col. Sherman Potter, the unit commander of "M*A*S*H." Born Harry Bratsberg, he was raised in Muskegon, Michigan, and was a champion debater in high school. Morgan intended to be an attorney but switched to acting while at the University of Chicago and in 1937 joined the Group Theatre of New York City. After performing in a number of stage productions, initially as 'Henry Morgan', he made his silver screen debut in 1942's "To the Shores of Tripoli". Morgan had roles in a number of high profile films including "High Noon" (1952), 1960's "Inherit the Wind," and the 1962 "How the West Was Won"; on the small screen he was notably Pete Porter for both "December Bride" (1954 to 1959) and "Pete and Gladys" which ran from 1960 until 1962. Morgan landed his acclaimed part of Joe Friday's partner Bill Gannon on "Dragnet" in 1967 and was to stay in the cast thru 1970. He first appeared on an episode of "M*A*S*H" in 1974 and replaced McLean Stevenson in the cast the following year; remaining with the series until it closed in 1983 he captured a 1980 Emmy and also directed eight episodes. In later years he reprised the role of Dr. Potter in the short-lived "After MASH," appeared in "Blacke's Magic" (1986), had a cameo in the 1987 movie version of "Dragnet," was a regular on "3rd Rock from the Sun," and was even in an episode of "The Simpsons." In 2006 he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Actor, Director, Radio Announcer. He began acting on the New York stage in the 1930s. Out of a long career that saw him in roughly 100 movies and numerous television series, he shall be remembered as Officer Bill Gannon from "Dragnet" and as Col. Sherman Potter, the unit commander of "M*A*S*H." Born Harry Bratsberg, he was raised in Muskegon, Michigan, and was a champion debater in high school. Morgan intended to be an attorney but switched to acting while at the University of Chicago and in 1937 joined the Group Theatre of New York City. After performing in a number of stage productions, initially as 'Henry Morgan', he made his silver screen debut in 1942's "To the Shores of Tripoli". Morgan had roles in a number of high profile films including "High Noon" (1952), 1960's "Inherit the Wind," and the 1962 "How the West Was Won"; on the small screen he was notably Pete Porter for both "December Bride" (1954 to 1959) and "Pete and Gladys" which ran from 1960 until 1962. Morgan landed his acclaimed part of Joe Friday's partner Bill Gannon on "Dragnet" in 1967 and was to stay in the cast thru 1970. He first appeared on an episode of "M*A*S*H" in 1974 and replaced McLean Stevenson in the cast the following year; remaining with the series until it closed in 1983 he captured a 1980 Emmy and also directed eight episodes. In later years he reprised the role of Dr. Potter in the short-lived "After MASH," appeared in "Blacke's Magic" (1986), had a cameo in the 1987 movie version of "Dragnet," was a regular on "3rd Rock from the Sun," and was even in an episode of "The Simpsons." In 2006 he was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Bio by: Bob Hufford



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  • Maintained by: Find a Grave
  • Originally Created by: Andy Pagoota
  • Added: Dec 7, 2011
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/81653867/harry-morgan: accessed ), memorial page for Harry Morgan (10 Apr 1915–7 Dec 2011), Find a Grave Memorial ID 81653867; Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend; Maintained by Find a Grave.