R.I.P Harry Morgan and Story Life Is Not Heavy For Him

R.I.P Harry Morgan and Story Life Is Not Heavy For Him

Emmy-winning actor Harry Morgan, who is known for his role as Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H, has passed away at the age of 96. Morgan’s daughter-in-law, Beth Morgan, reveals the actor died at his Brentwood home after a battle with pneumonia. “He was side-splittingly funny, a very gent and loving father-in-law,” Beth Morgan said.

Morgan appeared in movies alongside big stars such as Henry Fonda, John Wayne, James Garner, and Elvis Presley. His television roles included M*A*S*H, December Bride, and as Sgt. Joe Friday’s partner in later “Dragnet” episodes. Harry Morgan’s role on M*A*S*H earned him an Emmy Award. The actor is survived by three sons, Charles, Paul and Christopher; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

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 on Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles.
Harry Morgan as Col. Sherman T. Potter on "M*A*S*H."
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Everett Collection. Harry Morgan, right, with Jack Webb in "Dragnet" in 1967. His son Charles confirmed his death, saying Mr. Morgan had been treated for pneumonia recently. 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.
Colonel Potter’s office had several personal touches. The picture on his desk was of Mr. Morgan’s wife, Eileen Detchon.

Sophie, to whom Colonel Potter says goodbye in the final episode, was Mr. Morgan’s own horse.
In 1980 his Colonel Potter earned him an Emmy Award as best supporting actor in a comedy series.
Harry Morgan was born Harry Bratsburg on April 10, 1915, in Detroit. Signing a contract with 20th Century Fox, he originally used the screen name Henry Morgan, but changed Henry to Harry in the 1950s to avoid confusion with the radio and television humorist Henry Morgan.

Mr. Morgan attracted attention almost immediately.
After a personable performance as Glenn Miller’s pianist, Chummy MacGregor, in “The Glenn Miller Story” (1954), starring James Stewart, he often played softer characters as well as his trademark hard-bitten tough guys.

“Appearing on a talk show to focus on himself because he was Harry Morgan,” he said, “was not nearly as natural as appearing in a role as Pete Porter or Bill Gannon or Colonel Potter, or as the cowboy drifter who wandered into town with Henry Fonda and got wrapped up in a vigilante brigade in ‘Ox-Bow Incident.’ ”

There is no other actor like Harry Morgan. 
Harry Morgan has led a great acting life; from cameo parts in 'Murder She Wrote' to epic television shows such as 'Dragnet', Harry played the parts brilliantly.  He was in a few movies - 'The Glen Miller Story' where he started out using Henry Morgan as his name before changing it to Harry Morgan. 

Harry Morgan has lived a long and prosperous life, made many friends through film and television and enjoyed his lucrative career.