Harry Morgan

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Birth: Apr. 10, 1915 Detroit Wayne County Michigan, USA

Death: Dec. 7, 2011 Los Angeles Los Angeles County California, USA

Emmy Award-Winning Actor. 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 "AfterMASH", appeared in "Blacke's Magic" (1986), had a cameo in the 1987 movie version of "Dragnet", was a regular on "3rd. Rock fron 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. Morgan lived out his days in Southern California and died of the effects of advanced age. (bio by: Bob Hufford)

Family links:

Parents:

• Henry Arnold Bratsburg (1890 - 1942)
• Hanna Christine Bratsburg (1886 - 1942)

Spouse:

• Eileen Ann Detchon Morgan (1913 - 1985)*

Children:

• Daniel Howard Morgan (1946 - 1989)*

Burial: Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Morgan was married first to Eileen Detchon from 1940 until her death in 1985. During Morgan's time on M*A*S*H, a photograph of Detchon regularly appeared on the desk of his character. A drawing of a horse, seen on the wall behind Potter's desk, was drawn by Morgan's grandson, Jeremy Morgan. In addition, Eileen was the name of the wife of Officer Bill Gannon on Dragnet. Morgan had four sons with his first wife: Christopher, Charles, Paul, and Daniel (who died in 1989).

He then married Barbara Bushman Quine (granddaughter of silent film star Francis X. Bushman) on December 17, 1986; the marriage lasted until his death. In July 1997, Morgan was charged with abusing his wife a year earlier, after a beating left her with injuries to her eye, foot, and arm.[16] Prosecutors dropped the charges after the 82-year-old actor completed a six-month domestic violence counseling program.[17]

Morgan had two siblings, Marguerite and Arnold (both deceased).