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Lugar y fecha de nacimiento. Harry Morgan (1915 - ) Actor Also: TV director Born As: Harry Bratsburg Born: April 10, 1915, Detroit, MI Education: University of Chicago, IL Prolific veteran character man of stage since the 1930s, screen since the early 40s and TV since the mid-50s. Early in his career, Morgan changed his name to Harry from Henry to avoid confusion with a popular radio and TV personality. Though he has appeared in more than 50 films, Morgan is best known for memorable supporting roles on two popular and innovative TV series, the 1967 revival of the low-key police procedural Dragnet and the classic black comedy series set during the Korean War, MASH. In the former he was Officer Bill Gannon, the almost equally phlegmatic partner of Jack Webb's Joe Friday. In the latter Morgan succeeded McLean Stevenson in the role of commanding officer of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital from 1975 through 1983. His Colonel Sherman Potter was an affable authority figure, folksy and grandfatherly yet regular Army and a damn good surgeon. Morgan won a 1979/80 Emmy for his portrayal. He reprised the role of Bill Gannon, promoted to captain, for the feature spoof DRAGNET (1987) starring Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks. Morgan donned civvies and advanced to star status playing Dr. Potter again for AfterMASH (CBS, 1983-84), the less successful stateside-set sequel. As a student at the University of Chicago, the young Morgan planned to study law until public speaking and debating classes turned him to acting. He joined a little theater group while working in Washington DC on summer vacation and made his professional stage debut in summer stock in Mt. Kisco NY. Morgan spent two years in the original Broadway production of Golden Boy before moving to California, where he was discovered in a Santa Barbara stock company production by a talent scout for 20th Century-Fox. He entered films in 1942, appearing in four productions including TO THE SHORES OF TRIPOLI. Often cast as sidekicks to such luminaries as Henry Fonda and James Stewart, Morgan was favored by directors who specialized in tough masculine fare, notably Anthony Mann (BEND OF THE RIVER, 1952; THE FAR COUNTRY, 1955) for whom he acted in six films. He seemed most appropriate in Westerns and tough urban dramas but his many credits span the gamut of genres. Morgan was the judge in HEREDARAS EL VIENTO (1960), the harried director of Joan Crawford in TORCH SONG (1953) and the angel who helps Fred MacMurray change his ways in the Disney comedy CHARLEY AND THE ANGEL (1973). Morgan made his debut as a TV series regular playing a supporting role on December Bride (1954-59), a very popular sitcom about a wonderful mother-in-law who lives with her daughter and son-in-law. Morgan won raves and an Emmy nod as cranky neighbor Pete Porter, who finds much to hate about his own wife and mother-in-law. The character proved so popular that Morgan was spun off into his own sitcom, Pete and Gladys (CBS, 1960-62). His TV career was truly off and running; Morgan went on to play regulars in ten series by 1995. He was also frequently in TV movies, miniseries and guest shots. Morgan has also worked extensively as a TV director on Adam-12, The D.A., Hec Ramsey y M*A*S*H.
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