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RIP Harry Morgan

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Carl-E:
Harry Morgan (Col. Potter of M*A*S*H) passed today of pneumonia at the age of 96. 

From the NPR report;


--- Quote ---...In 1983, Morgan spoke at a press conference about ending a series so beloved that the last show drew a record 125 million viewers. He said someone had asked him if he thought M*A*S*H had made him a better actor.

"And I said I didn't know about that, but I know it's made me a better human being and there aren't many shows you can say that about," he said.

Morgan alluded to his long career as a character actor, performing on Broadway, in movies and on the TV show Dragnet before he got cast in M*A*S*H during its fourth season.

"I've done about a hundred movies plus and this is my eighth television series, and believe me in my experience there's never been a congregation of actors put together that would come within a mile of this bunch," he said, trying to hold back tears. "And I'm gonna miss them very much."

Jamie Farr, who played the cross-dressing company clerk, Cpl. Max Klinger, said that even in a cast filled with cutups, Morgan was infamous for being funny.

"He was terrible; he was absolutely the worst," Farr said, affectionately. "I wish you could see some of the outtakes; we had some great ones."

Farr said he spent most of Wednesday exchanging emails and phone calls with members of the cast. He said Mike Farrell, who played B.J. Hunnicutt, was a huge presence in Morgan's last days; he kept everyone updated from the hospice with emails. The last one he sent Wednesday said Morgan had died around 3 a.m., peacefully and in his sleep.
--- End quote ---


Of course, I remembered him from his days on the old Dragnet series. 



His dry wit was a big influence on me and my sense of humor. 

Jimor:
He was very good in every role he ever took on, and could do drop-dead serious, or zany farce with equal aplomb. An interesting fact I heard elsewhere, is that he NEVER appeared on any of the talk shows like The Tonight Show, etc. He said about that that the work should speak for itself.

valley_parade:
His role as Col. Potter is probably half the reason that M*A*S*H is my favorite TV show of all time.

Also worth noting, in one of the earlier seasons, he was a guest star on an episode, playing some batshit crazy general.

Carl-E:
Yes!  I remember that. 

My daughter and I make a hobby of pointing out minor actors from other roles, shows and movies in whatever we're watching.  Our faves are the Law & Orders - they re use bit role players like nobody's business. 

Kugai:
I heard that that earlier role was part of the reason they asked him back to do the role of Colonel Potter when Mcleane Stevenson left.

It's sad to hear and I have a vision of him riding off into the sunset in his Cavalry Uniform.   Farewell Sherm.

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