Originally published by L.S.Media. December 9th 2011.

For a generation of fans of the hit American T.V. series M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter was the man who they longed to be their father, understanding of his un-military like surgeons and collection of off the wall but utterly loveable goof balls and with enough experience in the army and as a fellow surgeon to understand that war really is Hell.

Harry Morgan was Colonel Sherman Potter from the fourth series till the programme finally ended with the highest watched peak audience in the gripping finale Goodbye, Farewell and Amen. Along with Alan Alda, Mike Farrell and Jamie Farr, he was the embodiment of hero worship to fans of the show.

Harry Morgan passed away on December 7^th aged 96 was the star of over 100 films including one that was banned initially in the U.S. for many years but in which he gave a performance that captivated and endeared him to many. A film that took on the  John T. Scopes Monkey Trail and turned it to a brilliant and well observed look at life in the Bible belt of America of the 1920’s, the fantastic Inherit the Wind in which he played alongside Gene Kelly, Spencer Tracy and Fredric March. Three of the most in demand actors of their generation and yet Mr. Morgan slotted alongside them easily and in the court scenes stole the screen as he charged Spenser Tracy with contempt.

To think of Harry Morgan in these two roles though as the epitome of a career would be unfair. Not only had been a lead actor in the original dragnet series of the 1960’s series of Dragnet as Officer Harry Gannon as well as a cameo appearance in the 1987 film version.

Harry Morgan was born in Detroit, Michigan on the 10^th April 1915 to parents of Swedish and Norwegian heritage. Life could have taken a different course  if he  gone along  with the  idea  of  gaining his  Law Degree, the loss to  television  and cinema  would have  been dreadful but with his no nonsense and distinctive, gravelly voice, no doubt there would have been a lot of famous court battles with his name attached. However the world of celluloid called and as veteran writer Ken Levine said of him “He could read a scene once, have it completely memorized, and perform it perfectly take after take”. A loss to the world of law but a huge bonus to the world of acting!

Harry Morgan, Born April 10^th 1915. Died December 7^th 2011.

Ian D. Hall