Free Women's Blog

Harry Morgan (April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) a prolific character actor who is best known for his roles in “M*A*S*H” and “Dragnet,” died Wednesday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96.

He starred as Pete Porter, in the situation comedy “Pete and Gladys” (1960-62), he played Officer Bill Gannon opposite to Jack Webb’s Sgt. Joe Friday in “Dragnet,” from 1967 to 1970. To millions of fans he was Col. Sherman T. Potter, commander of the 4077th M*A*S*H in Korea (1978-83).

In 1980 his received av Emmy Award as best supporting actor in a comedy series for “M*A*S*H”.

Mr Morgan played in more then 100 movies as sheriffs, loyal sidekicks, soldiers, thugs, police chiefs and judges. One of my favorites court room dramas he was Judge Mel Coffey in “Inherit The Wind,” the judge who presided over the fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey Trial” in Tennessee, where a young teacher was convicted of the crime of teaching the theory of evolution. What a role.

He was born Harry Bratsburg, in Detroit and grew up in Muskegon, Michigan. He made his professional acting debut in a production of “At Mrs. Beam’s” in Mount Kisco, N.Y., Morgan made his way to Hollywood in 1942.

It was once estimated that in one show or another, he was seen in prime time for 35 straight years.

Morgan is survived by his second wife, Barbara, whom he married in 1986, and three sons, Christopher, Charles and Paul, from his first marriage, to Eileen, who died in 1985; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. His son Daniel predeceased him.

R.I.P.

Clifford Parker “Cliff” Robertson, III (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) best known for his roles in the movie Charly and Uncle Ben in the “Spider-Man” movies died Saturday in Long Island. He was 88.

Robertson won an Oscar in 1968 for playing a mentally challenged bakery janitor in “Charly.” He is also remembered for his portrayal of future President John F. Kennedy in the World War II film “PT 109.’’

He also won an Emmy for his work in The Game.

In 1977, Robertson made the headlines again, by blowing the whistle on a Hollywood financial scandal. He had discovered that president of Columbia Pictures. David Begelman, had forged his signature on a $10,000 salary check, and he called the FBI and the Burbank and Beverly Hills police departments.

Some of this talented actor’s other film credits include Picnic (1955), Autumn Leaves (1956), Gidget (1959), Sunday in New York (1963), Devil’s Brigade (1968), J. W. Coop (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), Obsession (1976), Star 80 (1983) and Malone (1987). Robertson also worked as a spokesman for AT&T.

In 1957, Robertson married Jack Lemmon’s ex-wife, Cynthia Stone, and they had a daughter, Stephanie, before splitting in 1959. In 1966, he married Post Cereals heiress Dina Merrill and they had a daughter, Heather. The couple divorced in 1989.

Robertson’s funeral is set for Friday in East Hampton.

R.I.P.