Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg; April 10, 1915 â€" December 7,
2011) was an American actor and director whose television and film
career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter
in both December Bride (1954â€"1959) and Pete and Gladys
(1960â€"1962); Officer Bill Gannon on Dragnet (1967â€"1970); Amos
Coogan on Hec Ramsey (1972â€"1974); and his starring role as Colonel
Sherman T. Potter in M*A*S*H (1975â€"1983) and AfterMASH
(1983â€"1985). Morgan appeared in more than 100 films.Morgan was born
Harry Bratsberg in Detroit, the son of Hannah and Henry Bratsberg. His
parents were of Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. In his interview with
the Archive of American Television, Morgan spelled his Norwegian
family surname as "Brasburg". Many sources, however, including some
family records, list the spelling as "Bratsburg". According to one
source, when Morgan's father Henry registered at junior high school,
"the registrar spelled it Bratsburg instead of Bratsberg. Bashful
Henry did not demur."Morgan was raised in Muskegon, Michigan, and
graduated from Muskegon High School in 1933, where he achieved
distinction as a statewide debating champion. He originally aspired to
a J.D. degree, but began acting while a junior at the University of
Chicago in 1935.
2011) was an American actor and director whose television and film
career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter
in both December Bride (1954â€"1959) and Pete and Gladys
(1960â€"1962); Officer Bill Gannon on Dragnet (1967â€"1970); Amos
Coogan on Hec Ramsey (1972â€"1974); and his starring role as Colonel
Sherman T. Potter in M*A*S*H (1975â€"1983) and AfterMASH
(1983â€"1985). Morgan appeared in more than 100 films.Morgan was born
Harry Bratsberg in Detroit, the son of Hannah and Henry Bratsberg. His
parents were of Swedish and Norwegian ancestry. In his interview with
the Archive of American Television, Morgan spelled his Norwegian
family surname as "Brasburg". Many sources, however, including some
family records, list the spelling as "Bratsburg". According to one
source, when Morgan's father Henry registered at junior high school,
"the registrar spelled it Bratsburg instead of Bratsberg. Bashful
Henry did not demur."Morgan was raised in Muskegon, Michigan, and
graduated from Muskegon High School in 1933, where he achieved
distinction as a statewide debating champion. He originally aspired to
a J.D. degree, but began acting while a junior at the University of
Chicago in 1935.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.