Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter of ‘M*A*S*H,’ Dies at 96


Harry Morgan, the actor who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter on the television series “M*A*S*H,” passed away this morning at his home in Los Angeles. Morgan was 96.

According to IMDB, Morgan’s career spanned six decades, from his debut role in “To the Shores of Tripoli” in 1942 to his last appearance in “Love & Money” in 1999. Morgan’s most famous role, however, came in 1974 when he introduced Colonel Potter to US audiences in “M*A*S*H.”

Morgan was nominated for 10 Emmy Awards during his time on “M*A*S*H” but he only took the statue home once.

Potter is one of the most iconic characters to come out of the dark comedy, but Morgan didn’t join the cast until the fourth season. According to Business Insider, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake was killed off at the end of the third season. The “Happy-Go-Lucky” commander was replaced by Potter, a much more straight-laced leader.

When Morgan joined the cast, Time Magazine described the character, saying:

“A cavalryman in the first World War who turned medic and was Regular Army to his jodhpurs, Potter became the stern but sentimental father figure every MASHman needed 7,000 miles from home.”

Despite Potter’s authoritative stature, he also provided some great comedy. Here’s a mashup of some of Potter’s greatest off-color remarks.

Other than “M*A*S*H,” Harry Morgan also appeared in “The Love Boat,” “After M*A*S*H,” “Dragnet” and more than 100 other television shows and movies.

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