From The New York Times: "Harry Morgan, Colonel Potter on 'M*A*S*H," Dies at 96":
Harry Morgan, the prolific character actor best known for playing the acerbic but kindly Colonel Potter in the long-running television series M*A*S*H, died Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96. His son Charles confirmed his death, saying Mr. Morgan had been treated for pneumonia recently.
In more than 100 movies, Mr. Morgan played Western bad guys, characters with names like "Rocky" and "Shorty," loyal sidekicks, judges, sheriffs, soldiers, thugs and police chiefs.
On television, he played Officer Bill Gannon with a phlegmatic but light touch to Jack Webb’s always-by-the-book Sgt. Joe Friday in the updated Dragnet, from 1967 to 1970.
Replies
Ah, shame.
I'm sorry to hear this. At least he had a long, full life.
Salute for Colonel Potter and Harry Morgan, a great character actor.
If if I didn't like the show or movie he was in I always liked him.
It cracked me up that his schedule allowed Harry Morgan to appear in both HEC RAMSEY and M*A*SH at the same time! But I'll always remember him most for Bill Gannon on DRAGNET. (It was nice when they managed to have him reprise the character in the Dan Aykroyd-Tom Hanks comedy film. That made the film a legitimate sequel, not merely a spoof.)
Besides Colonel Potter, the part I'll remember him best for is the judge in Inherit the Wind.
We're going to have some fig newtons and scotch tonight in his honor. "They're great if you dunk 'em!"