About
"He was firm. He was a good officer and he had a good sense of humor. I think it's the best part I ever had. I loved playing Colonel Potter."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Harry Morgan (1915-2011) describes his start in show business, acting in summer stock productions which in turn led to his work in the Group Theater and his notable appearance in Golden Boy on Broadway. He talks about his move to Hollywood and how he landed a contract at Twentieth Century Fox in 1942. He speaks briefly about some of the movies he made, including How the West Was Won and High Noon, and describes several directors for whom he worked. Morgan details his early work in television on the shows December Bride, Pete and Gladys, and The Richard Boone Show and recalls his role as "Officer Bill Gannon" on Dragnet opposite Jack Webb. He then recounts, in great detail, his experiences on the classic sitcom M*A*S*H, where he played "Col. Sherman T. Potter." He discusses the show's ensemble cast, the characters they played, the atmosphere on the set, and behind-the-scenes practical jokes. Henry Colman conducted the interview on April 14, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights

Harry Morgan on his M*A*S*H character, Colonel Sherman Potter

Harry Morgan on the tone on the set of M*A*S*H

Harry Morgan on playing "Bill Gannon" on Dragnet

Harry Morgan on co-starring on Pete and Gladys

Harry Morgan on the legacy of M*A*S*H

Harry Morgan on how he'd like to be remembered
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his early years and education; on his first acting jobs and early stage work; on moving to Hollywood; on getting a contract at 20th Century Fox and his early film career; on changing his name
On his work in December Bride
Chapter 2
On co-starring on Pete and Gladys
On the Blacklist (he was neighbors with Lionel Stander in later years)
On playing "Bill Gannon" on Dragnet; on working with Jack Web; on preparing for the role of "Bill Gannon" and working with a teleprompter; on Jack Webb's directing
Chapter 3
On co-starring with Jack Webb on Dragnet; on a typical Dragnet work week and the show's writers; on Dragnet guest stars; on the legacy of Dragnet
On joining M*A*S*H; on his character "Colonel Sherman Potter;" on preparations for the role; on the medical adviser on M*A*S*H, Dr. Walter Dishell; on his M*A*S*H co-stars
Chapter 4
On his castmates on M*A*S*H; on the relationship between "Hawkeye" and "Hot Lips;" on characters' relationships with "Colonel Potter;" on "Radar's" departure from the show; on Larry Gelbart, Gene Reynolds, Burt Metcalfe and Charles Dubin
On directing some episodes of the series; on the comedy of the series; on the tone on the set of M*A*S*H; on practical jokes behind-the-scenes
Chapter 5
On M*A*S*H co-stars Gary Burghoff and Loretta Swit; on winning an Emmy for M*A*S*H; on specific episodes "The Interview," "End Run" and others
On the popularity of M*A*S*H; on the finale of M*A*S*H; on the legacy of M*A*S*H; on After MASH and The Richard Boone Show; on directing Adam-12 and acting in Kentucky Jones
Chapter 6
On the show Kentucky Jones; on Hec Ramsey and Blacke's Magic; on You Can't Take it With You; on friend Norman Lloyd and Alfred Hitchcock Presents; on Gunsmoke, Jack Benny Specials, The Love Boat, and the miniseries Backstairs at the White House
On guest starring on Murder, She Wrote; on Against Her Will with Walter Matthau; on 3rd Rock From the Sun
On his feature film work - The Oxbow Incident, High Noon, How the West Was Won; Support Your Local Sheriff, The Apple Dumpling Gang; on directors with whom he's worked
Chapter 7
On his favorite directors; on Jimmy Stewart, George Raft, Marlon Brando, Joan Crawford, Elvis Presley, John Wayne, and Gregory Peck
On his proudest achievement; on advice to aspiring actors; on how he'd like to be remembered
Shows
3rd Rock From the Sun
Harry Morgan on 3rd Rock From the Sun
AfterMASH
Actor Harry Morgan on After M*A*S*H
Against Her Will: An Incident In Baltimore
Harry Morgan on Against Her Will with Walter Matthau
Alfred Hitchcock Presents aka The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Harry Morgan on friend Norman Lloyd and Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Backstairs at the White House
Harry Morgan on playing President Truman in Backstairs at the White House
Blacke's Magic
Harry Morgan on the show Blacke's Magic
December Bride
Harry Morgan on his work on the early sitcom December Bride
Dragnet
Harry Morgan on playing "Bill Gannon" on Dragnet
Harry Morgan on Dragnet
Gunsmoke
Harry Morgan on guest appearances on Gunsmoke
Hec Ramsey
Harry Morgan on Richard Boone and the show Hec Ramsey
Jack Benny Specials
Harry Morgan on a Jack Benny Special spoofing Dragnet
Kentucky Jones
Harry Morgan on the show Kentucky Jones
Love Boat, The
Harry Morgan on guest appearances on The Love Boat
M*A*S*H
Harry Morgan on joining M*A*S*H; on his character, Colonel Sherman Potter
Harry Morgan on his co-stars on M*A*S*H; on the characters and the comedy of the series
Actor Harry Morgan briefly on the experience of doing the classic M*A*S*H episode "The Interview"
Actor Harry Morgan on co-stars and specific episodes of M*A*S*H
M*A*S*H: "The Interview"
Actor Harry Morgan briefly on the experience of doing the classic M*A*S*H episode "The Interview"
Murder, She Wrote
Harry Morgan on guest starring on Murder, She Wrote
Pete and Gladys
Harry Morgan on co-starring on Pete and Gladys
Roots
Harry Morgan on Roots
You Can't Take It With You
Harry Morgan on the show You Can't Take it With You
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
Harry Morgan on playing "Bill Gannon" on Dragnet
Harry Morgan on his M*A*S*H character, Colonel Sherman Potter
Emmy Awards
On winning an Emmy for M*A*S*H
Hollywood Blacklist
Harry Morgan briefly on the Blacklist (he was neighbors with Lionel Stander in later years)
Industry Crossroads
Harry Morgan briefly on the Blacklist (he was neighbors with Lionel Stander in later years)
Pop Culture
Harry Morgan on playing "Bill Gannon" on Dragnet
Harry Morgan on his M*A*S*H character, Colonel Sherman Potter
Television Industry
Harry Morgan briefly on the Blacklist (he was neighbors with Lionel Stander in later years)
Genres
Comedy Series
Harry Morgan on co-starring on Pete and Gladys
Harry Morgan on joining M*A*S*H; on his character
Harry Morgan on his co-stars on M*A*S*H; on the characters and the comedy of the series
Actor Harry Morgan on co-stars and specific episodes of M*A*S*H
Drama Series
Harry Morgan on playing "Bill Gannon" on Dragnet
Harry Morgan on Dragnet
TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials
Harry Morgan on Roots
People
Alan Alda
Harry Morgan on Alan Alda
James Arness
Harry Morgan on guest appearances on Gunsmoke
Jack Benny
Harry Morgan on a Jack Benny Special spoofing Dragnet
Richard Boone
Harry Morgan on Richard Boone and the show Hec Ramsey
Marlon Brando
Harry Morgan on Marlon Brando
Harry Morgan on Marlon Brando
Richard Breen
Harry Morgan on Richard Breen, writer of Dragnet
Gary Burghoff
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Gary Burghoff
James Cagney
Harry Morgan on advice to aspiring actors, via Jimmy Cagney
William Christopher
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star William Christopher
Joan Crawford
Harry Morgan on working with Joan Crawford
Walter Dishell
Harry Morgan on the medical adviser on M*A*S*H, Dr. Walter Dishell
Charles S. Dubin
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H director Charles Dubin
Harry Morgan on Roots
Jamie Farr
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Jamie Farr
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Jamie Farr
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Jamie Farr
Mike Farrell
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Mike Farrell
John Ford
Harry Morgan on director John Ford
Harry Morgan on his favorite directors
James Garner
Harry Morgan on the film Support Your Local Sheriff
Larry Gelbart
Harry Morgan on joining M*A*S*H
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H creator Larry Gelbart
Gale Gordon
Harry Morgan on working with Gale Gordon on Pete and Gladys
Angela Lansbury
Harry Morgan on guest starring on Murder, She Wrote
Parke Levy
Harry Morgan on co-starring on Pete and Gladys
Larry Linville
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Larry Linville
John Lithgow
Harry Morgan on 3rd Rock From the Sun
Norman Lloyd
Harry Morgan on friend Norman Lloyd and Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Harry Morgan on director Joe Mankiewicz
Anthony Mann
Harry Morgan on director Anthony Mann
Daniel Mann
Harry Morgan on Daniel Mann
Harry Morgan on his favorite directors
Delbert Mann
Harry Morgan on Against Her Will directed by Delbert Mann
Walter Matthau
Harry Morgan on Against Her Will with Walter Matthau
Burt Metcalfe
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H producer Burt Metcalfe
Gregory Peck
Harry Morgan on friend Gregory Peck
Elvis Presley
Harry Morgan on working with Elvis Presley
George Raft
Harry Morgan on George Raft
Gene Reynolds
Harry Morgan on joining M*A*S*H
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H producer Gene Reynolds
Jimmy Stewart
Harry Morgan on working with Jimmy Stewart
Loretta Swit
Harry Morgan on M*A*S*H co-star Loretta Swit
On M*A*S*H co-star Loretta Swit
John Wayne
Harry Morgan on working with John Wayne in the film How the West Was Won
Harry Morgan on working with John Wayne
Jack Webb
Harry Morgan on working with Jack Webb on Dragnet
Harry Morgan on his Dragnet co-star Jack Webb and the legacy of Dragnet
Cara Williams
Harry Morgan on co-starring on Pete and Gladys