# Harry Morgan dead at 96 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390 "2011-12-07T17:53:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/41 "2011-12-08T01:07:42Z")
> [@randwill](#): > > I’m old enough to remember him from “Pete and Gladys”, although I was just a kid. Me too. And the same character in December Bride before that. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/42 "2011-12-08T01:07:46Z")
When he showed up in a scene you knew it was going to be handled well. I remember his domestic assault case and had wondered if maybe he had the early stages of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. 96 is a good run and a hell of a career. Even when he was young he looked old. Like Abe Vigoda. Thanks for the memories. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/43 "2011-12-08T01:23:30Z")
> [@limegreen](#): > > Colonel Potter was a great character – my favorite one on M_A_S\*H. He will be missed. I distinctly remember his appearance as the official commander and thinking he couldn’t replace the original. He was firmly ensconced in just a couple of episodes. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/44 "2011-12-08T01:23:55Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > One of my favorite Harry Morgan roles was in a movie that is hard to find nowadays, _The Flim-Flam Man,_ with George C. Scott. Scott plays a seasoned con man who is almost outwitted by Morgan’s sheriff until newcomer Michael Sarazin (in his movie debut) turns the tables. Well acted all around, and it’s disappointing to find it unavailable in any form online. Watch it if you can find it. I found it a couple of years ago on DVD-R copied from VHS. Substandard picture quality, but better than nothing. Cheaply priced, too.\* My wife have always loved that film. Saw it when it first came out. Harry Morgan steals every scene that he’s in. _“He got himself one of them amphibibious vehicles…”_ (\* It’s still there. I just now googled _flim flam man dvd_ and instantly saw at least three sources for the DVD-R.) ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/45 "2011-12-08T01:28:59Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > (\* It’s still there. I just now googled _flim flam man dvd_ and instantly saw at least three sources for the DVD-R.) Glad to hear that. It doesn’t show on Netflix. I have a copy made from VHS years ago and it’s one of my favorites. It shows some textbook cons and the pigeon drop with Slim Pickens was outstanding. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/46 "2011-12-08T01:30:55Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I remember his domestic assault case and had wondered if maybe he had the early stages of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Plus, which of us hasn’t known an elderly white woman we wanted to slap around at some point? He just reached the “It’s now or never” point. The last really great role I remember him having was on an episode of the '90s sitcom _Grace Under Fire_. He played a retiree dating Grace’s widowed mother-in-law and he was a total pothead, ostensibly for glaucoma but mainly because he found he liked getting stoned. Harry Morgan playing baked was brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/47 "2011-12-08T02:51:02Z")
“I’d like to see a shine on that cross, Father.” “NO TALKING IN RANKS!” RIP, Col Potter ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/48 "2011-12-08T02:58:31Z")
Best “Dragnet” episode ever: A.I.D - The Weekend (or as it’s known in my house, Joe & Bill Have A SleepOver) [http://www.hulu.com/watch/55215/dragnet-aid-the-weekend](http://www.hulu.com/watch/55215/dragnet-aid-the-weekend) UT ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/49 "2011-12-08T03:00:56Z")
[QUOTE=VOW] “NO TALKING IN RANKS!” [/QUOTE] I’ve actually used that in classes a couple of times. (For those not familiar with the episode, Gen. Steele asks a soldier a question, then yells this when the soldier starts to answer.) ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/50 "2011-12-08T03:27:53Z")
> [@Shirley\_Ujest](#): > > I remember his domestic assault case and had wondered if maybe he had the early stages of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. I remember that being stated as fact at the time. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/51 "2011-12-08T03:32:26Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’ve actually used that in classes a couple of times. (For those not familiar with the episode, Gen. Steele asks a soldier a question, then yells this when the soldier starts to answer.) I vaguely remember him inspecting the troops, and giving someone (Frank Burns?) a demerit and told his aid to write down the letter “N”. Henry says “N” sir? Nostril! I’ll know what it means! ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/52 "2011-12-08T04:12:37Z")
RIP, Colonel. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/53 "2011-12-08T04:33:18Z")
Col. Potter was something of an iconic figure. He was exactly the kind of guy you wanted to be in charge, someone who could maintain discipline and organization, but was concerned about getting the job done, not impressing the brass. For that reason, Potter knew when the rules didn’t apply. Goodbye, Harry. When I get to Heaven, I hope to see you there hanging around with Joe Friday and Hawkeye. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/54 "2011-12-08T04:42:43Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > And last weekend I was watching Dragonwyk with Vincent Price and Gene Tierny. There was Henry Morgan. “Hey, there’s Henry Morgan! You know he’s still alive?” But not for long. Henry Morgan is a different person and died in 1994. [Henry Morgan (humorist) - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Morgan_%28comedian%29) When I was young, I used to confuse the names, too. Likewise Audrey and Katherine Hepburn. And Rose Marie and Rosemary Clooney. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/55 "2011-12-08T04:50:36Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Col. Potter was something of an iconic figure. He was exactly the kind of guy you wanted to be in charge, someone who could maintain discipline and organization, but was concerned about getting the job done, not impressing the brass. For that reason, Potter knew when the rules didn’t apply. Such a good leader I’m surprised he never inspired one of those “Leadership Secrets of \_\_\_\_\_” books in the '90s. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/56 "2011-12-08T04:52:17Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I remember that being stated as fact at the time. It was stated by his wife, to which Morgan replied “Oh looky looky… I just found another ass whipping, who wants it?” ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/57 "2011-12-08T05:11:42Z")
There was a tear shed in the oliversarmy household today. Not only because of M_A_S\*H or Dragnet. He had a great character actor career. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/58 "2011-12-08T05:16:49Z")
It is only fitting that Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter, M.D., died on the 70th anniversary of the day that will live in infamy. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/59 "2011-12-08T05:24:17Z")
☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2011, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390/60 "2011-12-08T05:52:41Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Then you will go through life quite confused. Harry Morgan = Sherman Potter. Duck!! Something just went right over your head. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/harry-morgan-dead-at-96/605390.md?page=4)