Morgan Woodward

Thomas Morgan Woodward (September 16, 1925 – February 22, 2019) was an American actor who is best known for his recurring role as Marvin "Punk" Anderson on the television soap opera Dallas and for his portrayal of Boss Godfrey, the sunglasses-wearing "man with no eyes", in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke.[3] On TV, he was a familiar guest star on cowboy shows. On the long-running Western Gunsmoke, he played 16 different characters in 19 episodes (including a pair of two-part stories), the most such appearances of any actor on the show.[4] He also had a recurring role on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

Morgan Woodward
Woodward as "Shotgun" Gibbs on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, 1959
Born
Thomas Morgan Woodward

(1925-09-16)September 16, 1925
Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
DiedFebruary 22, 2019(2019-02-22) (aged 93)
Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.
Resting placeArlington Cemetery, Arlington, Texas, U.S.[1]
Alma materUniversity of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Arlington
OccupationActor
Years active1956–1998
Spouse(s)Enid Anne Loftis (1950–?)[2]
Children1
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Battles/warsWorld War II, Korean War

Early years

Woodward was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the third of five sons of Dr. Valin Woodward and his wife, Frances McKinley. He grew up in Arlington, Texas, graduating from high school in 1944.[5] After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he enrolled at North Texas Agriculture College,[6] where he was active in the theater. He graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Finance. He went on to attend law school at the University of Texas at Austin. During that time he hosted a local radio talk show and sang with a barbershop quartet and a dance band.[5]

Military service

Woodward was a member of the United States Army Air Force during World War II. He flew his first plane at the age of 16 years.[4] He returned to the military during the Korean War in the military air transport command.[5][7]

Acting career

The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp

One of Woodward's longest television roles was in 42 episodes between 1958 and 1961 on the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp as the deputy/sidekick "Shotgun" Gibbs.[4]

Woodward made a dozen guest appearances on Wagon Train between 1958 and 1965, and many appearances In Gunsmoke and Rawhide and Bonanza.[8][4]

In the 1966 episode "Hugh Glass Meets the Bear" of the syndicated anthology series, Death Valley Days, Woodward was cast as Thomas "Broken Hand" Fitzpatrick. John Alderson played Hugh Glass, who after being mauled by a bear and abandoned by Fitzpatrick crawled two hundred miles to civilization. Victor French portrayed Louis Baptiste, with Tris Coffin as Major Andrew Henry.[9]

Star Trek

Woodward guest-starred in two episodes of the original series of Star Trek as two different characters. In the first-season episode, "Dagger of the Mind" (1966), Woodward plays Dr. Simon van Gelder, a deputy director of a facility for the criminally insane.[7] Later, he was cast in "The Omega Glory" in Star Trek's second season, playing Captain Ron Tracey.[7]

In articles in the magazines Starlog[10] and Entertainment Weekly, Woodward called the role of Dr. Simon Van Gelder the most physically and emotionally exhausting acting job of his career.

Dallas

Woodward was a familiar face on the television drama series Dallas from 1980–1989.[7] His recurring role was Marvin "Punk" Anderson.[4] As the series progressed, Woodward's role became that of a trusted advisor to the Ewing sons.[7]

Recording

In 1963, Woodward recorded "Heartache City" backed with "An Encouraging Word" (CRC Charter 15).[11]

Death

Woodward died on February 22, 2019 at his Hollywood Hills house in California.[4]

Recognition

In 2009, Woodward was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.[12] In 1986, he was inducted into the Order of West Range of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.[13]

In 1988, he received the Golden Lariat Award at the National Western Film Festival for his contributions to the Western genre.[14] He won the Golden Boot Award given by the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Fund.[4]

Selected filmography

Woodward appeared in more than 250 television shows and films throughout his acting career.[4]

Film appearances

TV appearances

Woodward made many other television guest appearances, including:

  • Gunsmoke (1957–1974, 19 episodes) - Abraham Wakefield / Bear Sanderson / Lamoor Underwood / Walt Clayton / Luke Dangerfield / Quentin Sargent / Josh Stryker / Luke Brazo / Grant Lyle / Harl Townsend / Zack Johnson / Beaumont / Earl Miller / Ben Rucker / Sholo / Deeks / Calhoun[4]
  • The Restless Gun (1958-1959, 3 episodes) - J.B. Cauter / Jubal Carney / Ben Cotterman
  • Wagon Train (1958–1965, 12 episodes) - Clyde / Zach Ryker / Jute Pardee / Pocky / Ciel / Second Killer / Barney / Walt Keene / Chief Spotted Horse / Jubal Ash / Jupe / Ben Lafferty[4]
  • The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1958–1961, 80 episodes) - Shotgun Gibbs[4]
  • Bat Masterson (1960) - as Kana in S2E35 “The Big Gamble”
  • Bonanza (1960–1971, 8 episodes) - Sheriff Clyde Morehouse / Jess Waddle / Will McNabb / Luke Catlin / Mike Gillis / McDermott / Deputy Sheriff Rick Conley / Sheriff Biggs[4]
  • Days of Our Lives (1965) - Phillip Colville (1987-1988, 20 episodes)[4]
  • The Lucy Show (1966, as a cowboy with John Wayne) - Pierce[4]
  • Star Trek (1966–1968, 2 episodes) - Captain Tracey / Dr. Simon van Gelder[4]
  • The High Chaparral (1970) - Billings
  • Planet of the Apes (TV Series) (1974) - Martin the blacksmith
  • The Waltons (1974–1978, 2 episodes) - Boone Walton[4]
  • Logan's Run (1977–1978, 3 episodes as "Morgan") - Morgan[4]
  • How the West Was Won (1978-1979, 4 episodes) - The Stranger / Henry Coe
  • Fantasy Island (1979-1982, 4 episodes) - Uncle Jack / Nick Hall / Tribal Elder / Marshall Victor Grennan
  • The Dukes of Hazzard' (1980–1984, 2 episodes) - 1: The season 2 episode "Mason Dixon's Girls", in which he played a drug lord named Dempsy, and 2: The seventh-season episode "Cool Hands Luke & Bo". where he spoofed his character of Boss Godfrey, as Colonel Cassius Claiborne.[4]
  • Dallas (1980–1987, 55 episodes) - Marvin "Punk" Anderson (oilman and best friend of Jock Ewing)[4]
  • Hill Street Blues (1982, 5 episodes) - John Renko[4]
  • The Fall Guy (1982-1985, 2 episodes) - LV Vernon / Reuben
  • The A-Team (1983–1987, 2 episodes, as Bus Carter in the 2nd season 2 part episode "When You Comin' Back, Range Rider?" and as Captain Winnetka in the season 3 episode "Showdown")[15]
  • The X-Files (Aubrey) (1995) - Old Harry Cokely[4]
  • Millennium (1997) - Iron Lung Man[4] (final appearance)

References
  1. Thomas, Richard (July 13, 2019). "Movie and TV Actor Morgan Woodward Buried in HANA Cemetery". Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  3. "Native Arlington actor known for 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'Star Trek' roles dies". star-telegram.
  4. "Morgan Woodward, Mirrored-Sunglasses Boss in 'Cool Hand Luke,' Dies at 93". The Hollywood Reporter. February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  5. Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. pp. 447–448. ISBN 9781476662503. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  6. "Actor Woodward Establishes Film Studies Endowment". University of Texas at Arlington. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  7. "Morgan Woodward, Arlington native who appeared in 'Dallas' and played bad guys in 'Star Trek,' dies at 93". Dallas News. February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  8. "Morgan Woodward villain in films". The Deseret News. August 8, 1973. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
  9. "Hugh Glass Meets the Bear on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. March 24, 1966. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  10. Starlog (USA) May 1988, Vol. 11, Iss. 130, pg. 72-73, by: Mark Phillips, "Morgan Woodard: Keeping Sane"
  11. "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 14, 1963. p. 12. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  12. "Great Western Performers". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  13. "Lifetime Achievement: Order of the West Range". PIKE. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  14. "Native Arlington actor known for 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'Star Trek' roles dies". star-telegram. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
  15. "The Official Morgan Woodward Website". morganwoodward. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
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