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 another television series, Gunsmoke, he can be seen in 19 episodes, the most guest appearances of any actor on that long-running Western.[4]
Morgan Woodward | |
---|---|
Woodward as "Shotgun" Gibbs on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, 1959 | |
Born | Thomas Morgan Woodward September 16, 1925 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
Died | February 22, 2019 93) Hollywood Hills, California, U.S. | (aged
Resting place | Arlington Cemetery, Arlington, Texas, U.S.[1] |
Alma mater | University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Arlington |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1956–1998 |
Spouse(s) | Enid Anne Loftis (1950-???)[2] |
Children | 1 |
Military career | |
Allegiance | |
Service/ | |
Battles/wars | World 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 forty-two 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.
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
- The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) - Alex[4]
- Westward Ho, the Wagons! (1956) - Obie Foster
- Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (1957) - Tilly Moore (uncredited)
- Gunsight Ridge (1957) - Tex - Lazy Heart Ranch Hand
- Ride a Crooked Trail (1958) - Durgan (uncredited)
- The Gun Hawk (1963) - Deputy 'Mitch' Mitchell[4]
- The Devil's Bedroom (1964)
- The Sword of Ali Baba (1965) - Captain of Guard
- Gunpoint (1966) - Drago Leon[4]
- Cool Hand Luke (1967) - Boss Godfrey[4]
- Firecreek (1968) - Willard[4]
- Death of a Gunfighter (1969) - Ivan Stanek[4]
- The Wild Country (1970) - Ab Cross
- Yuma (1971, TV Movie) - Arch King
- One Little Indian (1973) - Sgt. Raines
- Running Wild (1973) - Crug Crider
- The Midnight Man (1974) - Phillip Clayborne
- Ride in a Pink Car (1974) - Jeff Richman
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) - The Boss[4]
- A Small Town in Texas (1976) - C.J. Crane[4]
- Supervan (1977) - T.B. Trenton
- Moonshine County Express (1977) - Sweetwater
- Walking Tall: Final Chapter (1977) - The Boss[4]
- Speedtrap (1977) - Capt. Hogan
- Which Way Is Up? (1977) - Mr. Mann[4]
- Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) - Cayman
- Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985) - J.P. Sands[4]
- Dark Before Dawn (1988) - J.B. Watson
- Gunsmoke: To the Last Man (1992, TV Movie) - Sheriff Abel Rose[4]
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]
- 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
- 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
- Thomas, Richard (July 13, 2019). "Movie and TV Actor Morgan Woodward Buried in HANA Cemetery". Retrieved August 21, 2019.
- "Native Arlington actor known for 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'Star Trek' roles dies". star-telegram.
- "Morgan Woodward, Mirrored-Sunglasses Boss in 'Cool Hand Luke,' Dies at 93". The Hollywood Reporter. February 23, 2019. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. pp. 447–448. ISBN 9781476662503. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "Actor Woodward Establishes Film Studies Endowment". University of Texas at Arlington. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "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.
- "Morgan Woodward villain in films". The Deseret News. August 8, 1973. Retrieved May 9, 2014.
- "Hugh Glass Meets the Bear on Death Valley Days". Internet Movie Database. March 24, 1966. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- Starlog (USA) May 1988, Vol. 11, Iss. 130, pg. 72-73, by: Mark Phillips, "Morgan Woodard: Keeping Sane"
- "Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. December 14, 1963. p. 12. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "Great Western Performers". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "Lifetime Achievement: Order of the West Range". PIKE. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "Native Arlington actor known for 'Cool Hand Luke' and 'Star Trek' roles dies". star-telegram. Retrieved February 24, 2019.
- "The Official Morgan Woodward Website". morganwoodward. Retrieved February 25, 2019.