Morgan Woodward RIP

Reported in various online sources over the past few hours.

Longtime friends of actor, pilot, and all around cool cowboy Morgan Woodward are reporting his death today at age 93.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he served in the US Army Air Corps during World War II, attended college where he studied music and drama and later, business and law. His studies were interrupted by the Korean War, as he was recalled to active duty.
Following the Korean War, Woodward starred in Walt Disney's first first full-length live-action motion picture, The Great Locomotive Chase. Disney signed him for two more films, and also started appearing on TV westerns in the late 1950s, including his first regular series role as Shotgun Gibbs on 81 episodes of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. From then on he was a regular face on television; Wagon Train, Daniel Boone, Cimarron Strip, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, appearing on these series multiple times...even appearing twice on Star Trek. First as the mentally ill Dr. Simon van Gelder on the episode Dagger of the Mind; then the morally compromised Captain Tracey on The Omega Glory. He appeared as Boss Godfrey, the man in the mirrored glasses in 1967's Cool Hand Luke.
Listeners of Forgotten TV will recall he was the Elder Morgan who recruited Sandman Francis 7 to chase Logan and Jessica on Logan's Run. The rest of his filmography is filled with numerous appearances on TV and film, some 250 in all, many of which still haven't been listed on his IMDB page. After retiring, he spent time at his Paso Robles ranch as well as restoring, rebuilding and flying antique airplanes. Morgan Woodward had reportedly been battling cancer for the last several years and finally succumbed this morning at age 93.

 

Aw, goddamnit. My favorite OS guest star of all. Even though 93 is pretty good, it's sad to think that he's not around anymore.

 

The first ever on-screen victim of the Vulcan mind meld. I loved Woodward in both his Trek roles...wonderful character actor. Hollywood lost another good one.

RIP, Mr. Woodward.

 

Thanks for the entertainment Mr. Woodward. Rest in peace.

 

Sorry to see him go. You know which episodes I will be watching next.

Always enjoy his work. I'm a Dallas fan and he had a long recurring role as Jock Ewing's friend Punk Anderson. I also have a copy of an unsold western pilot from 1971 (Yuma) starring Clint Walker that he was in. Great male cast with Walker, Woodward, Edgar Buchanan, Barry Sullivan, Peter Mark Richman, Bruce Glover and Bing Russell. The great cast raises the film.

 

Great actor. Loved both of his appearances on Star Trek. He was also on an X-Files episode that I liked. He lived a very long life. Rest in Peace.

 

Yeah, always liked old Morgan! He was probably better known as Captain Ronald Tracey than Simon Van Gelder in Star Trek for most fans! Now he's gone back to the City of Domes in the sky with Wright King who played fellow elder Jonathan in Logan's Run who also recently died as well! RIP to the man with no eyes!
JB

 

Very sad. I thought he was an outstanding actor and his two Star Trek roles really pointed out his diversity. Going from raving, pitiful madman to nails-tough, authoritative Starfleet captain (albeit also unhinged, just in a different way) was impressive. RIP, Mr. Woodward.

 

RIP Mr. Woodward.

 

I've been dreading this news for a while. Without a doubt one of my all-time favorite character actors. He made an amazing 17 appearances on one of my favorite series, Gunsmoke.

A few of my favorites:

Gunsmoke: Matt Dillon Must Die
Gunsmoke: Lyle's Kid
Gunsmoke: Lobo

X-Files: Aubrey

Kung Fu: The Hanged Man

Millennium: Force Majeure

RIP, boss.

 

Sad news for all of us. I thought Morgan Woodard's character acting in his two Star Trek appearances were impactful. Thank you, Mr. Woodard.

 

RIP Morgan, Loved you in just about every role I ever saw you play!

 

Speaking of Gunsmoke, Shotgun Gibbs was sort of a proto-Festus.

Something else he was great in (of so many) was his recurring role as Andy Renko's difficult father in Hill Street Blues.

 

Who was no punk. He was a badass, IIRC.

And so we lose another of the great voices of TV's golden age. He had a good, long run.

 

Great character actor. What a face!
RIP

 

93 is a VERY good run - especially with such a long resume!

 

Dang, I just checked online a few days ago to see if he was still with us!

RIP to a unique and very talented actor. We will miss you a heckuva lot, Morg....

 

I wonder if he ever knew he played the most deranged Starfleet officer in the history of all Trek?

Tracey was a terrific whackjob. Loved Woodward's performance...

 

In "The Omega Glory," Woodward not only beat Kirk in a fight, which is not unheard of, but he looked cool doing it. Some good karate there.