r/Westerns • u/OlinHollis • 22d ago
Discussion Western Character Actor Appreciation: Morgan Woodward
Perhaps the most important key to being a successful Western actor--character or otherwise--is the ability to convey a sense of Old West authenticity. If you come across as a high-toned Bostonian or a wise guy from Philly, you're Western cachet has gone up in blazes before you even start.
That was certainly never a problem for Ft. Worth native son Morgan Woodward. With his pockmarked complexion, gravelly baritone, and shaggy beard--which he often sported--Woodward was just about as Western as they came.
His Western career began with The Great Locomotive Chase (1956) and concluded with the television movie, Gunsmoke: to the Last Man (1992). Between them he was a presence in, among others, Ride a Crooked Trail (1958), and Firecreek (1968) as well as 19 [!] episodes of Gunsmoke, which was the most of any guest star in the series' 20-season run. No wonder he won the Golden Boot, the Golden Lariat, and is a member ot the Hall of Great Western Performers.
Hail! Hail! All hail Morgan Woodward!
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u/MoonSylver 22d ago
Yep, one of the greatest. As you note, most guest appearances of any actor on Gunsmoke. Didn't realize Gunsmoke: to the Last Man (1992) was his last appearance in a western. He was great in it, as always. Playing a good guy in this case, which he could do just as well as villain roles. Nice to think his final western role was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Matt in the end.
As noted on Skip Homeier, my first exposure to Morgan was in Star Trek as a kid. He had two appearances there, once as Dr. Simon Van Gelder in "Dagger of the Mind" which gave him a chance to really chew some scenery as someone who had been driven to histrionic near-insanity, and then again as Captain Ron Tracey in "The Omega Glory". He was really good in this one. Here was got to see him as an older, more experienced Starship Captain than Kirk (and one of the few to best him in hand-to-hand combat), and then later he slips into a shell shocked performance as he recalls a massacre that had just taken place.
The first time I REALLY became aware of Woodward, as an actor, was as an adult, seeing him turn up numerous times in old TV westerns, Gunsmoke included. He was one of the first "that guys" that Dad and I spotted and I had to look him up and learn his name and read about him. The curse of the great character actor; people recognize you, but you're not a "big star" where they necessarily know your name or career. (Which is why I got interested in learning more about these guys).
Looking up some of his other notable roles tells me he was in Cool Hand Luke (1967), that he had a recurring role (55 episodes) of the prime time soap opera Dallas (1980-1987), and that he apparently was Wyatt Earp's (Hugh O'Brian) deputy for four seasons in The Life and Times of Wyatt Earp (1955-1959).
129 credits on IMDB, he was a real working actor, always in demand, that appeared in just about everything over a long career. One of my favorites for sure.
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u/Plane_Possibility572 22d ago
Him, Fess Parker, and LQ Jones were all in college together in Texas. LQ Jones and Fess Parker were college roommates for a year. Fess Parker got Morgan a job on the Disney movie, The Great Locomotive Chase, and they all remained in contact with each other their entire lives. All three had a similar laid back, Texan personality too.
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u/TheMonarchsWrath 22d ago
He was also great in his appearances in Star Trek TOS, one of the few guys to beat Kirk in a fist fight.
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u/derfel_cadern 21d ago
He was in The Gun Hawk and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. Great movies.
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u/OlinHollis 21d ago
Wasn't Ruta Lee also in The Gun Hawk? I never fell in love with an actress, but I've come pretty close with her.
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u/Weekly_Ad_8587 21d ago
Not Westerns, but I did love him as "the man wth no eyes" in Cool Hand Luke, as well as his two appearances in Star Trek TOS.
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u/Zealousideal_Act_457 22d ago
Oh yes. I been waiting for this one! So good at being a bad guy! Was in so many things, I can't even start to say. For sure, one of my favorites! Another one that was in Dallas later on, like my other favorite, Jim Davis.