Morgan Woodward Passes
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Morgan Woodward, best known for his role as the enigmatic Boss Godfrey in Cool Hand Luke, is dead at the age of ninety-three.
The actor was also known to Trek fans for his roles of Dr. Simon Van Gelder in Dagger of the Mind, and Captain Ron Tracey in The Omega Glory.
Born in Forth Worth, Texas in 1925, Woodward was influenced by the cowboy cinema stars of the day. Fess Parker (Davy Crocket), a fellow schoolmate of Woodward’s, recommended Woodward to Walt Disney, who signed him for a three-picture contract.
Woodward also had a long-term role in Dallas as Marvin “Punk” Anderson, and regularly appeared on Gunsmoke. The actor had a long resume dating back to 1956, including The Great Locomotive Chase, Cheyenne, Steve Canyon, The Restless Gun, Bat Masterson, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, the Asphalt Jungle, Perry Mason, Wagon Trail, Daniel Boone, Death Valley Days, The Virginians, The High Chaparral, Bonanza, Kung Fu, Logan’s Run, Project U.F.O., The Waltons, How the West Was Won, Fantasy Island, Hill Street Blues, The Dukes of Hazzard and more.
“For his contribution to the Western genre, he received the Golden Lariat Award at the National Western Film Festival, and the prestigious Golden Boot Award from the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Fund.”
The actor died Friday at his home in Hollywood Hills, California.
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