Harry Morgan had an estimated net worth of $9.7 million at the time of his death in 2011. That figure is not a probate valuation or a confirmed statement from his family. It is our editorial estimate, calculated from three widely published figures of $5 million, $10 million and $14 million. Their average is about $9.67 million, rounded to $9.7 million.
Morgan earned his fortune during a screen career that lasted more than six decades. He appeared in over 100 films, became a familiar face on Dragnet, and reached his largest audience as Colonel Sherman T. Potter on M*A*S*H. Acting and television directing were the most credible sources of his wealth.
Harry Morgan net worth at a glance
- Estimated net worth at death: $9.7 million
- Known for: M*A*S*H, Dragnet, December Bride and AfterMASH
- Profession: Actor and television director
- Born: April 10, 1915, in Detroit, Michigan
- Died: December 7, 2011, aged 96
- Career: 1930s to the late 1990s
How we calculated the $9.7 million estimate
Online publications do not agree on one number. The figures we found for Harry Morgan were $5 million, $10 million and $14 million. We added those values and divided the total by three:
($5 million + $10 million + $14 million) ÷ 3 = approximately $9.7 million.
This approach gives readers a transparent midpoint instead of selecting the highest claim. It still has limitations. Morgan’s salary contracts, assets, debts, taxes and estate records are not fully available in public sources, so the result should be treated as an estimate rather than a verified accounting of his estate.
How Harry Morgan made his money
A long film career
Morgan began working professionally on stage before moving to Hollywood in the early 1940s. His film credits included The Ox-Bow Incident, All My Sons, High Noon, The Glenn Miller Story, Inherit the Wind, How the West Was Won and The Apple Dumpling Gang. Consistent supporting work across the studio era gave him a much longer earning window than actors dependent on one major role.
Dragnet and Bill Gannon
From 1967 to 1970, Morgan played Officer Bill Gannon opposite Jack Webb’s Joe Friday in Dragnet. The role made him a nationally recognised television actor before M*A*S*H. He later reprised Gannon in the 1987 Dragnet film.
M*A*S*H and Colonel Potter
Morgan joined M*A*S*H in 1975 as Colonel Sherman T. Potter and remained through the series finale in 1983. The Television Academy’s career tribute confirms his 1975 arrival and eight-season run. Potter became his defining role: firm, practical and warm enough to serve as a father figure to the 4077th. Eight seasons on a major network series likely represented the strongest sustained earning period of his career.
He also directed television. The Television Academy’s official awards record lists 11 Emmy nominations for Morgan, including acting and directing recognition, and one win. He won the 1980 Primetime Emmy for supporting actor for M*A*S*H. After the main series ended, he played Potter again in the spin-off AfterMASH.
Was Harry Morgan’s M*A*S*H salary disclosed?
No dependable public record establishes exactly what Morgan earned per episode. Modern articles sometimes attach precise salaries or residual figures to him without showing a contract, payroll record or attributable interview. We have therefore not used an invented per-episode number in our estimate.
His eight-season run, directing credits, earlier regular television roles and extensive filmography support the conclusion that entertainment was the foundation of his wealth. They do not, by themselves, prove a particular salary.
Career before and after M*A*S*H
Before Colonel Potter, Morgan had already built a substantial television résumé. He played Pete Porter on December Bride and its spin-off Pete and Gladys, and appeared in series including Hec Ramsey and The Richard Boone Show. He also made an earlier guest appearance on M*A*S*H as Major General Bartford Hamilton Steele before joining the permanent cast as Potter.
After AfterMASH, Morgan continued working in television films and guest roles. His later appearances included Blacke’s Magic, Murder, She Wrote, 3rd Rock from the Sun and The Simpsons. This steady work helps explain why estimates of his estate are measured in millions even though no verified public wealth statement exists.
Who was Harry Morgan?
Harry Morgan was born Harry Bratsberg and initially worked under the name Henry Morgan. He adopted “Harry Morgan” professionally to avoid confusion with the radio and television personality Henry Morgan. That name history explains why GSC records occasional searches for “Henry Morgan actor net worth.”
He was married to Eileen Detchon from 1940 until her death in 1985. They had four sons. In 1986, he married Barbara Bushman Quine, who survived him. Morgan died at his Los Angeles home in 2011.
Harry Morgan is not the Dexter character
This estimate concerns the American actor who played Colonel Potter and Bill Gannon. It does not concern Harry Morgan, the fictional father of Dexter Morgan in the series Dexter; that character was played by James Remar. It also does not refer to the historical privateer Henry Morgan.
Harry Morgan’s legacy
Morgan’s professional legacy is stronger than any unverified wealth claim. His career connected classic Hollywood films, early network sitcoms, police drama and one of American television’s most enduring comedies. The Television Academy credits him with 11 nominations and one Emmy. His own recollections of both major series are preserved in the Television Academy Foundation’s Harry Morgan interview, while his roles in Dragnet and M*A*S*H continue to introduce him to new viewers.
Readers interested in performers from adjacent generations can also read our profile of Tippi Hedren’s net worth and film career, along with our estimates for Brad Dourif’s net worth and Anne Archer’s net worth.
Frequently asked questions
What was Harry Morgan’s net worth when he died?
Our estimate is approximately $9.7 million at the time of his death, based on the average of three published figures. It is not a confirmed estate value.
How did Harry Morgan earn his money?
His principal income came from acting in film and television, especially his regular roles in Dragnet and M*A*S*H. He also directed television episodes and continued acting for decades.
How old was Harry Morgan when he died?
He was 96. Morgan was born on April 10, 1915, and died on December 7, 2011.
How old was Harry Morgan during Dragnet?
He was about 51 when the 1967 series began and about 55 when its original run ended in 1970.
Did Harry Morgan win an Emmy for M*A*S*H?
Yes. He won the 1980 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance as Colonel Sherman T. Potter.
Final estimate
Harry Morgan’s estimated net worth at death was $9.7 million. The number is a reasoned average of competing online estimates, not a verified probate total. His six-decade acting career, eight seasons on M*A*S*H, Dragnet role and directing work provide the clearest explanation for the wealth attributed to him.
For a useful comparison with another character actor whose work spans film and prestige television, see our profile of Brad Dourif’s net worth.