The Busy World of Morgan Woodward

No posts.

Home

Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Morgan Woodward. 1925-2019.

Cool Hand Luke.

Total Pageviews

Hello! I'm Mr. Ed

Blog Created: 7-30-2026

Credits:

Followers

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. On TV, he was a familiar guest star on cowboy shows. On the long-running Western Gunsmoke, he played 16 different characters in 19 episodes (including a pair of two-part stories), most appearances of any actor on the show. He also had a recurring role on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

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. After serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, he enrolled at North Texas Agriculture College, where he was active in the theater. He graduated in 1948 with a Bachelor's of Business Administration in Finance. He attended 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.

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. He returned to the military during the Korean War with the now-Military Air Transport Service.

Acting career

Westerns ~

One of Woodward's longest television roles was in 42 episodes from 1958 to 1961 on the ABC television series The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp as the deputy/sidekick "Shotgun" Gibbs. Woodward made a dozen guest appearances on Wagon Train between 1958 and 1965, and many appearances in Gunsmoke, Rawhide, and Bonanza.

Woodward as ''Shotgun'' Gibbs on The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, 1959.

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 200 miles to civilization. Victor French portrayed Louis Baptiste, with Tris Coffin as Major Andrew Henry.

Woodward also played on The Waltons as Boone Walton, the nephew of Walton's grandfather, Zeb Walton, and the son of Zeb's eldest brother, Henry.

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. Later, he was cast in "The Omega Glory" in Star Trek's second season, playing Captain Ron Tracey. Woodward called the role of Dr. Simon Van Gelder the most physically and emotionally exhausting acting job of his career.

Woodward in Star Trek.

Dallas ~

Woodward was a familiar face on the television drama series Dallas from 1980 to 1987. His recurring role was Marvin "Punk" Anderson. As the series progressed, Woodward's role became that of a trusted advisor to the Ewing sons.

Woodward with Larry Hagman in a scene from Dallas.

Recording ~

In 1963, Woodward recorded "Heartache City" backed with "An Encouraging Word" (CRC Charter 15).

Woodward singing.

Death ~

Woodward died at age 93 on February 22, 2019, at his Hollywood Hills house in California.

Recognition ~

In 2009, Woodward was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. In 1986, he was inducted into the Order of West Range of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

In 1988, he received the Golden Lariat Award at the National Western Film Festival for his contributions to the Western genre. He won the Golden Boot Award given by the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Fund.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Morgan Woodward and Enid Anne Loftis attend an event at the Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, California, on April 13, 1995.

Morgan Woodward and Ann Miller at the ''20th Annual Golden Boot Awards'' at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Morgan Woodward attends the Golden Boot Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on August 12, 2006 in Beverly Hills.

Frances Louise McKinley Woodward. Morgan's mother.

Col. Valin Ridge Woodward. Morgan's brother.

Coulter Lee Woodward. Another brother.

Coulter Lee Woodward.

Dr Francis Lewis Woodward. Another brother.

Morgan with one of his planes.

Morgan with his ''Tiger Moth'' airplane.

1975_ Morgan Woodward appearing in the ABC tv movie 'The Hatfields and the McCoys'.

Along the Oregon Trail (1956).

Morgan Woodward aiming rifle with Paul Newman and George Kennedy in a scene from 'Cool Hand Luke' 1967.

Gunsmoke (1968).

John Wayne and Morgan Woodward.

Morgan Woodward in Bonanza (1959).

Morgan Woodward lies dead as Warren Stevens fight for money Morgan carried in a scene from the film 'Gunpoint', 1966.

Morgan Woodward scowls in anger when he notices Audie Murphy following him in a scene from the film 'Gunpoint', 1966.

Morgan Woodward, Glenn Corbett.

Sword of Ali Baba (1965).

The Gun Hawk (1963).

HIGH CHAPARRAL -- "The Buffalo Soldiers" Episode 10 -- Pictured: (l-r) Mark Slade as Billy Blue Cannon, Morgan Woodward as McCoy Hilliard, Henry Darrow as Manolito Montoya and William Jordan as Pearsall -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images).

HIGH CHAPARRAL -- "The Buffalo Soldiers" Episode 10 -- Pictured: (l-r) Henry Darrow as Manolito Montoya, Mark Slade as Billy Blue Cannon, Unknown, Unknown, Morgan Woodward as McCoy Hilliard, and William Jordan as Pearsall -- (Photo by: NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images).

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "Kelly Was Irish" - Airdate: May 19, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: MORGAN WOODWARD;HUGH O'BRIAN.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "Kelly Was Irish" - Shoot Date: May 19, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: HUGH O'BRIAN;RALPH SANFORD;MORGAN WOODWARD.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "Caught by a Whisker" - Airdate: October 7, 1958. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: MORGAN WOODWARD;HUGH O'BRIAN.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "Caught by a Whisker" - Airdate: October 7, 1958. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: MORGAN WOODWARD;HUGH O'BRIAN.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "Cattle Thief" - Airdate: October 25, 1958. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) L-R: HUGH O'BRIAN;MORGAN WOODWARD.

THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF WYATT EARP - "How to Be a Sheriff" - Airdate: March 24, 1959. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) MORGAN WOODWARD.