Read Morgan

Read Morgan was born Read Lawrence Morgan on January 30, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Donald and Nina Morgan. He grew up in a modest household and displayed an early talent for athletics, earning a place on the University of Kentucky’s basketball team where he played for the Wildcats. After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued drama at Northwestern University, an experience that sparked his lifelong passion for performance. During his college years he also served in the United States Air Force, an interlude that gave him discipline and a broadened worldview. His first foray into professional acting came in 1956 when he appeared on the syndicated anthology series The United States Steel Hour, marking the start of a career that would span nearly four decades. In 1959 he was slated to co‑star with John Goddard in the television project Johnny Fletcher, though the series ultimately was not picked up. That same year he guest‑starred as Jeff Peters in an episode of Tales of Wells Fargo, showcasing his ability to embody rugged Western characters. Morgan’s breakthrough arrived in 1960 when he was cast as the one‑eyed army officer Sergeant Hapgood Tasker in the second season of NBC’s The Deputy, acting alongside legends such as Henry Fonda and Allen Case. His distinctive eye patch and stoic demeanor made the character a memorable fixture of the series. After The Deputy concluded in 1961, he became a prolific guest star, appearing in iconic shows like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Twilight Zone (“What You Need”), and The A‑Team, proving his versatility across genres. He also built an extensive filmography, taking roles in Back to the Future, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, The New Centurions, and many other titles, often portraying hard‑boiled or authoritative figures. Morgan retired from acting in 1994, his final screen appearance a cameo in the film Maverick. He spent his later years in Los Angeles, where he passed away on April 20, 2022 at the age of 91, leaving behind a legacy of steady, reliable performances that enriched American television and cinema.