Bio
Morgan Woodward is an American actor best known for his role as Jock's good friend, Marvin "Punk" Anderson, in the prime time soap opera Dallas, from 1980–1987.
Woodward was born in Fort Worth, Texas and educated in the public schools of Arlington, Texas. He graduated from high school in 1944 and after graduating enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps Pilot Training Program. This was natural, as he had been flying since the age of 16.
Following World War II, Woodward entered Arlington State College, where he majored in music and drama. During this period, Woodward began his professional career with the renowned Margo Jones Repertory Theatre in Dallas.
His ultimate goal, however, was the Metropolitan Opera. Later, the slow emergence of grand opera in America convinced him that this was not a promising career to pursue.
In 1948, Woodward transferred to the University of Texas and changed his major to Business Administration specialising in Corporate Finance, with a minor in music and drama. In addition to a full course of study, he had his own weekly radio show, a dance band, as well as a barber shop quartet.
Some of his classmates during that time were Fess Parker, Jayne Mansfield, Rip Torn, Kathy (Mrs.Bing) Crosby, L.Q. Jones, Pat Hingle, Barbara Berry, in addition to Tommy Jones and Harvey Schmidt, co-authors of The Fantastics and 110 In The Shade, plus other outstanding Broadway musicals.
After graduating in 1951 with a BBA Degree, Woodward enter the University of Texas Law School. However, his studies were interrupted when he was recalled to active duty with the Air Force and sent to Korea with the Military Air Transport Command.
Following the Korean War, Woodward came to the attention of the late Walt Disney, who summoned him from Texas late in 1955 to do The Great Locomotive Chase, Disney's first full-length live-action motion picture, and Woodward's first film.
Disney was impressed and signed him for two more pictures in 1956. Shortly thereafter in 1957, Woodward signed a four year contract to star with Hugh O'Brian on the top-rated television series Wyatt Earp.
Woodward has done over 250 TV and motion picture films. He holds the record for having done more guest starring roles on the series Gunsmoke (19) and Wagon Train (11) than any other actor.
He starred on the MGM TV series Logan's Run (1977-1978) and also on the top-rated daytime series Days of Our Lives (1987-1988). Woodward was a regular guest star on the series Dallas (1980-1988), the top-rated television series in the world for several years.
He was mentioned by many of the nation's top film critics as an outstanding contender for the 1967 Motion Picture Academy Award in a supporting role, for his portrayal of "the man with no eyes" in Cool Hand Luke, starring Paul Newman.
Early in 1969, the three major networks submitted what they considered to be their finest Western film for the Western Heritage Foundation's Cowboy Hall of Fame Award. Woodward guest-starred in two of the three films submitted. One of these, The Buffalo Soldiers (an episode of NBC's High Chaparral) won the coveted award.
In 1988, Woodward was presented with the Golden Lariat Award at the National Western Film Festival. In August of the same year he received the prestigious Golden Boot Award from the Hollywood Motion Picture and Television Fund. Other 1988 recipients were Roy Rogers, Virginia Mayo, Willie Nelson, Anne Rutherford and Burt Reynolds.
In March 1990, Woodward's star was placed on the Walk of Western Stars at the William S. Hart Museum and Park in Santa Clarita, California.
In 1994, the Texas Arts Council presented Morgan with it's Lifetime Achievment in the Arts Award in his hometown of Arlington, Texas. The city also named a prominent street Morgan Woodward Way.
In August of 1995, Woodward received the Lifetime Achievment Award for western film acting from the Wild West FIlm Festival in Sonora, California. In 1997 Morgan celebrated 50 years in show business and was given the International Star Award in Los Angeles.
A featured article in Newsweek Magazine on screen "heavies" entitled The Dirty Half Dozen named Woodward as on of the six most wanted bad guys in television and motion pictures.
Woodward is now retired, and divides his time between his ranch in Paso Robles and his home in Hollywood.
Woodward's chief hobby is restoring, rebuilding and flying antique airplanes. In aviation circles, he is recognised as an authority on early American aircraft and has received numerous awards for his restoration projects.
Woodward is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Screen Actors' Guild, and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and a life member of the Actors' Fund.
He is also a member of The Sons of the American Revolution, The Ancient and Secret Order of Quiet Birdmen, The OX-5 Club of America and The Antique Aircraft Association of America.
Woodward is also a member of the Greek fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha. In 1981, at their annual convention in Washington, D.C. he was awarded the fraternitys' highest honour, the Distinguished Achievment Award, which was presented to him by his fraternity brother, Senator Strom Thurmond.
Woodward has also been honoured as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Texas and is listed in Who's Who In America and Who's Who in the World.