Millions of people watched “MAS*H” for over a decade and never once knew they were looking at a real photograph of a real woman every single episode. That photo sitting on Colonel Potter’s desk wasn’t a prop. It was Eileen Detchon, the actual wife of the actor playing him, quietly present in nearly every scene without ever saying a word.
Quick Facts Table: Eileen Detchon at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Eileen Ann Detchon |
| Born | June 26, 1913 |
| Birthplace | Portland, Oregon |
| Parents | Daniel Howard Detchon and Myrtle Elizabeth Clark |
| Died | February 4, 1985 |
| Place of Death | Los Angeles, California |
| Age at Death | 71 |
| Husband | Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg, April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) |
| Married | September 1, 1940 |
| Marriage Length | Approximately 44 years, until her death in 1985 |
| Children | Four sons: Christopher, Charles (“Charley”), Paul, and Daniel (died 1989) |
| Known For | Real-life wife of actor Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Sherman T. Potter on “MAS*H” |
| MAS*H Connection | Her actual portrait photo appeared on Colonel Potter’s desk throughout the show |
| Acting Career | Unverified; no reliable source confirms any acting credits for her |
| Harry Morgan’s Second Wife | Barbara Bushman Quine, married December 17, 1986, after Eileen’s death |
Born in Oregon in 1913
Eileen Ann Detchon was born on June 26, 1913, in Portland, Oregon. Her father, Daniel Howard Detchon, and her mother, Myrtle Elizabeth Clark, raised her during an era when opportunities for young women looked very different than they do now.
Genealogy records show she later lived in Seattle in 1935, before eventually settling in Manhattan, New York City, by 1940, the same year her life would take its most significant turn.
Marrying Harry Bratsberg
On September 1, 1940, Eileen married a young actor named Harry Bratsberg. That name might not ring a bell today, but Harry would go on to build his entire career under a different name: Harry Morgan.
At the time of their marriage, Harry was still building his acting career, years away from the fame that would eventually follow. Eileen married him before any of that success arrived, standing beside him through the early, uncertain years of a Hollywood career that was anything but guaranteed.
A Marriage That Spanned Decades
Eileen and Harry stayed married for approximately 44 years, from their 1940 wedding until her death in 1985. During that stretch, Harry Morgan built one of the more impressive, long-running careers in American television and film history.
Throughout that entire time, Eileen remained almost entirely out of the public eye, a private presence behind one of the era’s most recognizable character actors.
Raising Four Sons Together
Eileen and Harry had four sons together: Christopher, Charles, often called “Charley,” Paul, and Daniel. Raising four boys alongside a husband whose acting career demanded constant travel and long shooting schedules would have required real strength and steady management on her part.
Sadly, their son Daniel passed away in 1989, four years after Eileen’s own death, adding another layer of loss to the family’s history.
The Career Question Worth Addressing Honestly
Here’s something that deserves direct, careful attention. A couple of sources make vague claims that Eileen “had a strong interest in acting” or hint at some kind of acting career of her own. One entertainment database even lists an “Eileen Detchon” as having appeared in a single Broadway show.
However, that Broadway listing includes zero actual details: no show name, no year, no role description, nothing beyond the bare claim itself. Given that “Detchon” isn’t an extraordinarily common surname, but also isn’t unique enough to rule out a different person entirely, and given that no other reliable source, including Wikipedia and Find a Grave, mentions any acting career for Harry Morgan’s wife specifically, this article treats that claim as unverified rather than confirmed fact.
Harry Morgan’s Path to Fame
While Eileen stayed largely private, Harry Morgan’s career kept climbing. He became known for playing Pete Porter in both “December Bride” and “Pete and Gladys” during the 1950s and early 1960s, and later took on the role of Officer Bill Gannon on “Dragnet” from 1967 to 1970.
His most beloved role, though, came later: Colonel Sherman T. Potter on “MAS*H,” a character that would end up carrying a quiet, permanent tribute to his wife.
The Photo That Made Her Part of Television History
During Harry Morgan’s years on “MAS*H,” a photograph of Eileen Detchon regularly appeared sitting on Colonel Potter’s desk. This wasn’t a random prop chosen by a set decorator. It was Eileen’s actual portrait, placed there deliberately.
That means for years, viewers watching one of America’s most beloved television shows were looking at a real photograph of a real woman, without most of them ever realizing it. It’s a genuinely touching, quiet tribute, hidden in plain sight within one of TV history’s most celebrated shows.
A Small, Charming Coincidence
Interestingly, “Eileen” was also the name of the wife of Officer Bill Gannon, Harry Morgan’s earlier character on “Dragnet.” Whether that was a deliberate nod to his real-life wife or simply a coincidence isn’t clearly documented, but it’s a fun detail that connects two of his most significant television roles back to the same name.
Eileen Detchon’s Death
Eileen Detchon died on February 4, 1985, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 71. Her death came after 44 years of marriage to Harry Morgan, meaning she was there for essentially his entire rise through television and film, from his early career all the way through his most iconic role.
She was buried with her married name, appearing in official records as Eileen Ann Detchon Morgan.
What Happened After Her Death
Harry Morgan continued his acting career following Eileen’s death. On December 17, 1986, roughly a year and a half after losing his first wife, he married Barbara Bushman Quine, a granddaughter of silent film star Francis X. Bushman.
That marriage lasted until Harry Morgan’s own death on December 7, 2011, at age 96.
Being Honest About a Difficult Later Chapter
It’s worth being direct here, even though it doesn’t involve Eileen herself. In July 1996, Harry Morgan was arrested on domestic battery charges after an incident involving his second wife, Barbara, which reportedly left her “bruised and bloodied.” The case was eventually dismissed after Morgan completed the anger management and domestic violence counseling required by the court.
This incident occurred more than a decade after Eileen’s death and involved his second marriage, not his relationship with her. It’s included here only because a complete, honest account of Harry Morgan’s life shouldn’t quietly omit it, even though it has no direct connection to Eileen’s own story.
A Headline Worth Correcting
One social media post about Eileen and Harry’s relationship carries the title “A 71-Year Love Story.” That math doesn’t actually hold up. Eileen and Harry were married for approximately 44 years, from 1940 until her death in 1985, not 71 years.
It’s possible this figure confuses her age at death, 71, with the actual length of their marriage, or perhaps references Harry Morgan’s full life span in some way. Either way, this article treats “44 years” as the accurate marriage duration, since that’s what the math from their actual wedding and death dates confirms.
Why So Much Written About Her Sounds the Same
It’s worth pointing out a pattern that shows up clearly in research for this article. Multiple biography websites covering Eileen Detchon’s life use nearly identical phrasing, describing her repeatedly as someone who “was not someone who chased fame” and praising her “quiet strength” and “peaceful life away from fame.”
This kind of repeated, near-identical language across supposedly separate websites suggests a shared content template rather than independent research, a pattern worth keeping in mind when evaluating just how much of her online “biography” reflects genuinely documented fact versus repeated, generic framing.
What’s Actually Well-Documented
Stripping away the repetitive, speculative content, here’s what’s genuinely solid: Eileen Ann Detchon was born June 26, 1913, in Portland, Oregon, married Harry Morgan on September 1, 1940, had four sons with him, and died on February 4, 1985, in Los Angeles. Her real photograph appeared on Colonel Potter’s desk throughout Harry Morgan’s run on “MAS*H.”
Beyond that solid foundation, claims about any acting career of her own remain unverified, and broader personality descriptions found across multiple sites appear to be generic template language rather than specific, documented fact.
Releated: Alejandra Amarilla
Final Words
Eileen Detchon’s life connects to one of American television’s most beloved shows in a genuinely unique way. She wasn’t an actress on “MAS*H.” She wasn’t even alive to see most of its later seasons air. But her actual face sat on that desk anyway, a quiet, permanent presence within a show watched by millions.
That’s a strange, lovely kind of legacy: becoming part of television history not through your own performance, but simply through being loved by someone who wanted to keep you close, even on a fictional army base thousands of miles from home.
FAQ About Eileen Detchon
Q1. Who was Eileen Detchon?
She was the first wife of actor Harry Morgan, best known for playing Colonel Sherman T. Potter on “MAS*H.” They were married from 1940 until her death in 1985.
Q2. When and where was Eileen Detchon born?
She was born on June 26, 1913, in Portland, Oregon.
Q3. When did Eileen Detchon marry Harry Morgan?
They married on September 1, 1940, when Harry Morgan was still known by his birth name, Harry Bratsberg.
Q4. How many children did Eileen Detchon and Harry Morgan have?
They had four sons: Christopher, Charles, Paul, and Daniel.
Q5. Was Eileen Detchon’s photo really used on MAS*H?
Yes, her actual portrait photograph appeared on Colonel Potter’s desk throughout Harry Morgan’s time on the show.
Q6. Was Eileen Detchon an actress?
This isn’t reliably confirmed. Some sources vaguely suggest an acting interest or a single unconfirmed Broadway credit, but no reliable source, including Wikipedia or Find a Grave, corroborates an actual acting career for her.
Q7. When did Eileen Detchon die?
She died on February 4, 1985, in Los Angeles, California, at age 71.
Q8. How long were Eileen Detchon and Harry Morgan married?
They were married for approximately 44 years, from 1940 until her death in 1985.
Q9. Did Harry Morgan remarry after Eileen Detchon’s death?
Yes, he married Barbara Bushman Quine on December 17, 1986, and remained married to her until his own death in 2011.
Q10. What roles was Harry Morgan known for?
He played Pete Porter on “December Bride” and “Pete and Gladys,” Officer Bill Gannon on “Dragnet,” and Colonel Sherman T. Potter on “MAS*H.”
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