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| Morgan Woodward in his best-known role as "Punk" Anderson in the night-time drama "Dallas". Source: https://dallas.fandom.com/wiki/Punk_Anderson (May be subject to copyright) |
“Punk” Anderson was Jock Ewing’s best friend on the night-time drama “Dallas”, in the 1980s. Jock was the patriarch of the powerful Ewing oil family, and father to battling brothers J.R. and Bobby, as well as Gary who had moved to “Knot’s Landing” in California to fight battles of a different kind.
“Punk” Anderson was played by Morgan Woodward, who passed away last year.
When I heard he had died, I learned a little more about the man behind “Punk” Anderson.
The years before
Before he started playing a grizzled Texas oilman in “Dallas”, Morgan Woodward put together quite a collection of roles in westerns on TV and the theatre. According to Wikipedia, he played 16 different characters in 19 episodes of “Gunsmoke”; appeared in 80 episodes of “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp”; was in “Wagon Train”, “Bonanza and “The High Chaparral”; and was in the 1967 film “Cool Hand Luke”.
Before he started playing a grizzled Texas oilman in “Dallas”, Morgan Woodward put together quite a collection of roles in westerns on TV and the theatre. According to Wikipedia, he played 16 different characters in 19 episodes of “Gunsmoke”; appeared in 80 episodes of “The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp”; was in “Wagon Train”, “Bonanza and “The High Chaparral”; and was in the 1967 film “Cool Hand Luke”.
Mind control
In 1966 he appeared in one of the more memorable episodes of “Star Trek: The Original Series”. “Dagger of the Mind” was set in an insane asylum where Woodward played deputy director Dr. Simon Van Gelder. Initially, Kirk and Spock think Van Gelder is an inmate. However, after their suspicions are raised, Spock mind melds with Van Gelder to discover he is in fact on the staff. A machine called the neural neutralizer, used to calm inmates, was turned on Van Gelder and it drove him somewhat insane. The machine, used at maximum strength, can empty a person of their thoughts leaving them with nothing but a feeling of loneliness. In the end, it is inadvertently turned on the villain of the story, Van Gelder’s boss and the head of the asylum. He is trapped in the machine at maximum strength, and his mind is emptied of its thoughts causing him to die of loneliness. Van Gelder, restored to his previous state, then destroys the neural neutralizer.
In 1966 he appeared in one of the more memorable episodes of “Star Trek: The Original Series”. “Dagger of the Mind” was set in an insane asylum where Woodward played deputy director Dr. Simon Van Gelder. Initially, Kirk and Spock think Van Gelder is an inmate. However, after their suspicions are raised, Spock mind melds with Van Gelder to discover he is in fact on the staff. A machine called the neural neutralizer, used to calm inmates, was turned on Van Gelder and it drove him somewhat insane. The machine, used at maximum strength, can empty a person of their thoughts leaving them with nothing but a feeling of loneliness. In the end, it is inadvertently turned on the villain of the story, Van Gelder’s boss and the head of the asylum. He is trapped in the machine at maximum strength, and his mind is emptied of its thoughts causing him to die of loneliness. Van Gelder, restored to his previous state, then destroys the neural neutralizer.
After Morgan Woodward died, many of the tributes referred to this episode. In one story, Woodward is quoted as saying portrayingVvan Gelder was one of the most physically demanding roles of his career. So I watched it again, on Netflix, and I would definitely agree.
Dawn of the decade
Morgan Woodward also guest starred in a fair number of network shows in the 1980s such as “Fantasy Island”; “The Dukes of Hazzard”; “Hill Street Blues”; “The Fall Guy”; and “The A-Team”.
In 1980, Woodward joined the cast of “Dallas” as “Punk” Anderson, the best friend to patriarch Jock Ewing. Jim Davis, who played Jock Ewing, died in 1981, so Jock was written out of the show the following season, having died in a helicopter crash.
Morgan Woodward also guest starred in a fair number of network shows in the 1980s such as “Fantasy Island”; “The Dukes of Hazzard”; “Hill Street Blues”; “The Fall Guy”; and “The A-Team”.
In 1980, Woodward joined the cast of “Dallas” as “Punk” Anderson, the best friend to patriarch Jock Ewing. Jim Davis, who played Jock Ewing, died in 1981, so Jock was written out of the show the following season, having died in a helicopter crash.
After that, “Punk” Anderson became an advisor to J.R. and Bobby Ewing until he left the show in 1988, at the end of Season 11. He would appear in a total of 55 episodes.
The years after
He would go on to guest roles in shows such as "Murder, She Wrote"; "Matlocks"; and "21 Jump Street". His last roles were in “The X-Files” in 1995 and Millennium in 1997, both Chris Carter productions.
Morgan Woodward died on February 22, 2019. He was 93.
Parting thoughts
“Punk” Anderson was Morgan Woodward’s best-known role. He was an oilman tough enough to earn the respect of Jock, Bobby, and J.R. Ewing. He was also a shrewd businessman and friend to Miss Ellie Ewing, Jock’s wife and mother of Bobby and J.R. After Jock’s death, “Punk” acted not only as an advisor to the Ewing brothers, but also looked out for Miss Ellie.
“Punk” Anderson was Morgan Woodward’s best-known role. He was an oilman tough enough to earn the respect of Jock, Bobby, and J.R. Ewing. He was also a shrewd businessman and friend to Miss Ellie Ewing, Jock’s wife and mother of Bobby and J.R. After Jock’s death, “Punk” acted not only as an advisor to the Ewing brothers, but also looked out for Miss Ellie.
Just like any sidekick, best friend or wing man would.
However, what impressed me was how versatile an actor he actually was. He appeared in more than 250 television shows and films.
What stood out was that role as Simon Van Gelder. It was a physically demanding role as his character lurched back and forth into inasnity, psychosis and catatonia. It was memorable, and a sharp departure from “Punk” Anderson or any of the other roles he played.
It showed he was more than just Jock Ewing’s best friend.
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