After graduating from college, Woodward entered the University of Texas Law School in 1951. His studies were interrupted when he was recalled to active duty with the Air Force during the Korean War. He was sent to Korea and served with the Military Air Transport Command. After being demobilized, he did not return to law school but became an actor instead.
An 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.
Attended the University of Texas in the late 1940s.
Brother of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.
Brother, Lee, was a much-loved weatherman on KOTV, Tulsa, with his puppet, King Lionel.
Father was a doctor.
Has four brothers.
His uncle, Dr. S. A. Woodward, lived in the San Angelo, Texas area. One day he was called to help in the birth of a male child. The family, not knowing what gender was expected, had not chosen a name, so in honor of the good doctor's service, they named him Woodward Ritter. Later, he would be known more widely as Tex Ritter.
Holds the record for having done more guest starring roles on the series "Gunsmoke" (1955) (19) and "Wagon Train" (1957) (11) than any other actor.
In 1988, Woodward was presented with the "Golden Lariat Award" at the National Western Film Festival.
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 1997 Morgan celebrated 50 years in show business and was given the "International Star Award" in Los Angeles.
In 2005, he attended the 50th anniversary celebration of the start of Gunsmoke series at a celebration in Dodge City, Kan., also attended by son and wife of James Arness, who was unable to travel.
In August 1988, 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, Ann Rutherford and Burt Reynolds.
In August of 1995, Woodward received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" for western film acting from the "Wild West Film Festival" in Sonora, California.
In July 1996, he was a guest at the Western Film Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina along with Tony Young, Patricia Blair, Gene Evans, Gregory Walcott, Adrian Booth, Roberta Shore, Tommy Kirk, Dale Berry, Robert F. Hoy, Justin Tubb and Neil Summers.
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.
Morgan was kind enough to attend a Walton's International Fan Club Reunion in Hollywood 1997, sharing his Walton experiences.
Morgan Woodward's brother, Dr. Lewis Woodward, was a successful music professor at Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA. He worked at the school the same time as actor Jack Elam's half brother (also a Ph.D.) did.
Served as a pilot in the Army Air Force during World War II. He had been flying airplanes since the age of 16.