{{Short description|American actor (1951–2022)}} {{for|the Mississippi judge|J. Morgan Stevens}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2022}} {{Infobox person | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing brackets --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1951|10|16}} | birth_place = Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S. | death_date = January 26, 2022 (aged 70) | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | known_for = {{hlist|''Fame''|''A Year in the Life''|''Melrose Place''||''The Waltons''}} | other_names = | occupation = {{hlist|Actor}} | years_active = 1970–1999 | notable_works = }}
'''Morgan Stevens''' (October 16, 1951 – January 26, 2022) was an American actor, primarily seen on television.<ref name=russell>{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-27-me-1899-story.html| title=City, Actor Settle Suit Over Alleged Jail Beating: Police: Morgan Stevens contends he was attacked by authorities after a traffic accident. His lawyers say the LAPD was unwilling to risk the publicity of a trial in the wake of the Rodney King case| last=Russell| first=Ron| date=June 27, 1991| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| access-date=December 12, 2018| language=en-US| issn=0458-3035}}</ref>
==Biography== Stevens played Paul Northridge in one episode of ''The Waltons'' and in three reunion movies.<ref name=russell/> In ''A Wedding on Walton's Mountain'', the character of Northridge married Erin Walton (Mary Elizabeth McDonough), and he appeared in ''Mother's Day on Walton's Mountain'' and ''A Day for Thanks on Walton's Mountain''. He was Sam Stadder (John-Boy's hospital roommate) in the Waiting episode S8 Ep 9.
Stevens portrayed teacher David Reardon in two seasons of ''Fame'' (1982–1984).<ref>{{cite magazine| url=http://www.fameforever.com/series/interview10.php| title=Meet Fame's New Teacher| magazine=Official Fame Magazine| first=Kay| last=Anderson| via=Fame Forever| year=1983| accessdate=February 22, 2020}}</ref> He then played Jack Gardner in the miniseries and subsequent series ''A Year in the Life'' (1986–1988). In 1995, he appeared in seven episodes of ''Melrose Place'' as Nick Diamond.<ref name=tvg>{{cite magazine| url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/morgan-stevens/credits/206692| title=Morgan Stevens| magazine=TV Guide| language=en|access-date=December 12, 2018}}</ref>
Stevens made guest appearances on several television programs, including ''One Day at a Time'', ''The Love Boat'', ''Murder One'', and ''Murder, She Wrote'' (in three episodes as three characters).<ref name=tvg/> His last role was as Principal Max Henson in a 1999 episode of ''Walker, Texas Ranger''.<ref name=people/>
In 1989, his career was halted for a few years when Stevens was arrested on suspicion of DUI after a mild car accident (a blood test later cleared him), and he was severely beaten by the LAPD police while in custody. Stevens claimed that after 90 minutes of waiting in a jail cell, he refused to hand back the shirt that was given, which is when two jailers kicked and beat him over two dozen times. Stevens suffered a dislocated jaw, a fractured cheek and nerve damage. He later sued and an out-of-court settlement was reached with his lawyers stating that the LAPD was unwilling to risk the publicity of a trial in the wake of the Rodney King case.
==Death== On January 26, 2022, Stevens was found dead at his home in Los Angeles at the age of 70. Police were there to perform a wellness check after friends reported that they had not heard from him in several days.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tmz.com/2022/01/26/morgan-stevens-dead-dies/ |title='Melrose Place' Actor Morgan Stevens Dead at 70 |date=January 26, 2022 |website=TMZ |access-date=January 26, 2022}}</ref> The coroner later ruled he died of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.<ref name=people>{{cite news| url=https://people.com/tv/melrose-place-actor-morgan-stevens-cause-of-death-revealed/| title=Melrose Place and Fame Actor Morgan Stevens' Cause of Death Revealed| magazine=People| first=Joelle| last=Goldstein| date=February 3, 2022| access-date=February 4, 2022}}</ref> Morgan was cremated, and the ashes were scattered at sea.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0828650|name=Morgan Stevens}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stevens, Morgan}} Category:1951 births Category:2022 deaths Category:20th-century American male actors Category:American male television actors Category:Deaths from arteriosclerosis Category:Deaths from coronary artery disease Category:Male actors from Knoxville, Tennessee