Today in Wheeling History: July 17 – Morgan Paull, Wheeling native and actor best known for his role in the movie "Blade Runner," dies in Ashland, Oregon; buried in Greenwood Cemetery alongside family (2012).
Morgan Paull was born on December 15, 1944, into one of Wheeling's wealthiest and most influential families. The Paull family's prominence in Wheeling stretched back to the early 1800s, with his great-grandfather Judge James Paull (1818-1875) being born in Wheeling and becoming one of the most distinguished lawyers and politicians in the Ohio River valley, serving as both a member of the Virginia bar and later as a West Virginia Supreme Court justice. His father, Lee Cunningham Paull Jr. (1911-1992) continued the family tradition in business.
Growing up in this affluent family, Morgan appeared in many high school plays and developed his passion for acting. When he told his father he wanted to attend Boston University to continue studying theater, his father opposed the plan. In true rebellious fashion, Morgan ran away from home to pursue his dreams, joining the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, before eventually making his way to Broadway and then Hollywood.
Morgan achieved fame in Hollywood through numerous films and television appearances spanning from 1970 to 1996. His most memorable role came as Dave Holden, the blade runner who administered the crucial Voight-Kampff test in Ridley Scott's science fiction masterpiece "Blade Runner" (1982). His film debut was as Captain Richard N. Jenson in the Oscar-winning "Patton" (1970), where he played General Patton's aide-de-camp. He appeared alongside major stars including George C. Scott, Sally Field in "Norma Rae" (1979), Jimmy Stewart in "Fools' Parade" (1971), and Charlton Heston in "The Last Hard Men" (1976). Despite his Hollywood success, Morgan maintained his connection to his Wheeling roots. When he died of stomach cancer on July 17, 2012, at age 67 in Ashland, Oregon, his body was returned to Wheeling for burial in the Paull family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, joining generations of his prominent family members in their final resting place.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV - Lee C. Paull (https://tinyurl.com/47ehb593); Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV - Judge James Paull (https://tinyurl.com/mppcr6x7); Morgan Paull’s Find a Grave memorial (https://tinyurl.com/598pmfba), Wikipedia entry on Morgan Paull (https://tinyurl.com/m4tw57d5), YouTube visit to Morgan Paull’s gravesite in Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/5892ccds), Patton to Blade Runner: Final Interview of Morgan Paull - Cult Film Freak (https://tinyurl.com/ym3vr7fu), Morgan Paull - Biography - IMDb (https://tinyurl.com/y6swx737), Morgan Paull's obituary in The Hollywood Reporter (https://tinyurl.com/rxmz4j33)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, Cult Film Freak
Morgan Paull was born on December 15, 1944, into one of Wheeling's wealthiest and most influential families. The Paull family's prominence in Wheeling stretched back to the early 1800s, with his great-grandfather Judge James Paull (1818-1875) being born in Wheeling and becoming one of the most distinguished lawyers and politicians in the Ohio River valley, serving as both a member of the Virginia bar and later as a West Virginia Supreme Court justice. His father, Lee Cunningham Paull Jr. (1911-1992) continued the family tradition in business.
Growing up in this affluent family, Morgan appeared in many high school plays and developed his passion for acting. When he told his father he wanted to attend Boston University to continue studying theater, his father opposed the plan. In true rebellious fashion, Morgan ran away from home to pursue his dreams, joining the Barter Theatre in Abingdon, Virginia, before eventually making his way to Broadway and then Hollywood.
Morgan achieved fame in Hollywood through numerous films and television appearances spanning from 1970 to 1996. His most memorable role came as Dave Holden, the blade runner who administered the crucial Voight-Kampff test in Ridley Scott's science fiction masterpiece "Blade Runner" (1982). His film debut was as Captain Richard N. Jenson in the Oscar-winning "Patton" (1970), where he played General Patton's aide-de-camp. He appeared alongside major stars including George C. Scott, Sally Field in "Norma Rae" (1979), Jimmy Stewart in "Fools' Parade" (1971), and Charlton Heston in "The Last Hard Men" (1976). Despite his Hollywood success, Morgan maintained his connection to his Wheeling roots. When he died of stomach cancer on July 17, 2012, at age 67 in Ashland, Oregon, his body was returned to Wheeling for burial in the Paull family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, joining generations of his prominent family members in their final resting place.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV - Lee C. Paull (https://tinyurl.com/47ehb593); Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV - Judge James Paull (https://tinyurl.com/mppcr6x7); Morgan Paull’s Find a Grave memorial (https://tinyurl.com/598pmfba), Wikipedia entry on Morgan Paull (https://tinyurl.com/m4tw57d5), YouTube visit to Morgan Paull’s gravesite in Wheeling (https://tinyurl.com/5892ccds), Patton to Blade Runner: Final Interview of Morgan Paull - Cult Film Freak (https://tinyurl.com/ym3vr7fu), Morgan Paull - Biography - IMDb (https://tinyurl.com/y6swx737), Morgan Paull's obituary in The Hollywood Reporter (https://tinyurl.com/rxmz4j33)
Photo credits: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV; Wikimedia Commons, Find a Grave, Cult Film Freak
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