The TV Zone

Even though Barry Morse appeared in more than 3,000 TV, film and stage roles, he’ll always be best remembered as the relentless Lt. Philip Gerard on “The Fugitive.” The Canadian actor died Saturday at 89, although his death was not announced until Monday.

For four seasons, Lt. Gerard doggedly pursued Dr. Richard Kimble (David Janssen), a prisoner wrongfully convicted of murdering his wife.

The series opened in 1963 with Gerard taking Kimble to the Big House to be executed when the train in which they were riding derailed. Gerard was knocked unconscious and Kimble escaped.

Their cat-and-mouse game ended on Aug. 29, 1967 in “The Fugitive’s” final episode when Gerard shot the infamous one-armed man, the true killer of Kimble’s wife. At the time, the episode was the most-watched in TV history.

“He thought it was a good show -- well filmed, well directed and well acted,” the actor’s son Hayward Morse said. “He had nothing disparaging to say about 'The Fugitive.”

And by the way, the name Gerard was inspired by Javert, the relentless pursuer in Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables.”

Check out the opening sequence from the final episode here.

Photo: David Janssen and Barry Morse in their "Fugitive" days.