Although M*A*S*H may be their main claim to fame (for better or for worse) the cast of the series kept acting after their tenure with the series came to an end. Many are still active today, appearing in films or television or on the stage. In 2002, the cast of the series, with the exception of McLean Stevenson and Larry Linville who had both sadly passed away, reunited for a 30th anniversary reunion special (read about it here). The images on this page are from the reunion special, except for those for Larry Linville and McLean Stevenson, which are from the 1991 special “Memories of M*A*S*H.”
Alan Alda (Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce)
The year after M*A*S*H ended Alan Alda was producing The Four Seasons, a television follow-up to his 1981 feature film. Over the next two decades he stuck primarily to the big screen, aside from a stint on NBC’s popular medical drama ER in 1999. He began hosting the PBS documentary series Scientific American Frontiers in 1993.
In 2004 and 2005 he garnered critical acclaim for roles in television and film. He appeared in The Aviator, released in December of 2004, and received an Academy Award nomination. And he joined the cast of NBC’s The West Wing in October of 2004 as presidential hopeful Senator Arnold Vinick. He was nominated for Emmy awards in 2005 and 2006 for the role. He also appeared in the play “Glengarry Glen Ross”, which opened in April of 2005.
Alda released his autobiography, entitled Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I’ve Learned, in September of 2005.
Gary Burghoff (Corporal Walter Eugene O’Rielly
In the years after leaving M*A*S*H in 1979, Gary Burghoff guest-starred on a handful of television shows including The Love Boat and Fantasy Island. He reprised his role of Radar O’Rielly in two episodes of AfterMASH and W*A*L*T*E*R, and unsold pilot for CBS. He also had a handful of film roles and in 1999/2000 he toured with Neil Simon’s “Last of the Red Hot Lovers”, putting on the play in over 100 cities.
Burghoff turned much of his attention to painting as he stepped away from acting. An accomplished wildlife artist, Gary Burghoff appeared at a Connecticut gallery exhibiting some of his paintings in late July 2004.
William Christopher (Father John Francis Patrick Mulcahy)
Along with Jamie Farr and Harry Morgan, William Christopher starred in AfterMASH following the conclusion of M*A*S*H in 1983. When AfterMASH ended in 1984, Christopher continued acting occasionally on television, in films and on stage (including a touring production of “The Odd Couple” with Jamie Farr). His last credited role was an episode of Mad About You in 1998.
Christopher and his wife wrote Mixed Blessings, a non-fiction account of their experience raising an autistic son. The book was released in 1989. The two continue to work promoting autism awareness through the National Autistic Society.
Jamie Farr (Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger)
After reprising his role of Klinger in AfterMASH, Jamie Farr had a handful of television and film roles, including quite a few game shows. He played himself in two episodes of That ’70s Show in 2002 and 2003 and co-hosted Biography’s “TV Week” in 2003. Most recently he guest-starred in an episode of the Fox sitcom The War at Home (on February 8th, 2007).
Farr has also been active in local and regional theater since M*A*S*H ended. Along with William Christopher he toured in a production iof “The Odd Couple” in the mid-1990s. In 2004 he played the lead in the Tony-nominated “Say Goodnight Gracie,” based on the life of George Burns.
The Toledo-born actor is also involved with the annual LPGA Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic, a golf tournament he founded in 1984. He released his biography, Just Farr Fun, in 1994.
Mike Farrell (Captain B.J. Hunnicut)
In the years following the end of M*A*S*H Mike Farrell appeared in a string of made-for-TV movies and a variety of guest spots on television. In 1996 he lent his voice to the character of Jonathan Kent for the animated series Superman. His wife Shelley Fabares voiced Martha Kent. From 1999 to 2002 he played Dr. James Hansen on NBC’s family drama Providence.
These days, however, Farrell is best known for his political activism. He is a strong advocate of human rights/environmental awareness and has lent his support to a variety of organizations and causes. He served as First Vice President of the Hollywood Division of the Screen Actors Guild and continues to weigh in on SAG issues.
Farrell released his autobiography, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey from Actor to Activist, in March of 2007.
Larry Linville (Major Frank Marion Burns)
In 1977, after five seasons playing Frank Burns on M*A*S*H, Larry Linville decided he had taken the character as far as he could go and left the series. Over the next two decades he had a slew of guest spots on various television shows, including The Love Boat, Fantasy Island and Murder, She Wrote. He also had roles in Grandpa Goes to Washington and Paper Dolls.
Linville was also active in theater after leaving M*A*S*H. Along with Larry Gelbart and David Ogden Stiers, Linville was present at the closing of the 43rd Mobile Army Surgical Hospital — the inspiration for M*A*S*H’s 4077th — in June of 1997. After battling cancer for several years Linville passed away due to complications of pneumonia in April of 2000.
Larry Linville: September 29th, 1939 – April 10th, 2000
Harry Morgan (Colonel Sherman T. Potter)
Harry Morgan joined with Jamie Farr and William Christopher to continue their roles from M*A*S*H in a follow-up series. When AfterMASH came to a close in 1984, Morgan had guest-starring roles in a handful of television shows, including The Love Boat and Murder, She Wrote. In 1987 he had a role in Dragnet and played the lead in a syndicated sitcom called You Can’t Take It With You.
In the early 1990s Morgan teamed up with Walter Matthau for three made-for-TV movies about a lawyer (Matthau) and a judge (Morgan). He had a recurring role on 3rd Rock from the Sun in 1996 and 1997. Now in his nineties, Morgan is retired from acting.
Wayne Rogers (Captain John Francis Xavier McIntire)
Only a year after leaving M*A*S*H Wayne Rogers was starring in his own series, City of Angels, about a detective in the 1930s. The series lasted half a season. In 1979, Rogers was starring in House Calls as a brilliant doctor who often bends the rules. House Calls ended in 1982. Three years later, Rogers took over the role of Major Tony Nelson in I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later. He had a recurring role in Murder, She Wrote during the early 1990s.
In addition to acting, Rogers is a avid businessman, who occasionally appears on Fox News Channel’s Cashin’ In, a segment of their The Cost Of Freedom program. Rogers founded the firm Wayne Rogers & Co and has been involved with Stop-N-Save, a chain of convenience food stores.
McLean Stevenson (Lt. Colonel Henry Braymore Blake)
After leaving M*A*S*H at the end of its third season, McLean Stevenson starred in The McLean Stevenson Show. In the sitcom he played the owner of a hardware store trying to juggle his business with his family. The show was cancelled after less than one season. In 1979 Stevenson was starring in another sitcom, Hello, Larry, which was a spin-off of the popular Diff’rent Strokes. Stevenson played Larry Alder, a divorced radio psychologist with two teenage daughters. Hello, Larry ran until 1980.
During the 1980s Stevenson had guest spots on several television programs. He also had a role in the 1988 television version of Dirty Dancing. His last credited role was the miniseries Tales of the City in 1993. Stevenson passed away of a heart attack in February of 1996.
McLean Stevenson: November 14th, 1929 – February 15th, 1996
David Ogden Stiers (Major Charles Emerson Winchester, III)
Two years after the end of M*A*SH, David Ogden Stiers had roles in a blockbuster television miniseries (North and South) and a string of made-for-TV movies based on Perry Mason (from 1986 to 1988). In 1991 he had a guest role on Star Trek: The Next Generation and voiced Cogsworth in the animated Beauty and the Beast. His voiceover work continued throughout the 1990s, including roles in Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In 1998 he had appeared in Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place on ABC, although his role was soon phased out. Another television series, Love & Money, followed in 1999.
In 2002, Stiers voiced a character in the animated hit Lilo & Stitch (he would return to the character several times in the following years). In 2003 he had guest-starred on Frasier and in 2006 on Stargate: Atlantis. Since 2002 he has had a role in the USA Network original series The Dead Zone. Stiers also enjoys conducting orchestras and does so whenever the opportunity arises.
Loretta Swit (Major Margaret Houlihan)
Although she has appeared in a variety of television and film roles since M*A*S*H ended, Loretta Swit has turned much of her attention away from acting. She started her own line of signature jewelry, with proceeds benefiting animals rights organizations. A vocal supporter of animal rights, Swit is a member of Actors and Others for Animals. Swit is also active in theater, performing in “Shirley Valentine” in 1990 and “The Vagina Monologues,” to name but a few productions.
References:
- “Actor Larry Linville Dies at 60.” The Washington Post: 12 Apr 2000.
- Everett, Todd. “MASH Actor Glad to Be Back on Local Stage.” Los Angeles Times: 19 Sep 1996.
- Jelinek, Pauline. “The Real-Life MASH Unit Celebrates Its Final Episode.” Los Angeles Times: 15 Jun 1997.
- Townsel, Lisa Jones. “10 questions for actress Loretta Swit.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 1 Jul 2004.
Last updated July 27th, 2007