MASH propelled its cast into the spotlight (Image: (Image: GETTY))
Spanning 11 seasons, M*A*S*H was a beloved comedy-drama that chronicled the highs and lows of the staff at the United States Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War, which took place from 1950 to 1953.
The show quickly became a sensation, catapulting its cast into stardom.
Its final episode, broadcast in 1983, reportedly drew an audience of over 125 million viewers, according to the New York Times.
In January 2024, many of the original cast members reunited for a two-hour reunion special, M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television, with new interviews and insights.
So where are the MASH cast now?
Alan Alda starred as Capt. Benjamin Franklin in the show MASH (Image: Getty)
Alan Alda has enjoyed a successful television career (Image: Getty)
Alan Alda
Capt. Benjamin Franklin ‘Hawkeye’ Pierce was portrayed by Alan Alda, who charmed audiences as the prankster Captain Hawkeye, juggling patient care with mischief-making amongst his medical team.
Post-M*A*S*H, Alda’s career has continued to flourish, with roles in a range of TV shows and films including The Blacklist, Horace and Pete, Marriage Story, Bridge of Spies and The Big C.
More recently he starred as Dr. Arthur Amiot on Ray Donovan and as Solomon Waltzer on The Good Fight.
Wayne Rogers
Wayne Rogers brought to life the character of Capt. ‘Trapper’ John McIntyre, a sarcastic surgeon who stirred up trouble alongside Hawkeye.
Rogers decided to leave MASH after season 3, unhappy with the way his character was being handled. He reportedly didn’t like that the show’s spotlight was always on Alda, with him relegated to a supporting character even though MASH was technically an ensemble series.
Following M*A*S*H, Rogers featured in Murder, She Wrote, Once Upon a Murder, House Calls, among other roles. He sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy best remembered for M*A*S*H and House Calls.
The cause was complications from pneumonia, his publicist Rona Menashe said
Alan Alda (L) and Wayne Rogers (right) in M*A*S*H (Image: Getty)
Wayne Rogers died in 2015 aged 82 (Image: Getty)
McLean Stevenson
McLean Stevenson played Lt. Col. Henry Blake and later appeared in the Dirty Dancing TV series, The Love Boat, Tales of the City and Diff’rent Strokes. The actor and comedian passed away in 1996.
The actor suddently departed MASH during its third season.
After Stevenson announced he was leaving, it was the showrunner’s call to kill Blake off. It was decided his departure opened up a unique opportunity to underline the show’s anti-war message, and that not everybody is going home alive. Blake’s death led to a backlash from angry viewers.
Stevenson starred as Blake MASH (Image: Getty)
Loretta Swit starred as ‘Hot Lips’ in MASH (Image: Getty)
Loretta Swit
Loretta Swit embodied ‘Hot Lips’, Houlihan from Sally Kellerman, who held the part in the M*A*S*H movie. She appeared in every episode, including the pilot and went on to star in Whoops Apocalypse, S. O.
The two-time Emmy winner did a series of TV guest spots in The Love Boat and Cagney & Lacey throughout the 1980s, but aside from a low-budget 2019 movie, she hasn’t had an acting credit since 1998.
In 2013, she appeared in a one-woman touring stage production of Eleanor: Her Secret Journey as Eleanor Roosevelt.
Other notable mentions include Larry Linville, who portrayed Frank Burns, later starred in Mannix, Paper Dolls and Murder, She Wrote. His illustrious career ended with his death in 2000.
Gary Burghoff, known for his role as Radar, has credits in Small Kill, Behind the Waterfall, Burke’s Law and Daniel’s Lot.
Mike Farrell played Captain Hunnicutt and subsequently appeared in Supernatural, The Red Road, American Crime Story, NCIS and Desperate Housewives, among other roles.
Some of the MASH cast in 2009 (Image: (Image: GETTY))
The cast of hit comedy-drama M*A*S*H (Image: (Image: GETTY))
Harry Morgan, who was Colonel Sherman T. Potter, also featured in 3rd Rock from the Sun, Love and Money, Crosswalk, You Can’t Take It with You before passing away in 2011.
Jamie Farr, who played Max, is an actor, writer and director who also appeared in Scrooged, The Cannonball Run, The Cool Kids, That ’70s Show and Adventures of Old Man.
William Christopher portrayed Captain Mulcahy and went on to feature in Days of Our Lives, Smurfs, Mad About You and Team Knight Rider, among other roles before his death in 2016.
David Ogden Stiers, who played Major Winchester, had parts in Regular Show, Lilo and Stitch, Rizzoli and Isles, The Dead Zone and Stargate: Atlantis before his demise in 2018.