5 MASH Actors Who Left The Show (& Why)

Although much of the cast remained until the end of the series, some actors such as Harry Morgan left MASH Over its 11-season run. MASH was the second adaptation of the novel after the Robert Altman movie, which followed the experiences of a medical unit during the Korean War. MASH Started as a comedy that nevertheless took the core theme seriously, and while the showrunners were forced to include a laugh track, they were able to leave it out of scenes involving surgery. In later seasons, it evolved from a sitcom to a drama, with some episodes being borderline laugh-free.

The series ends up lasting eight years longer than the Korean War itself, with MASH’s Finale is the most watched scripted television episode of all time. MASH’s Unique fusion of laughter and drama never quite attempted before and would prove influential on future shows like Scrubs. Considering it’s been 11 years, it’s a bit of a surprise MASH Actors left the show during its runSometimes to avoid typecasting or just to move on to other projects.

5

George Morgan

Father Mulcahy – Only appeared in pilot

The first and most mysterious MASH Leaving is actor George Morgan, who played Father Mulcahy in the pilot episode. Before MASHMorgan appeared in the Western series Bonanza And the cult film of Robert Downey Sr Putney SwopeAnd while Morgan only played Father Mulcahy for one episodeHe can still be spotted in the Opening credits of each episode. As was relatively common at the time, actors who appeared in a pilot could be recast when it went to series, due to reasons ranging from cast chemistry to retelling the role of the character.

Interestingly, Morgan didn’t even have any lines as Father Mulcahy in it MASH’s Pilot and is mostly just used for comic reaction shots. Morgan was replaced because executive producer Larry Gelbart felt the character wasn’t popping.. He once stated (by MASH4077TV) that “George Morgan is an excellent actor. We wanted someone who had a more important personality – which we didn’t want to write in the script.”

William Christopher replaced Morgan in the role, and appeared on MASH For its entire run; He was also one of the few cast members to return for AfterMASH. Unfortunately, Morgan did not have many other credits after his MASH Exit, with his last credit being the 1990 movie Have a nice night.

4

McLean Stevenson

Col. Henry Blake – Left in season 3

Not only was McLean Stevenson’s exit a major turning point for the series, but his MASH Death was also a groundbreaking television moment. Stevenson played Colonel Henry Blake, the commanding officer of the 4077th during MASH’s First three seasons. Blake takes a somewhat easy approach to running the 4077 and often lets Alan Alda’s “Hawkeye” Pierce and Wayne Rogers “Trapper” get away with their shenanigans. Blake was especially close to Radar (Gary Burghoff), who hardly ever left his side and would seemingly psychically sense when Blake needed him.

While there was no tension between Stevenson and his MASH co-star, as the show became more successful, he grew frustrated with being part of a large ensemble. He decided to leave and was written out in the season 3 finale “Abyssinia, Henry,” where Blake receives an honorable discharge and leaves the camp. MASH’s Main characters – and audience watching – Radar later informs everyone that Blake’s plane has been shot down, killing everyone onboard.

While it’s not uncommon for a major show to kill off a major character now, when this episode aired in 1975, such a move was unheard of. Killing off supporting characters audiences had grown to know and love was a bold move and one that paid off in ratings. It was also a controversial choice, with some furious viewers penning letters to CBS, with the network even cutting the end of the episode from a later re-run. Unknowingly, “Abyssinia, Henry” was to be the final episode for another main cast member as well.

3

Wayne Rogers

Trapper John – Left after Season 3

Just like these MASH In the movie, the first three seasons were something of a two-hander between the characters of Hawkeye and Wayne Rogers “Trapper” John. Rogers actually passed on auditioning for Hawkeye in favor of Trapper, as he found the character’s less cynical personality more appealing. Rogers joined MASH On this understanding, Hawkeye and Trapper are equal main characters, but as Alda’s popularity with the audience grew, the writers began to focus on Hawkeye more and more.

Rogers was tired of feeling sidelined and that Trapper had become Hawkeye’s sidekick, so he decided to quit.. MASH’s Producers were deeply unhappy with his decision and threatened to sue. However, it was soon revealed that Rogers had never actually signed his original contract, because he objected to a “morality clause” present in it. That meant the producers had no case, and Rogers was free to leave.

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This explains the sudden exit of Wayne Rogers’ trapper on MASH Season 4’s opening episode, with his character being discharged off-screen, but leaving no goodbye notes for best friend Hawkeye. Rogers went on to roles in shows like the medical sitcom House callswhich lasted for three seasons.

2

Larry Linville

Frank Burne – Left after Season 5

Larry Linville inherited the role of Chief Frank Burns from Robert Duvall, who played the role in the 1970 movie. Those were tough shoes to fill, but Linville became a memorably nasty villain MASH’s Small-screen adaptation. Burns is a judgmental, self-absorbed and selfish figure who was widely despised by the 4077. He was also strict by the book, meaning he naturally hated Hawkeye and Trapper. The only person who actually likes Frank is Margaret (Loretta Sweet), with the two having an ongoing affair despite the fact that Burns is married.

Linville decided to go MASH After five seasons, having grown bored with playing such a Weasley character. He also felt the show’s move toward more dramatic material made Burns’ cartoonish antagonism a bad fit. In the show, Burns’ exit is explained by him being a little heartbroken when his affair with Margaret ends on a bad note, and she becomes engaged to someone else. MASH’s The season 6 premiere explains Frank was sent back to the states for a psychiatric evaluation after a drunken night out in Seoul. The unit is, naturally, very happy with the news that he is gone for good.

1

Gary Burghoff

Radar O’Reilly – Left in season 8

Gary Burghoff was the only real holdover from these MASH movie, and he played the role of Corporal “Radar” O’Reilly in both. The radar seen in the series was a much more naive, innocent figure, however, and he became a real audience favorite. Burghoff was exhausted by the show’s schedule in later yearsAnd despite the fact that previous actors who left – such as McLean Stevenson and Larry Linville – met with little success, Burghoff decided to leave MASH During season 8.

Radar S MASH Exit is one of the most emotional on the showAnd in contrast to other departing performers, it happens Onscreen. Radar leaves when he is given a dire refusal to go back to his family farm, following a death in the family. After his departure, Burghoff went on to guest roles as The New Adventures of Wonder Woman And Fantasy Island.

He also made a guest appearance as Radar On AfterMASHBefore appearing in a solo spinoff called W*A*L*T*E*RWhere the character becomes a police officer. While W*A*L*T*E*R It was intended to launch another spinoff, it did not pass the pilot.

What the actors did after MASH

None of the actors who left MASH had major careers after their breakouts on the comedy-drama series. McLean Stevenson was a big fan favorite on MASHBut after leaving the show, he didn’t do much of anything other than take on some guest starring roles in shows like The Golden Girls. He also served as a guest host on The Tonight Show Several times, but his career never recovered from failure MASHAnd he calls it one of his most regrettable decisions (by LA Times):

“When I left the show, the mistake wasn’t in leaving. The mistake was that I thought everyone in America loved McLean Stevenson. That’s not the case. Everyone loved Henry Blake. So if you go and do ‘The McLean Stevenson show, ‘No one cares about McLean Stevenson.

Wayne Rogers leaving the show as he did, and with him never signing his contracts, caused the franchise to move on from him completely. It was a MASH spinoff series called John Trapper, MD, What followed the character after returning home, however The franchise did not use Rogers and recast the role with Pernell Roberts as Trapper John. Except his run on House callsRogers’ career mostly consisted of minor roles and a recurring character in Murder, she wrote.

Larry Linville left when he felt his character no longer fit, so it seemed he might have a better reception outside of MASHBut it didn’t happen either. He mostly just played a guest role in a few TV shows and minor film appearances. This is also how Gary Burghoff’s career has been, as he has also been relegated to TV guest roles and game show appearances. As for George Morgan, his career was the most disappointing, only getting two roles after leaving MASH After the pilot.

Source: MASH4077TV