D*E*A*D

M*A*S*H.  What can I say about this fantastic series that hasn't been said before?  A show that over 11 years showed us the true horrors of a war that in reality only lasted for three.  When it's final episode aired in February 1983, more than half the country was watching.  It's lead-in that night was an episode of Alice wherein dingy waitress Vera becomes convinced she's seen a UFO.  I'm probably the only person alive who remembers that.

M*A*S*H had a slew of fine actors, many of whom have sadly passed on.  Even sadder, most of them were cremated.  But you can still pay your respects to some of the notables, all of whom are buried within the Los Angeles area.

McLean Stevenson played Henry Blake during the first three seasons, but grew tired of playing second, even third banana.  He moved to starring roles in several short-lived sit-coms, none of which ever brought him as much success.  He'd later admit "I made the mistake of believing that people were enamored of McLean Stevenson when the person they were enamored of was Henry Blake." 


Death: In early 1996, Stevenson checked in to Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center for surgery on his bladder, during which time he suffered a fatal heart attack.  He passed on February 15th.

Location: Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills

Plot: Courts of Remembrance, Columbarium of Valor, Niche G64649

Trivia: As most fans know, when Stevenson left the series, his character was killed off in a manner that forever changed the tone of the series.  Lost to history however, was his appearance just a few months later on Cher's variety show, wherein he appeared as Henry Blake, alive and well.  See it here.

After M*A*S*H, Stevenson segued into his own sit-com, appropriately titled The McLean Stevenson Show.  View the premiere episode here, complete with original 1976 commercials!

Ever wonder whatever happened to Henry's iconic fishing cap?  I'd love to know too, but here's a replica (?) I own.

Wayne Rogers played Trapper John McIntyre.  Like Stevenson, he left after just three seasons.  But whereas Stevenson had approached the producers during Season 3 asking to be released from his five-year contract, Rogers showed no such courtesy.  His abrupt departure before the beginning of Season 4 led to years of legal wrangling between him and the producers.

Death: Rogers died on December 31, 2015 from pneumonia.  He was appropriately buried in Pierce Brothers Westwood Village.

Location: Pierce Brothers Westwood Village
Plot: Columbarium Wall

Trivia: Rogers was a successful businessman and investor even during the M*A*S*H years.  Years later, he'd turn that expertise into a co-hosting gig on the FOX News Channel program Cashin' In.  See a tribute to him here from his colleagues.

The Weeds

Larry Gelbart is not exactly a household name, but he is the man who got the show on the air, serving as producer, writer, and director for the first four seasons (aka the good years).  One of Gelbart's greatest contributions to the series was the character of Corporal Klinger, a man wearing women's dresses in order to be discharged from the Army.  Once his tour with M*A*S*H was over, Gelbart created a very similar character for the big screen, earning an academy award nomination for the 1982 film Tootsie.

Death: In June 2009, Gelbart was diagnosed with cancer.  His wife refuses to declare where he had it.  But he passed just a few months later on September 11.

Location: Hillside Memorial
Plot: Canaan Garden Mausoleum, Crypt F475



Trivia:  After leaving M*A*S*H, Gelbart helped created another 70's sit-com sensation, Three's Company.

Clete Roberts appeared as himself in one of the series more popular episodes "The Interview."  Years later, when M*A*S*H did the obligatory clip show, he was invited back to reprise the part.  Roberts was the perfect man for the part, having served as a war correspondent in both World War 2 and Korea.  Not surprisingly, he later rose through the ranks of the CBS News Department.

Death:  No information available.

Location: Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks

Plot: Oak Vale Garden, Plot 73, Grave B

Trivia: Right before his death in 1984, Roberts reprised his war correspondent role one last time in the failed M*A*S*H spin-off W*A*L*T*E*R, which centered on the life of Radar O'Reilly after his return from Korea.  CBS passed on the series, but you can see the pilot episode here.

Cremated Cast

Larry Linville left the series after five seasons.  Like McLean Stevenson, he'd never repeat the success he found at the 4077th.  He guest starred in a number of series, including the has-been trifecta of Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Murder, She Wrote.  In 1981, he landed a co-starring spot on The Jeffersons spin-off Checking In, which only lasted a handful of episodes. See the introduction here.  (Caution: Marla Gibbs sings the theme song.)

Death: Linville, a lifelong smoker, died from complications of lung cancer surgery on April 10, 2000.  Next time you come across a rerun featuring old Ferret Face, look at his shirt pocket, and you'll often see the outline of a pack of Marlboros.  His ashes were scattered off Bodega Bay, California.

Trivia: In 1997, Linville joined Larry Gelbart and his successor David Ogden Stiers at a decommissioning ceremony for the last surviving M*A*S*H unit in Korea.

Harry Morgan joined the cast in Season 4, replacing the departed McLean Stevenson.  As most everyone knows, Morgan won the role after having previously appeared as an insane general during Season 3.  Watch him review the troops here. Ironically, he'd later cite it as his favorite episode.  When M*A*S*H concluded in 1983, Morgan transitioned to the short-lived spin-off AfterMASH, along with co-stars Jamie Farr and William Christopher.  Watch the pilot episode here.

Death: Morgan, age 96, died of pneumonia on December 7, 2011.  According to his son Charles, he passed peacefully in his sleep.  His cremated remains were given to the family.

Trivia: Ever wonder who the lady in the picture frame on Colonel Potter's desk was?  It was Morgan's first wife, Eileen Detchon.

William Christoper was the third actor to portray Father Mulcahy, having succeeded most notably Rene Auberjonois in the M*A*S*H feature film.  During M*A*S*H's final season, he worked with then-unknown actor Patrick Swayze, a patient who learns he has leukemia.  His best work in the series is probably the resulting scene shown here.  He'd later guest star on a number of series and commercials, including this memorable spot for Godfather's Pizza. 

Death: Christopher, age 84, passed from small-cell carcinoma on December 31, 2016, exactly one year after co-star Wayne Rogers.

Trivia: Christopher was an early promoter for the awareness of autism, his own adopted son Ned being an autistic child himself.  Along with his wife Barbara, he published a book for autistic families in 1985 entitled Mixed Blessings.  Buy a copy here.

Unknown

David Ogden Stiers, who replaced Larry Linville as the pompous Major Charles Emerson Winchester, passed away on March 3, 2018, following complications from bladder cancer.  As of this posting, no information is available on the location or disposition of his remains.




Six Feet Under Hollywood Theory: Stiers passed in his home town of Newport, Oregon, just a few hours from Eugene, where his parents were both laid to rest.  We suspect we'll inevitably learn that he too was interred at West Lawn Memorial Park in Eugene.

To be continued!