What Ever Happened to the Cast of M*A*S*H?

Alan Alda

Alan Alda played Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce on the sitcom, set during the Korean War. Alda, 89, is a six-time Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner. Alda appeared on M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1983 as the chief surgeon of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. 

Alda also wrote 19 episodes, which included the 2.5-hour series finale "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," that aired in 1983. Alda is the only M*A*S*H cast character to appear in all 256 episodes.  

Following his acting success on M*A*S*H, Alda continued playing a TV doctor on ER in 1999, joined The Big C for 6 episodes, and played a psychiatrist on Ray Donovan. Alda received his only non-M*A*S*H-related Emmy for his role in NBC’s The West Wing, where he played a senator vying for the presidency. 

In 2015, Alda was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, but he found a steady workout regimen that included boxing and Tai Chi to help stave off progression.

"My life hasn't changed much," said the actor, who first noticed a twitch in his thumb. "I just applied my curiosity to it. I'm constantly reading and trying to figure out the best approaches."

In 2023, Alda visited Broadway to see the revival of Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch. He starred in the 1961 original production.

Gary Burghoff

Gary Burghoff played Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly from 1972 to 1979, appearing in 155 episodes. Burghoff, 81, is the only character to be cast for both the film and TV show.

Burghoff's M*A*S*H success earned him six Emmy nominations for the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. In 1977, Burghoff finally got his well-deserved Emmy Award, which M*A*S*H co-star Alan Alda accepted on his behalf. 

Burghoff went on to regularly appear on game shows like Match Game, Hollywood Squares and Showoffs.

Loretta Swit

Loretta Swit got her Hollywood start as a guest actress on shows like Hawaii Five-O, Gunsmoke and Mission: Impossible. In 1972, Swit, 87, was cast for her first recurring role on CBS as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan. Swit played the patriotic head nurse, but had no friends among the hospital staff. She was married to Major Frank Burns, portrayed by Larry Linville.

As the show went on, Swit’s character adapted and she developed new friends among the surgeons and camp crew. Swit and Alda were the only two cast members to appear in both the pilot episode and the finale of M*A*S*H. 

Swit was among the four cast members — herself, Alda, Jamie Farr and William Christopher — who stayed the entire 11 seasons. Swit also won two Emmy Awards for her performance on the sitcom. 

An animal rights activist, Swift hosted a 26-part series on the Discovery Channel called Those Incredible Animals, in 1992. Her last TV appearance was in 2008, on the Game Show Network.

Jamie Farr

Jamie Farr is most known for his role on M*A*S*H as the corporal who attempted to get discharged by wearing women's clothes. Corporal Klinger ultimately became one of the most unforgettable and beloved characters on the hit series.

Farr, 90, was the only cast member to serve in Korea, and the dog tags he wore in the show were from his time in the service. He oftentimes was at the tail end of the joke because of his nasally voice. In one episode, Farr joked that his nose had its own serial number.

In 1990, Farr celebrated his Broadway debut as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls at 60 years old. Farr was a rotating gameshow host on the $250,000 Game Show Spectacular. He also appeared in hit shows like Twilight Zone, the Dick Van Dyke Show, The Lucy Show, I Dream of Jeannie and The Andy Griffith Show.

Farr married his wife Joy Ann Richards in 1963. They share two children.

Mike Farrell

Mike Farrell was cast as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt in 1975, his first big Hollywood break. Farrell’s character was created between the third and fourth seasons, when Wayne Rogers, who played Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre, left the series.

Farrell, 85, stayed on until the final episode, eight years later. He even wrote and directed multiple episodes. 

Following the finale of M*A*S*H, Farrell continued his acting career in 1999's Providence, where he played veterinarian Jim Hansen. After Providence, Farrell appeared in Desperate Housewives, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Supernatural.

In 1984, Farrell married actress Shelley Fabares following his divorce from Judy Hayden. Farrell has since become a political and social issues activist, writing and publishing two books. 

In 2022, Farrell and Alda got together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of M*A*S*H with some red wine. Alda posted photos of the sweet reunion to his X, previously known as Twitter, account.

Lawrence Lavon Linville

Lawrence Lavon Linville is best known for his role as surgeon Major Frank Burns. He started out in guest starring roles on TV shows like Bonanza, Mission: Impossible and Mannix.

In 1972, Linville picked up a five-year contract playing a snobbish surgeon second-in-command at the 4077th M*A*S*H. At the end of his contract, production offered to extend his contract another two years, but Linville declined. 

In 1984, Linville co-starred in an ABC primetime television soap opera called Paper Dolls. The 14-episode show gave a behind-the-scenes look at the fashion industry. For M*A*S*H’s 20th anniversary, Linville appeared alongside Larry Gelbart, the show’s creator and producer, during an interview commemorating the Memories of M*A*S*H. 

Linville married five times, leaving behind Deborah Guydon when he died in 2000 from pneumonia.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Wayne Rogers

Wayne Rogers was already making a name for himself when he joined M*A*S*H. In 1959, Rogers, 82, was on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow and Odds Against Tomorrow, which was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Rogers auditioned for the role of Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre, a thoracic surgeon, because of his brighter outlook on life. However, as storylines changed through the years, Rogers wasn't thrilled with his character's development and left ahead of the fourth season.

In 1985, he played Major Tony Nelson opposite Barbara Eden in the televised reunion movie I Dream of Jeannie... Fifteen Years Later. 

Outside of acting, Rogers developed an interest in money management and went onto becoming a panelist on the Fox Business Network show Cashin' In with Eric Bolling. 

Rogers passed away from pneumonia complications in 2015, exactly one year before fellow cast member William Christopher.

William Christopher

In 1972, William Christopher joined the cast of M*A*S*H as Father Mulcahy, the Catholic priest that serves as the Army chaplain. The role was originally played by George Morgan in the pilot episode.

Christopher, 84, brought quirkiness to the character and continued to play Father Mulcahy in the two-season spin-off AfterMASH. He also appeared in Good Times, Murder She Wrote and The Love Boat.

He returned to his priestly roots with one of his last TV appearances as Father Tobias on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives.

Christopher was married to Barbara Christopher from 1958 until he died in 2016. Together, they adopted two children, who appeared in a Season 4 episode of M*A*S*H titled, "Dear Mildred."

The actor died from a non-small cell lung carcinoma at his home in Pasadena, California, on New Year's Eve. Christopher was diagnosed with cancer a year and a half before he died.