Did the MASH Cast REALLY HATE Gary Burghoff?

Over the years, I have been repeatedly told that the cast of M*A*S*H was happy to see actor Gary Burghoff, the actor who played Radar O'Reilly, leave the show. This video attempts to answer the question as to whether or not Gary's colleagues enjoyed working with him.

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This video is not intended for children under the age of 14. Quite frankly, kids...I'm just some random old dude talking about nostalgic TV and movie stuff from a really long time ago and I highly doubt that it is going to interest you.

#classictv #thegoodstuff #davesundstrom

[D-FensDogG]

Beginning with 'Lil' (1978: Season 7; Episode 3) and through and including the final episode 'Goodbye, Farewell and Amen' (1983: Season 11; Episode 16), I worked on M*A*S*H. And I can tell you this:
.
If the rest of the cast was having any trouble with Gary, they did an excellent job of "acting" like they weren't. I never saw any kind of conflict or noticed any kind of tension. Furthermore, Gary Burghoff was definitely my favorite cast member. He was incredibly friendly and generous, and he went out of his way to introduce himself to me and get to know me as a person. I met a pretty large number of celebrities in Hollywood during the late '70s / early '80s, but I thought Gary was the nicest one of all.

[stormhawk]

Mike Farrell admitted that Gary Burghoff had the greatest range as an actor in the show.
The last 4 years without him sapped the quality.

[tealelliott]

I saw an interview with Gary where he stated his ex-wife was using his MASH work schedule to gain sole custody of their daughter. Gary wanted shared custody so he quit the show.

[louc]

I met Jamie Farr in 1990 in New Haven CT when he was in Oklahoma, the musical. I met him and his family and he was the kindest, funniest and warmest person you could meet and so was his family. He asked me for a recommendation to a local restaurant and I made my suggestion, I happened to walk by the restaurant (not noticing him) when all of a sudden I hear banging on the window and there is Jamie and his family, all smiles and waving with their “Thumbs Up” too. Talk about a great guy with a fantastic family, well you’re talking about him;)

[Summer_Reigns]

I wonder why Gary is the only cast member who’s often singled out for being difficult to work or get along with. I’ve heard Alan was no pleasure to work with either.

[joemurdoch]

Colonel Flagg was one of my favorite characters on the show, so I highly recommend watching that video. Gary Burghoff was the only cast member who transitioned over to the tv show from the film. Reading about the early days of the show it was surprising that some of the cast members did not even see the movie. The tone of the show changed over time. The characters of Hawkeye and Trapper in the movie were really not very likeable. They were softened up for the television show, and then evolved over time to be more sympathetic and less self centered.

The one thing that I noticed about Radar was that, in the early episodes, he was a little more mischievous. There is an early episode where they think they could all die and Radar skirts around camp trying to find a female willing to sleep with him. In another episode he helps Hawkeye and Trapper trick a visiting psychiatrist into thinking that Margaret wants to sleep with him and fools him into thinking her tent is his. Over time the character sweetened and became more innocent.

My impression in reading about Burghoff was that he was kind of burned out on playing Radar, and that his wife may have been using his full schedule on MASH in order to get custody of their children. I remember reading that the writers were not happy that Burghoff played Radar a little more angry in the final episodes, and, for some reason, all of a sudden did not want to wear the knit hat. To be honest, Burghoff was getting a little long in the tooth to play the character anyway.

Sad that he did not find success in another show, or in movies, but I am grateful for work he did on MASH. He had some great episodes and his performance has given me a lot of joy over the years.

[davidmihevc]

Greetings Dave.
MASH is one of my all time favorite shows. Everyone has their favorite characters and opinions about the show, but I believe all the actors that came and went over the years added their own unique spin to the show.
I always enjoyed Gary's portrayal of Radar, but thought that his leaving opened the door for Jamie Farrs character of Klinger to expand.

[sailorbychoice]

Gary Burghoff was also the only cast member for both M*A*S*H the tv series and the movie.

[dwaynefien]

I met Gary "Radar" Burghoff when I worked at Gold Country Casino in Oroville California. Gary lived in Paradise (the same one that burned down in the 2018 Campfire) since he lived so close, he was a regular during the weeknights (he came in very late/early) I assume to avoid the crowds of people. The staff knew who he was and we went out of our way to make sure no other patrons knew as he just didn't want to be bothered. I think this was around 2000-2002 and I think he was going through something... He wasn't too talkative, but he was polite (but never tipped).. He stopped coming in around the end of 2001 or beginning of 2002.. I heard that he moved. Honestly he was nicer than most of the other regulars we had in (some are assholes and meth heads) I did have the opportunity to speak with him briefly (not about his career) but about life in general and it was clear he was depressed... Noticing that, I just wished him luck and a good day (we are customer service staff, not therapists..).. I'm sure he wont remember me, but the short convos I had with him, I will remember for the rest of my life.. especially after re-watching the entire MASH series!

[LlyleHunter]

Gary Burghoff grew tired of playing the wholesome character and felt he’d outgrown it and that Radar had become insipid. He was also going through a custody battle and needed to prove that he’d have time to spend with his daughter. He also became quite a successful art trader and no longer needed to earn a living from MASH any longer as he was trading very highbrow art.

[kristinmercer]

I found it a little odd that the character of Radar “evolved” from drinking, smoking, poker playing and meeting up with women in the early episodes… to being an overtly shy, grape Nehi drinking, virginal character.
I must state though, I loved all of him in equal measure. ❤️

[kengaroo]

For my money, my favorite guest character was Dr. Sydney Freedman, played by the incomparable Alan Arbus. Of the main cast, I have to go with Father Mulcahy and Klinger (I'm an Ohio boy, too).
But the one who SHOULD have been listed in the main cast was Kellye Nakahara as Nurse Kellye. She was in more episodes than any other character except Hawkeye, Margaret, Klinger, Mulcahy, Radar, Potter and BJ. She was in 170 episodes. Farrel was in 179, Morgan was in 180, and Burgoff was in 181. That's 11 episodes or less from three of the major (not Major) stars, and many more than main cast members David Ogden Stires, McLean Stevenson and Wayne Rogers.
I will ALWAYS believe that Kellye should have been a main cast member, even if they gave her very few lines.

[johnricci]

Never met Burghoff but I knew Larry Linville in later years. He called Burghoff "that neurotic little bastard" who would refuse to come to the set until he was ready etc.

[joshythehand]

Gary was so good that we forgot he was about the same age as the Drs. A 40 year old guy playing a 19 year old for 10 years.

[obriets]

I still watch MASH irregularly, but at the moment, its Patty Duke, Love Boat, and Old Hawaii 5-0.
I pretty much live in the past these days because the present sucks so bad.

[libertygiveme]

Yeah, I always liked Gary Burghoff's character. He seemed like such a nice guy in person as well. Thanks for this video.

[macconmara]

Hi Dave. I have been watching but cannot always comment. Even if the MASH cast did not like Gary who cares. We always work with people we may not like but you do the job and don't let it get to you.But I am glad that the entire cast got along. I always enjoy knowing that castmates who are friends on TV are friends in real life. There is not one character on MASH that I did not like-they were all exceptional and Radar was a gem!

[nickperkins]

Respectfully to Gary, after almost nine consecutive years of playing Radar, the typecasting situation was probably absolutely unavoidable.

[rss]

I've heard two things. He was tired of being 30+ years old and playing a 19 year old. Plus, like Larry Linville, felt he had taken the character as far as it could go.

[SomeGuy-fv]

I had a film school teacher who worked some of the people that worked on M*A*S*H (behind the scenes) and from what he was able to gather was that everyone loved Gary, but that towards the end of his run, he was clearly under stress from personal issues and was burning out. If he became "difficult, " it was because of that, and nobody blamed him or hated him. There were no hard feelings.