‘MAS*H’ Cast: Then And Now (2021) (2025)

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‘MAS*H’ Cast: Then And Now (2021)

David Kaplan

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#207

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Subject:	‘MAS*H’ Cast: Then And Now (2021)
Date:	Wed, 3 Feb 2021 20:59:38 +0000
From:	DoYouRemember <Info@...>
Reply-To:	DoYouRemember <Info@...>
To:	Friend <sexzguy@...>

Through early morning fog, I see visions of the things to be. And those things today, are updates on everyone’s favorite Captains and Majors and Corporals- Oh My. Welcome to basic training, Maggot! I’m so sorry that’s rude of me. How about just “welcome.” Today we’re catching up with the MASH cast who brought to life a little hospital unit in Korea, and out of it created unity and laughter for a nation.
MASH ran for a whopping 11 seasons. It quickly became the gold standard for television programming back in the ’70s and into the ’80s and spurred on 3 spin-off shows, Trapper MD, After MASH, and Walter. Much of the credit goes to the incredible cast of actors, who, led by Alan Alda, grabbed a nation’s attention for over a decade. And when the journey finally ended, we all watched. Let’s revisit those very actors, and see what led them to MASH, and what some of the cast is up to today hanging up their dog tags for good. Let’s dig into the good stuff…

1. Alan Alda – Dr. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce
Alan Alda was kind of the spine of M*A*S*H, being the lead actor, but that was just part of the equation, as he often wrote and directed episodes for the acclaimed series. This includes the movie-length finale that shattered the record books with 121 million viewers. Alda actually directed 31 episodes of M*A*S*H, the first coming in season 2 with “Mail Call”. Alda wrote and directed three movies after honing his craft on that Army Surgical Base in Korea. He completed Sweet Liberty in 1986 starring him and Michael Caine. 2 years later he completed A New Life starring himself, Hal Linden, and Ann-Margaret. Then, in 1990, we would direct his final picture, Betsy’s Wedding co-starring alongside Joey Bishop and Madeline Kahn. That would be his final directorial effort, Alda preferring to concentrate fully on his specific role, rather than split his attention into fractions.

Alda proved to be a workhouse on M*A*S*H and continued that mindset for his entire career. Did you know, he was the only man who was in both the first episode and the finale? The only man ya see, which brings us to Loretta Swit aka Hot Lips.

2. Loretta Swit – Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan
Yep, the only other actor from M*A*S*H who was in both the first and the final chapter of this fantastic series was Loretta Swit (one of our 50 Fabulous Stars of the 1970s). she was so dynamic that showrunners tweaked the character to fit her wishes. Swit naturally wanted Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan’s character to grow during the course of the show, away from a promiscuous, shrill one, to a tough independent role model type. And by the end of the show, they even stopped calling her Hot Lips.

Swit actually tried to quit the show during the tenth season, because she was up for Detective Cagney in, ya guessed it, Starsky & Hutch. So sorry, Cagney & Lacey. Unfortunately, contracts and studios rarely give up control, and CBS didn’t shock us all here and refused to allow the show swap. Loretta did wind up playing Cagney in the TV movie pilot which received great reviews and ratings. Unfortunately, the studios held firm. So, Sharon Gless took her place and starred on the show for 6 years.

3. Jamie Farr – Sergeant Maxwell Q. Klinger
It’s interesting to note that Jamie Farr and Alan Alda were the only two main cast members to have actually served in the U.S. Army in South Korea. Both of them did their tours of duty after the 1953 cease-fire. Farr was drafted and began his part completing training films for the army before going overseas to Japan and being part of the Armed Forces Radio. But things changed dramatically, when a good friend back home, a little-name of Red Skelton. Ya see, Red’s 12-year-old son had just died of Leukemia, Red needed to get away and also wanted to fulfill a deeper mission. He decided to request Farr’s support from the state department, in his own efforts to entertain the troops. Red plucked Jamie from being a private and raised him up. They began performing and touring throughout South Korea.

Even after the war, Red continued to lift up Jamie Farr. After Farr’s father passed away, he was in limbo. Worries about home were pushing him to abandon his current path of comedy and entertainment. Luckily, Red didn’t see that as a possibility, claiming Farr was, quote, “A doctor of comedy” and personally employed him in a way that supported his family back home. Who knew that we had Red Skelton to thank, in part for the magic of the M*A*S*H ensemble?

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