M*A*S*Hremains one of the most iconic and influential shows in television history; the series, which followed a rag-tag group of army doctors during the Korean War, premiered in 1972 and ran for 11 seasons before its record-shattering finale was watched by over 105 million people worldwide.
The comedy never shied away from heavy themes, particularly anti-war sentiment and the toll that combat can take on a person. Somehow managing to balance drama and humor, the show has remained in the cultural zeitgeist ever since.
Join HELLO! as we explore what the actors have achieved since their turn on the groundbreaking show.
Alan Alda as Dr Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce
Alan was the driving force behind M*A*S*Hand its stunning success, starring as the loveable lead Hawkeye Pierce. He also wrote and directed many episodes and went to bat on more than one occasion for the cast.
Post-M*A*S*H, Alan's career continued to soar in TV with roles inThe West Wing, ER, The Good Fight,andThe Blacklist.
He has been married to his wife Arlene since 1957, and the couple share three daughters; he revealed that he would commute from his home in New Jersey to Los Angeles instead of moving to Hollywood for the show to be there for his family as much as possible.
The iconic actor was sadly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease; however, he told Peoplein 2022 that he is "feeling good and charging ahead" and "doing everything [he] can to slow the progression of Parkinson's, which really can be slowed with work".
Loretta Swit as Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan
Loretta starred as the spunky head nurse Hot Lips Houlihan, featuring in every episode of the iconic show, which earned her two Emmys for her portrayal of the beloved character.
Despite leaving Hollywood behind and not appearing on screen since 1998, she remains a talented actress and toured a one-woman show based on Eleanor Roosevelt's life in 2013.
Loretta married Dennis Holahan, whom she met on the set of M*A*S*H; however, the couple sadly divorced in 1995 and share no children. She is also a fierce animal rights activist.
Jamie Farr as Corporal Maxwell Q Klinger
Jamie brought humor and lightness to a show with heavy themes, portraying a soldier who dressed in women's clothing so he would be discharged from the army. After M*A*S*H, he stayed on the TV track with roles inThe Love Boat, That '70s Show, The Cool KidsandMad About You.
He now works primarily in theater but never forgot his roots in the hit show. "You look back on your career and your life, and it's something special that you have, something that really lasts like M*A*S*Hthat's such a treasure in TV history," he said onTrib Live.
Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman T. Potter
Harry was perfect as the wise group leader and talented surgeon, earning him an Emmy for his brilliant portrayal of the Colonel. He enjoyed a long and storied career pre- and post-M*A*S*H, landing roles in everything fromThe Love BoatandDragnetto3rd Rock from the Sun.
Sadly, he passed away in 2011 after catching pneumonia, leaving behind his wife of 25 years, Barbara Bushman Quine, and four sons from his previous marriage.
William Christopher as Father Francis Mulcahy
William won hearts on the show with his portrayal of the gentle Roman Catholic priest Father Francis. Like his co-stars, he went on to other TV roles like The Love BoatandMurder, She Wrote, only to play a priest again in 2012 when he joined the cast ofDays of Our Lives.
He was a fierce advocate for the National Autistic Society, as his son Ned was diagnosed as a child. William passed away in 2016 after battling cancer, survived by his wife of 59 years and his two adopted sons.
Mike Farrell as B.J. Hunnicut
Mike was the ever-sensible and sweet B.J. Hunnicut, who also wrote and directed episodes of the show like his co-star Alan. Post-M*A*S*H, Mike stayed on television and appeared inSuperman, Desperate Housewives,andProvidence. He also became the Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild for a time.
Speaking to Today Extraabout the impactM*A*S*Hhad on his life, he explained, "I knew I would never have another working experience as important to me as that one was."
"There will never be another M*A*S*H," he continued. "There will not be another kind of extraordinary moment just as that one was. The combination of talent and the writers were just sensational. The production staff was perfect."
"The entire thing just couldn't have been, I can't think of a way it could have been better. We just cherished the moment," he said.
