Gary Burghoff

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Gary Burghoff 2003

Gary Burghoff (born May 24, 1943 in Bristol , Connecticut ) is an American actor .

He became known for the role of "Radar" O'Reilly, whom he played as the only actor involved in both the feature film MASH and the corresponding television series and its sequel After MASH .

His mother Ann Burghoff, herself a dancer, taught him to dance at an early age . As an autodidact, he learned to play the drums despite the crippling of three fingers on his left hand .

Through his appearance on the Broadway musical You're a Good Man - Charlie Brown , director Robert Altman noticed him. He offered him the role of "Radar" O'Reilly for the feature film MASH . Burghoff played the character of the lovable infantile and always helpful company writer so convincingly that he was offered the role in the following television series. 1979 Burghoff got out with the beginning of the eighth season from the series; in some of the previously filmed scenes, however, he also appeared in the eighth season. Even before that, he had restricted his work in order to have more time for his private life. He still took part in several stage and television shows, but with rather moderate success.

In 1979, his 1971 marriage to Janet Gayle was divorced. He later married his wife Elisabeth, with whom he has sons Jordan and Miles. Daughter Gena comes from his first marriage.

His attempt to make a career as an interpreter of jazz music was just as unsuccessful as his activity as a songwriter. He founded a company that sells fish bait, devoted himself more to his fight for animal rights and runs a small zoo . He was also recognized as a wildlife painter.

In his role as “Radar” at M * A * S * H , Burghoff let some of his own personality flow into it. So he had two appearances as a drummer and again and again he was seen as an animal lover.

The long and intensive days of shooting for M * A * S * H gradually led Burghoff to a state of chronic exhaustion ( burnout syndrome ). The result was outbursts of anger and fits of rage on the film set. When these circumstances were discussed controversially in 1996 in the English M * A * S * H newsgroup , his colleague Mike Farrell defended him .

Web links

Commons : Gary Burghoff  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Google Groups - alt.tv.mash: Regarding Gary Burghoff.