Early on, Trapper and Hawkeye were partners, both partaking in hedonistic pursuits and playing practical jokes on Majors Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan. leaves, Hawkeye returns, and while Hawkeye is upset over his departure, he is even more so because of the fact that B.J. The show ran from 1972-1983, which puts it in elite company after all, only the most popular shows can run for ten seasons or more. All Rights Reserved. The rank of Captain is achieved after 7 years of active duty service or a field promotion for officers on the line side (fighting). Despite his unceremonious exit from M*A*S*H, Wayne was apparently offered an opportunity to reprise the role he'd played in the series in his own spinoff show, Trapper John, M.D. Updated March 6, 2020 by Richard Keller:As we near the 50th anniversary of this iconic show, more behind the scenes information comes out. His full name remained a mystery throughout the series. At the time, he claimed he didn't want to get typecast into physician roles and wanted to expand his acting reach. His exit is abrupt and, in the show, only explained as Trapper having been "discharged," though viewers are offered no other explanation. NOW:Stiers passed away in Oregon due to complications resulting from bladder cancer in 2018. In 1968, surgeon H. Richard Hornbergerusing the nom de plume of Richard Hookercollaborated with writer W.C. Heinz to create the book MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, based on his. It is not hard to believe, seeing as McIntyre is an Irish surname and Ireland is known for its large population of Catholics. Elliott Gould (1970 film)Wayne Rogers TV series Pernell Roberts Trapper John, M.D. At the beginning of Season 4 he replaced Trapper John at the 4077th, shortly before Henry Blake's replacement, Colonel Potter, arrived as the new commander. 'Trapper' John! TV series) B.J. It didn't take long for B.J. He also appeared on The Big Valley in 1968. Several of these living TV legends continue to work in film and TV to this day, and perhaps they will gather together in September to celebrate the iconic show's special birthday. After he left the series in a contract dispute, he played another doctor on 'House Calls.'. Whenever I see a big pair of feet or a cheesy mustache, I'll think of you." Colonel Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, colloquially referred to as "Mac," wanted to end his contract with M*A*S*H. But the thing that made his leave stand out amongst other characters who left the popular television sitcom was that Henry Blake's leave was permanent. Simply the Worlds Most Interesting Travel Site. Which 'M*A*S*H' Cast Members Are Still Alive Today? Wayne went on to act in another medical show, House Calls, after leaving M*A*S*H. He passed away in 2015. Rogers also appeared in the 1980s miniseries Chiefs. (Harry Morgan). Trapper John, M.D. McIntyre is portrayed by Elliott Gould in the 1970 film, by Wayne Rogers in the first three seasons of the television series, and then by Pernell Roberts in the 1979-86 series Trapper John, M.D. Height: is an excellent doctor, which is noticed even by Frank's replacement, Major Winchester, though he bristles at the fact that B.J. He was replaced on the show by Mike . reluctantly tells Hawkeye that he can no longer thumb his nose at authority, as the act and the citation have turned him into a soldier. was referred to in passing in the TV hospital drama. THEN: Wayne Rogers played surgeon Captain John Trapper McIntyre, Hawkeyes partner-in-crime in the shows first three seasons, before leaving to pursue other work. strongly objects to this needless surgery calling it mutilation and a violation of his oath, and after a heated argument with him refuses to be a part of Hawkeye's scheme. Rogers also starred in several other movies. itself; when Hawkeye rhetorically asks who would name their son "B.J. Wayne Rogers as Trapper on the M*A*S*H TV series. RELATED: 12 Most Controversial TV Episodes Ever Aired. When the writers took the liberty of making Hawkeye a thoracic surgeon in the episode "Dear Dad" (December 17, 1972), even though Trapper was the unit's only thoracic surgeon in the movie and the novel, Rogers felt Trapper had been stripped of his credentials. Season 5 continued to put comedy first, though Margaret began to change and Burns ran out of room to grow. After the third season, Rogers left the show and was replaced by Mike Farrell as B. J. Hunnicutt. Contents. ", and the nickname "Trapper John" permanently stuck. also has a solid moral code and holds fast to his Hippocratic Oath; this is displayed in Preventive Medicine after Hawkeye spikes the drink of a bloodthirsty Colonel Lacy to make him medically unfit to lead an unnecessary battle. J. Hunnicutt was a fourth season replacement for Trapper and stayed on with the cast until the very end. But he also stands up for others, particularly the enlisted, when they are thrown into indefensible situations. Hunnicutt is a character in the M*A*S*H TV series. In Bottoms Up, after he stages a prank with Hawkeye during which Charles loses his pants in the OR (for which Hawkeye was blamed), B.J. RELATED: M*A*S*H Star David Ogden Stiers Passes Away at 75. Trapper was also referenced in Period of Adjustment, during which B.J. You think a lot of people will be tuning in to see the series finale of Supernatural this year, or Law and Order: SVU (whenever that happens)? Odessa Cleveland appeared on M*A*S*H from 1972-1975 as Ginger Bayliss, one of the most frequently featured nurses over the first few seasons. [5] Players alternate between controlling a helicopter picking up wounded soldiers from the front and a surgeon removing shrapnel from a soldier, similar to Microsurgeon. Gary Burghoff played the popular character Walter "Radar" O'Reilly on M*A*S*H for the first eight seasons of the show's run. that followed them. That same year, Harry Morgan replaced McLean Stevenson. The film was directed by Robert Altman and starred Donald Sutherland as Hawkeye Pierce and Elliott Gould as Trapper John McIntyre. Judson), whereas he played . It starred Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce and Wayne Rogers as Trapper John McIntyre. In the film he had a very dry and sardonic sense of humor, while in the TV series he was more of a clown. got his doctorate from Stanford University medical school, becoming a fourth generation doctor in his family. At the beginning of Season 4 (after the dramatic season 3 finale in which Henry is discharged but killed on the way home), Hawkeye returns from R&R alone in Tokyo to find that Trapper has also been discharged. In Post Op, Frank Burns wrongly accuses an enlisted corpsman named Boone of killing his patient; Boone is crushed, but Trapper examines the patient's chart and then punches Frank in the presence of Margaret who had just arrived at camp moments earlier. Despite his friendship with Hawkeye, it is implied that Trapper never bothered to contact him for the remainder of the war to apologize for his awkward departure; even though that was completely selfish and out of character on his part, it was probably the writers' intent to not let his departed character cast a negative shadow on his replacement, B.J. Copyright 2023 Distractify. Despite the fact that this spinoff series was not as popular as the original show, Trapper John, M.D. Imagine what M*A*S*Hwould have been like without Jamie Farr's character! B.J. In the film, Elliott Gould played the Trapper John character and Donald Sutherland was Hawkeye. NOW: Stevenson passed January 15, 2016, from a heart attack. It was the first spin-off to feature a character from the series in civilian life after the war. I PROMISE! NOW: Jamie Farr has most recently appeared in MeTV promos for M*A*S*H reruns as well as the Fox sitcom The Cool Kids. and Trapper John share is their penchant for tomfoolery in the form of pranks and practical jokes, except that B.J. is shown to have a passion for motorcycles; he gets to drive one in The Yalu Brick Road. Fans who tuned in for the series penultimate episode, "As Time Goes By," know that there was a time capsule buried by the characters. responds with, "I'll miss you- a lot. NOW: Roger passed away Dec. 31, 2015, due to complications from pneumonia. ", "I'm a temporarily misassigned civilian.". Hawkeye is convinced that B.J. Better. In 1988 and 1990, he appeared before the United States House Committee on the Judiciary as an expert witness, testifying in favor of retaining the banking laws enacted under the GlassSteagall Legislation act of 1933. Despite a guarantee that his character would have a better development arc in this series, as Trapper would then be the show's main character, he decided to decline the offer. Boston, MA (in book, film and TV series)San Francisco, CA in Trapper John, M.D. became more of a straight man to Hawkeye's antics. The most prominent example of this was in Period of Adjustment when, soon after Radar went home, B.J. B.J. Unfortunately, the producers ofM*A*S*Hmay not have realized this. After an OR session and a brief game of pick-up football during which Hawkeye catches a long pass thrown by Trapper, a delighted Hawkeye finally remembers him from a crazy college football game between Androscoggin and Dartmouth; Androscoggin won 6-0 during a blizzard when Hawkeye intercepted one of Trapper's passes and scored in the last few seconds of the game. This presents a problem for Colonel Blake as he intended to appoint Trapper Chief Surgeon, but Margaret is determined to see Trapper punished. Oct . He gets drunk, packs his duffel bag and tries to go AWOL, even knocking Hawkeye down when he tries to stop him. In 1990, Rogers co-starred with Connie Selleca in the CBS made-for-television movie Miracle Landing based on the true story of the 1988 Aloha Airlines Flight 243 crash landing after an explosive cabin depressurization. It is believed that Trapper is, or was raised, a Roman Catholic. Born: Audiences still looked forward to seeing which outfit Klinger would wear next and what stunts he'd pull to attempt getting discharged. Timothy Brown also appeared both the movie and the TV show, however he played a different character in the movie (Cpl. The actor who played Lt. The main reason was to distinguish the two characters, who seemed quite similar. Centered around the exploits of Army surgeons in the fictional Mobile Army Surgical Hospital 4077 during the Korean War, the show began as a spinoff of the hit Robert Altman film released in 1970, which in turn was an adaptation of the bestseller M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Doctors. After the first incident (Hot Lips and Empty Arms) during which he and Hawkeye dragged her into the shower to sober her up, she said to Trapper, "You're built, you son of a gun". Burghoff is notable for being the only actor from the movie MASH (1970) to reprise his role as a main cast member on the television series. M*A*S*H: 15 Hidden Details You Never Noticed, 10 Sitcoms From The '70s Everyone Forgot About, 12 Most Controversial TV Episodes Ever Aired, 15 Actors Who Regretted Quitting TV Shows And Movies, M*A*S*H Star David Ogden Stiers Passes Away at 75, 20 Mistakes In Iconic Sitcoms Only True Fans Noticed. One of the most beloved actors of the '80s, Patrick Swayze, was even on the show. A large fanbase for the series continues to exist; the show has never been out of syndication worldwide, and 20th Century Fox has had notable success selling the film and seasons of the TV series on DVD. Vital information He wrote his novel in 1956. (FYI, the Bronze Star is awarded for combat action against the enemy; he would have probably been awarded a US Army Commendation Medal or the US Soldiers Medal). 's daughter, B.J. Farrell's wife at the time, Judy Farrell, also acted on M*A*S*H in the recurring role of Nurse Able. Sara Sanderson is a writer, author, and teacher who produces content for a variety of publications, both on and offline, beneath various names. Hunnicutt replaced Trapper John in the show's fourth season, he was a young, clean-shaven, mild-mannered doctor drafted into the Korean War. Wayne Rogers: "Trapper" John McIntyre. And while the show has been off the air for a long time, its influence and legacy will never die. InfoWorld called M*A*S*H "the exception" among the TI 99/4A's generally poor game library.[6]. NOW: Christopher passed away from lung cancer in 2016. that Pernell Roberts' portrayal of the character was modeled after Elliot Gould's film characterization rather than Wayne Rogers' TV depiction. In Blood and Guts he gets another motorcycle from a wounded soldier who wanted nothing more to do with it, but it gets totaled by Clayton Kibbee. [8][9] He died exactly one year before fellow M*A*S*H cast member William Christopher. said, but motions for the pilot to take off nonetheless. The franchise effectively ended with the conclusion of Trapper John, M.D. Consequently, unbeknownst to viewers at the time, Abyssinia, Henry would be Trapper John's final M*A*S*H episode as well as Henry's. He replaced Trapper John, both in his position within the unit and as an ally of Hawkeye Pierce and a foil of Frank Burns, appearing in all but one episode of the rest of the series. During season 4 of M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell joined the cast as B.J. Hunnicutt Clean cut, family, even temperament In spite of that I really like the guy. gets orders to ship out in two days, and, "next thing I know, here I am" (in Korea). [7], Rogers died on December 31, 2015, from complications of pneumonia in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82. TV series Ironically, nearly three months after Trapper John, M.D. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Omigod, he trapped me! However, that changed radically when Alan Alda was cast as Hawkeye. While discussing Fr. He was also the head of Wayne Rogers & Co., a stock trading investment corporation. The U.S. entered the Korean conflict at the end of June 1950. The entire script was completed in just three days by writer Larry Gelbart. 's explanation. himself; he explains that he only got as far as Guam (one-third of the way home) before finding out that all flights are canceled, his orders had been rescinded, and that he was ordered back to the 4077th. . Hunnicutt, a replacement for Wayne Rogers' character "Trapper" John. stands for as a joke, Prior to his joining M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell's then-wife, actress Judy Farrell, appeared on the show in the early seasons playing various nurses. B.J. The reason for this was three of his fingers were deformed to a birth defect. tended to be more passive, preferring to be a quieter voice of reason. Instead, Trapper was played by Pernell Roberts, who had portrayed Adam Cartwright in Bonanza prior to the role. A skill he developed despite the deformity. THEN: William Christopher replaced George Morgan, who portrayed the kind-hearted priest in the series pilot episode. Naval Institute, he wore his "real dog-tags on M*A*S*H.". Conductor opened the door, the girl looked out and yelled 'Oh, he trapped me! The show gave him a $4 million contract in 1979 (about $15 million in today's economy), but he rejected the deal because he still wouldn't have been its highest-earning cast member. He briefly visits Hawkeye, but makes no mention of his discharge while there. Captain (O-3), U.S. Army Reserve Klinger was only meant to appear in one episode of the show, and the character wasn't even in the book. B.J. In addition to the disputes about contracts, he says he also left M*A*S*H (1972) because he felt the writers were not giving Trapper John any character development. Rogers took on the role of Major Tony Nelson, which was originally portrayed by Larry Hagman in the television series when Hagman was unavailable to reprise the character he had originated. He left the show in 1979, but he returned later that year for a two-part special episode called "Goodbye Radar. It probably won't compare to the sheer numbers that watched the finale of M*A*S*Hon Monday, February 28, 1983. Speaking of writing, M*A*S*Halso had an incredible pilot episode turnaround. is a TV dramatic series that showed the character in a contemporary setting (approximately 25 years after the Korean War ended). tries to reassure him that they will still get to see one another back home, but with each of them living on an opposite coast, Hawkeye doesn't see how and becomes convinced that once they go home they'll never see one another again; B.J., however, refuses to accept that finality. . After the production of this episode, both Stevenson and Wayne Rogers, who played the character of Trapper John McIntyre, left the series to pursue other interests. Boston born and raised, John McIntyre is a thoracic surgeon (chest cutter), and in the film is appointed chief surgeon at the 4077th. Wayne's exit from the show was abrupt and against the wishes of the producers. Especially in the episodes where he played the drums. does not consider himself a soldier in any way (in The Interview he calls himself a "temporary misassigned civilian"), but in Bombshells, B.J. Some of the actors who starred in M*A*S*Hhad actual military experience to draw from when it came to their scenes. Hazel In recent years, he has guest-starred on popular TV dramas like NCIS and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. This changed after Alan Alda, whose acting career and rsum up to that point had outshone that of Rogers, was cast as Hawkeye and proved to be more popular with the audience. Leo Morgenstern is a writer and editor based in Toronto, Canada. He also starred in the short-lived 1976 period detective series City of Angels and the 19791982 CBS series House Calls, first with Lynn Redgrave (both were nominated for Golden Globes in 1981, as best actor and best actress in TV comedy, but did not win) and then later with actress Sharon Gless (coincidentally, one of the House Calls co-stars was Roger Bowen who played the original Colonel Henry Blake in the MASH movie). THEN: Maxwell Q. Klinger was only supposed to appear in one episode as a Colonel who dresses in womens clothing in an attempt to get kicked out of the Army (the 1970s were a different time). Here are the actors from the series who are still alive today. The character of B.J. With M*A*S*H airing before the internet was a thing, it's fun to revisit and discover details we never noticed before. In 1981, he played the role of an art forger in Roger Vadim's The Hot Touch. The entire cast received scripts and had to act out the majority of the episode before they each received a copy of the final page before their end of the season party, which had to be a shocker for the entire cast. Season 4 was pretty similar to the previous two seasons save the fact that BJ and Potter had replaced Trapper and Henry. Gary Burghoff and Edward Winter also appeared as guests. is in a helicopter and forced to cut a rope leading down to a wounded soldier he and the pilot were attempting to rescue from an enemy patrol, effectively abandoning him to capture or death. I thought they were both awesome. TV series) Technically, one was a Boxing Day episode, but the start of the program took place on the night of Christmas. NOW: The 85-year old Swit has mostly stepped back from acting, although she appeared in the 2019 indie faith-based film Play the Flute. Shortly after B.J. Hunnicut, Hawkeye's new tent mate. THEN: Wayne Rogers played surgeon Captain John "Trapper" McIntyre, Hawkeye's partner-in-crime in the show's first three seasons, before leaving . AfterMASH was a successor to the original M*A*S*H television series, featuring Harry Morgan, Jamie Farr, and William Christopher after the war, as the same characters they played in the original television series. Mike Farrell joined the cast of M*A*S*H in season four as Captain B.J. Played by: received a letter from Peg in which she tells of meeting Radar in San Francisco; he becomes particularly upset when he reads that Erin ran up to Radar and called him "Daddy"; his anger reaches a level where he destroys the still in the Swamp and punches Hawkeye in the face before storming out. One personality trait that B.J. Sadly, in the nearly four decades since the show went off the air, many of the main cast members have passed away, including William Christopher (Father Mulcahy), Wayne Rogers ("Trapper" John), Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns), Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter) and McLean Stevenson (Lt. . Hunnicutt, a character meant to replace Wayne Rogers' Trapper John. He was also greatly frustrated with the producers demanding that he sign a contract that included a "morality clause" which stated the producers had the right to suspend him or fire him if he took part in an acting project outside of M*A*S*H without their approval, which he refused to sign because he saw it as an absurd demand. Only Alan Alda knew this secret. Contents 1 "Welcome to Korea" 2 About B.J. Rogers played Trapper John, usually acting opposite of Alan Alda's Hawkeye. left in the exact same way as Trapper John: without closure- to wit, going home without leaving so much as a goodbye note. Though he did show some stubble from time to time, he remained without a full face of hair during his first few seasons. Although he was offered a 2-year extension, he turned it down. Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (TV series episode). 1922 (?) The show explained John's and Roger's absence as the military having discharged the character. Hunnicut, served in the Marine Corps. No matter who pitches a TV show today, most writers and producers couldn't dream of hitting those numbers. Rank: He published several other novels based on that group. So fans might have been shocked tuning into Season Four to discover Trapper John M.I.A. From his memoirs to his involvement in kids' science events, hosting Scientific American Frontiers to winning multiple Emmys, Golden Globe Awards, and other forms of recognition, Alda has remained a popular actor throughout his lifetime. B.J. According to MeTV, Wayne was unsatisfied with certain terms in his contract, but instead of having them altered, he just never signed it. Hawkeye can't hear what B.J. B.J. Morgan, a veteran character actor and former Universal contract player, portrayed Colonel Sherman T. Potter. It's the signpost that sat in the middle of the camp. But despite the series starting with this surgical duo, by the show's fourth season, Trapper John was gone. is discharged from the army and leaves while Hawkeye is under psychiatric treatment. 's note, spelled out in rocks on the chopper pad (for Hawkeye, and for the viewing audience): In essence, B.J. And in his place was Mike Farrell playing Capt. Richard Hooker's book MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors is the story of the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea, . The series was canceled after two seasons. In the series finale, while Hawkeye is in psychiatric care for his nervous breakdown, B.J. Rogers then guest-starred five times in a recurring role on CBS's Murder, She Wrote. . In fact, the producers gave the TV version of Hawkeye some of the character details of the film version of Trapper (in the MASH film, Trapper John is the 4077th's top chest-cutter and Chief Surgeon; in the TV series, Hawkeye is Chief Surgeon and references are made to him being the camp's top chest-cutter). In the TV show MASH, were the character replacements for Henry Blake, Trapper John, and Frank Burns better or worse? As a young actor, Rogers met actress Mitzi McWhorter in New York in the late 1950s. MASH is probably one of my favorite shows of all time, but it had a reputation for replacing characters. Crmetteer. didn't have to add one for Mill Valley as San Francisco was already on the signpost. Sara has been writing professionally for 26 years. It is occasionally produced by community theater and high school theater companies.