Gary Burghoff, known for his role as the delightful yet sly Radar in the military-medical comedy series MAS*H, made a significant decision to step away from his acting career and prioritize the mending of his gradually disintegrating family.
Recently, the 80-year-old actor, who won an Emmy Award, joyfully embraced his new role as a grandfather when Miles “Sonar” Burghoff welcomed his baby daughter into the world. A photograph shared by Miles towards the end of March 2023 captured the precious moment, accompanied by a caption that read, “I caught the best 8-pound fish of my life today.” In the picture, he proudly introduced Rylee Elisabeth Burghoff to the world.
Miles, an experienced angler, inherited his father’s deep passion for the sport. “He’s the one who really got me started,” shared the younger Burghoff during a fishing tournament. His father humbly replied, “I’m just here to provide moral support. This reflects the beauty of parents pursuing their passions alongside their children.” While Miles chose a different career path from his father, he carries the illustrious Radar name. “I was given the nickname Sonar because my father played Radar on the TV series MAS*H,” revealed Miles. He and his brother Jordan are the children of Burghoff and his second wife, Elizabeth Bolstrom, whom he married in 1985 but divorced in 2005. Tragically, Bolstrom passed away in November 2019.
From his previous marriage to Janet Gayle, which ended in divorce in 1979, Burghoff also shares a daughter named Gena Gayle Burghoff, born in 1985. When leaving MASH, Burghoff didn’t take much with him. “I didn’t leave MASH a wealthy man,” Burghoff revealed in an interview. “I could have renegotiated my contract, but money wasn’t the most important thing in my life… You either strive to be rich and famous, or you choose to be a devoted parent. You can’t have both.”
Instead of accepting numerous offers for roles in 1980s sitcoms, including one on Newhart, Burghoff opted for regional theater. “I wanted to have control over the number of weeks I worked and spend the rest of my time with my family,” he explained.
After his breakthrough performance on MAS*H, his theater appearances quickly lost their shine. They couldn’t compare to his portrayal of Cpl. Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly, a naive country boy working as the company clerk (and occasionally bugler) at the U.S. Army’s Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War (1950-1953). Burghoff played this role for seven seasons, from 1972 to 1983.
The 1970 film, which starred Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, and Sally Kellerman, included Burghoff as the sole actor to play his character in both the TV series and the movie. Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, portrayed by Loretta Swit in the TV adaptation, earned an Oscar nomination for Sally Kellerman’s performance in the film.
Burghoff faced challenges balancing his demanding schedule with family life, especially after appearing in every episode during the show’s first three seasons. Consequently, his character’s appearances decreased from 24 to 13 episodes, a significant drop from his previous full-season participation. In season seven, Radar bid farewell in a two-part episode titled “Good-Bye Radar,” which explained his departure from the army, marking his final season on the show.
During this time, Burghoff encountered personal difficulties with his wife, as shared by MAS*H director Charles S. Dubin in an interview with The Television Academy Foundation. Dubin revealed that Burghoff struggled emotionally during the “Goodbye Radar” episodes, particularly when the character had to say goodbye to the woman he loved. Burghoff became overwhelmed and broke down, necessitating a fifteen-minute break, during which Dubin took him on a tour of Fox’s back lot. Dubin explained that the script’s reference to a possible future with the woman mirrored Burghoff’s own domestic problems, contributing to his emotional state. The award-winning actors Alan Alda (Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce), Loretta Swit (“Hot Lips” Houlihan), and Jamie Farr (Sgt. Maxwell Q. Klinger) managed the barracks for the show’s remaining three seasons.
Although a spin-off series called WALTE*R, focusing on Radar’s life after MASH, failed to materialize, Burghoff reprised his role as Radar for two episodes in the spin-off series AfterMash.
In an attempt to entice Burghoff to return, producers offered him a lucrative $4 million contract, but he turned it down. By 1991, his financial situation had deteriorated, and he was on the brink of bankruptcy. In an interview, he revealed, “the money ran out,” and he found himself with only $500 left. It was at this critical juncture that Burghoff, a multi-talented individual with experience in off-Broadway acting, jazz music, stamp collecting, and inventing the Chum Magic fish-attractor gadget, decided to change his path.
Burghoff embarked on a new venture by creating oil paintings on canvas featuring North American wildlife. These stunning artworks commanded a price tag of $25,000 each and were showcased in art galleries. Today, if you’re fortunate, you might come across one of his pieces in an auction.
Burghoff generously contributed to a GoFundMe campaign aimed at assisting those affected by the devastating California fires that occurred four years ago. In a video released by his son Jordan, Burghoff appeared visibly older, but his admirers still praised his acting skills and ongoing efforts.
One person reminisced, saying, “OMG, I remember him from my childhood when I used to watch MASH. He still possesses the same voice and looks.” Another commenter expressed their appreciation, stating, “It’s great to see you, Mr. Burghoff. I’m donating not only because there’s a need, but also because I feel indebted to you. As a child, I watched MASH and adored your work. Now, my wife and I are relishing the series once more on Netflix. You made me laugh, feel, and think, and I am grateful for all of that. Jordan, thank you for sharing this.”
We are fortunate to have individuals like Gary Burghoff among us. Please share your memories of MAS*H with us and let us know your thoughts on his decision to leave his role as Radar in an effort to salvage his marriage.