If you’re a fan of great television – then
you’re a fan of M*A*S*H. Among the many things that made this show a huge hit are the great
cast members. Among them was Alan Alda who played Hawkeye Pierce. Alan Alda is also known
as one of the most liked people in the industry. Nevertheless, there were tensions among the cast
members on the set of the show. And there was one particular co-star who absolutely
did not like Alan Alda! In fact, once you learn about these tensions
you’ll wonder how this show continued for as long as it did and how it became such a success. If you
don’t know the story, you’ll know about it now… Join FactsVerse to learn about the only
co-star who truly hated Alan Alda on M*A*S*H… GARY BURGHOFF Gary Burghoff became an absolute star when
he was cast as Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly in M*A*S*H. Burghoff played the character
in the original film directed by Robert Altman and then reprised the role for the TV series.
He played the character for seven seasons before he left the show in 1979. Since he left
rather prematurely, there were many rumors and speculations about why he left – and many of
these rumors persist to this day. However, the real reason behind his departure is a bit more
complicated than what most people rumor about. After many years of avoiding the subject –
Gary Burghoff finally received his reasons why he left the show. He left the show because he
was exhausted and burned out. After all, this was one of this first roles and he was still a new
actor when he was cast in the TV series. After working on the show for 7 seasons, he was
exhausted and had lost his passion for the show. Like the other cast members, he was filming
for long hours. While this is the norm - the pressure of working on such a successful
show was taking a toll on this relative newcomer to the acting profession. Gary Burghoff
also revealed that he was going through a divorce at the time, and having to balance his personal
life with his hectic work schedule was a stress. But he also had his issues with different
cast members. They felt he was difficult to work with and wasn’t easy to get along with.
And in fact, one can say that the only co-star who truly hated Alan Alda on M*A*S*H was
Gary Burghoff. He had a tense relationship with Alan Alda and it seemed that working on set
with him was a major stressor for Gary Burghoff. Gary Burghoff had been commuting between
California, where the show was filmed, and his home in Connecticut, where his family
lived. He had to make a decision – whether to stick to the show or call it quits. As he put his
family first, he had to choose the latter option. However, his departure from M*A*S*H,
didn’t kill his career and he continued to work in both film and television. In
fact, he later reprised his role in the television series " W*A*L*T*E*R," which
was a spin-off of M*A*S*H – though not one that was successful. He retired from acting
in 2010 which is when he had his last credit. MIKE FARRELL M*A*S*H was not only a groundbreaking show
for its time but also a platform for actors to showcase their unique talents and to showcase
their own creativity. Alan Alda and Mike Farrell's friendly rivalry is rather well-known,
and this translated to their on-screen chemistry. Both of them were very involved
in their character arc during the series. In fact, their rivalry even influenced one
of the most memorable episodes of the show. In the episode "Preventative
Medicine," Farrell's character, B.J. Hunnicutt – acted out of character, according
to Mike Farrell. He felt that the character had to break the Hippocratic Oath and do some unethical
things. However, Mike Farrell felt that this was greatly out of character and that
it wasn’t appropriate for the show. But they moved on and the script was rewritten
as needed. Despite their occasional tiffs here and there, the two of them always
remained friends and a shining example of how actors can challenge themselves when
working together. From an outsider’s view, it may have seemed that Mike Farrell
was another actor who truly hated Alan Alda on M*A*S*H. But this couldn’t
have been further from the truth. This competitive friendship between Alda
and Farrell was not limited to this episode. Throughout the show's run, they both pushed
each other and believed that this rivalry would help them give better performances on
screen. And this is precisely what happened… If you’re a newcomer to the show, you’ll be impressed by the show and by
chemistry between these two great actors… While some of the cast members had issues on
set and this ultimately caused them to leave, Mike Farrell was true to his character and also
wanted Alan Alda and his fellow cast members to give their best performances – and that’s why the
show became one of television’s biggest successes. WAYNE ROGERS Wayne Rogers played the character of Trapper
John McIntyre and he was a beloved member of the M*A*S*H cast. In fact, one could
easily say that Trapper John was one of the best characters from the show. It’s
no surprise that Trapper John MD – became such a successful spinoff from M*A*S*H
– definitely better than W*A*L*T*E*R. Yet his departure from the show
in season 3 left fans wondering why. In fact, Trapper's exit
wasn’t properly addressed in the show. But there are several reasons
why actor Wayne Rogers left the series. According to Wayne Rogers, one of the
main reasons he left M*A*S*H was due to a contract dispute. Actually, he hadn’t
even signed a contract in the first place. He didn’t particularly like the direction
of his character and eventually felt that Trapper John was no more than a sidekick.
He must have been thrilled when he got to reprise the role he liked but in a
larger capacity on Trapper John MD. As a result, Wayne Rogers left M*A*S*H as
he wanted to pursue other opportunities. He wanted to explore other acting roles that
were a lot more interesting. Rogers also had an interest in producing and directing and
wanted to pursue those opportunities as well. Rogers' departure from M*A*S*H was
a significant loss for the show, and his absence was felt by both the
cast and the fans. He did briefly come back later for a few episodes and
it was revealed that Trapper John had been discharged. By this time, Wayne
Rogers was rather well known as an actor. Despite leaving M*A*S*H, Wayne Rogers
continued to act in other projects and remained a beloved actor in the entertainment
industry. He also pursued a successful career in business, becoming a well-respected
investor and financial commentator. He continued to work in film and television
until 2003 when he retired. He passed away in 2015. Upon his death, he received praise
from his co-star Alan Alda. The two of them sometimes struggled on set with each other but
they both had respect for each other. Alan Alda expressed his gratitude for Wayne Rogers and
how much he loved working with him on the show. LARRY LINVILLE Larry Linville played the role of Frank Burns on
M*A*S*H, and his portrayal of the character is still remembered today – though not always
favorably! He stated that Frank Burns was not the most pleasant character and that he
had to make him as unlikeable as possible! Larry Linville explained that the character of
Frank Burns was someone who was deeply insecure. This was combined with a deep desperation
to be liked and appreciated by others. His character was so hated that sometimes fans
would write angry letters about his character! He played the character as someone who was
always trying to get approval and attention. His neediness and desperation made the character
so unlikeable – that one wonders how he lasted so long on the show! Yet, he loved playing the
character and he would later credit the writing team to help him create the character.
He also felt that the writers gave him the opportunity to act alongside his co-stars
such as Alan Alda, whom he loved working with. One of the fondest aspects of Frank
Burns was his absurd laugh. Larry Linville later explained that he came
up with the laugh himself. He wanted to create something that would make the
character memorable – outside of his irritable personality. This obnoxious laugh
was based on the sound of a goose honking. However, in spite of the unlikable
personality of Frank Burns, Larry Linville's portrayal of the
character was widely praised by fans and critics alike. He was even nominated
for an Emmy for his work on the show. In addition to his role on M*A*S*H, Larry
Linville had a successful career as an actor, appearing in numerous television shows
and movies. Nevertheless, his portrayal of Frank Burns remains his most popular role
– regardless of the canon of his work! Looks like he had the last laugh – the one
that sounds like a goose honking! Are you a fan of M*A*S*H and Alan Alda? The
show was great and he was truly one of the most loved actors, but as we can see – he
had his issues with his co-stars as well. Now, here’s what we’d like to hear from you: Do you think that actors of yesteryear did a
better job at putting their work before their personal issues? Or are today’s stars also great at putting personal beef aside
to make a great film or TV show?
