One incident that also culminated in his departure was the fire that destroyed his ranch. Finally, he agreed to a break, which led to his exit in 1979. Work had consumed an integral aspect of his life, including outings with friends and spending quality time with family. The actor also thought about his Wisconsin roots and how much he had strayed from home. I care too much to give less than my best. Burghoff admitted that: “I’d given all I had to give to the part and to the show. He had played the role for so long, and he was starting to burn out, according to him. Gary Burghoff portrays Corporal Walter ‘Radar’ O’Reilly on the CBS television series, “M*A*S*H.” | Photo: Getty Images While everyone saw a brilliant actor, the man behind the mask thought differently. The “M*A*S*H” alum became the only recurring cast member to feature in Robert Altman’s 1970’s movie, which based its story on the TV series.Īlthough Burghoff assumed his role when the show began, his popularity was not enough to keep him after the seventh season.

It contrasted with the sarcasm and cynical nature of other characters. Radar was inexperienced in some things but always had an idea and constantly saw the good in every situation. He acted as a company’s clerk and a meticulous bugler, who stole the hearts of many with his outlook on life. Instead, he resigned following an emotional moment on set, having bottled a few discontentments.īurghoff impressed many with his portrayal of Radar O’Reilly. Despite his reputation, the onscreen star did not bid his final goodbye when the show ended.

The series featured a wide range of talents, from the prominent Alan Alda to the impressive Gary Burghoff.īurghoff remained a cast member for about seven seasons before deciding to leave. “M*A*S*H” was a successful TV drama that gained thousands of viewers during its long reign. His departure came after he broke into tears on set. Gary Burghoff was one of the best acts in the classic series “M*A*S*H.” He played Radar O Reilly for nearly a decade but left before the show ended. He was a regular on television game show Match Game from 1974 to 1975 for 140 episodes, standing in for Charles Nelson Reilly who was in New York doing a Broadway play, but continued to make recurring appearances afterwards.Inside Gary Burghoff AKA Radar’s Decision to Leave ‘M*A*S*H’ after He Broke into Tears on Set Gary Rich Burghoff (born May 24, 1943) is an American actor who is known for originating the role of Charlie Brown in the 1967 Off-Broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, and the character Corporal Walter Eugene 'Radar' O'Reilly in the film MASH, as well as the TV series.

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