Category: Cinema 31
Hi all
I have a friend who plays drums in a band and is also a fan of the old TV show MASH. He says there is an episode where Radar played the drums, and he is trying to locate what season this took place in so he can buy the DVD set for that whole season. If anyone knows about this, please post here. My friend is not a zone member, and we have both done google searches for this info, but no luck so far.
Ah, man. I don't know, and it doesn't ring a bell. But to narrow it down a smidge, Radar leaves after the first few seasons, and doesn't ever come back in the later seasons.
I realise this isn't a lot of help...
Hey, any little bit of information helps. I had actually forgotten about him not being in the final few seasons.
Boy don't you just love the internet? I do.
Gary Burghoff (born May 24, 1943 in Bristol, Connecticut) is an American actor, best known for playing the character Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly in the M*A*S*H series and Charlie Brown in the 1967 off-Broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Burghoff got his start in both acting and drumming during his high school years in Delavan, Wisconsin. Episode 24 Season 1 of the M*A*S*H television series titled Showtime features Radar playing a solo on the drums. It is a misconception that the sound was dubbed in; it is actually Gary Burghoff's performance.
He left M*A*S*H after season 7 because of burnout and a desire to spend more time with his family, though he returned in season 8 to film a special 2-part farewell episode, "Goodbye Radar".
Although several actors from the original MASH film made guest appearances in the television series, Burghoff was the only actor cast as a regular.
Gary also frequently appeared on the game show Match Game in the 1970s, both as a stand-in for regular Charles Nelson Reilly and also as the "special male guest" occupying seat one. He also appeared on an episode of The Love Boat.
He appeared regularly on TV, making appearances on other game shows as well like Tattletales and Showoffs. He also appeared in a little-known comedy from 1971, B.S. I Love You. His M*A*S*H character Radar O'Reilly was spun off into a short lived TV show called W*A*L*T*E*R.
In addition to acting, Burghoff also works as a professional jazz drummer, heading the trio The We Three, and as a wildlife painter. His other activities include outdoorsmanship and rifle shooting.
Burghoff is an avid philatelist and was the star of a United States Postal Service video for beginning stamp collectors.
An interesting detail about Burghoff is that his left hand is withered and misshapen with the fingers being very short - no cause is known about it though it is presumed to be a birth defect. But in M*A*S*H he is always seen carrying a clipboard or other object with it to conceal it.
Burghoff was married to Janet Gayle, from 1971 to 1979; they had one child before the marriage ended in divorce. In 1985, he married Elisabeth Bostrom; they have two children together. Burghoff currently resides in Paradise, California and appears in TV ads for local doctors.
Episode 24 Season 1 of the M*A*S*H television series titled Showtime features Radar playing a solo on the drums. It is a misconception that the sound was dubbed in; it is actually Gary Burghoff's performance.
Hope this helps.
Bob
Heh, Bob, beat me too it, but I did a quick google.
Here, have a Youtube clip of Radar's drum solo.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX_nq_ms8cQ
Thank you Bob. I googled it too and did find out a lot of information about the actor, including the fact that he had a deformed hand which is why he was almost never on camera on the show without holding something to cover part of his hand, but I could not find the episode, or even the season he played the drums. So thank you, and my friend will be grateful for this info.
Is she cute? Your friend? You have a friend?
Bob
I mean, you're quite welcome rebecca.
I remember watching MASH with my dad. Thanks for the info on Radar Bob. Becky I've found a lot of info on tv shows from Google.
Bob and Erin, thanks again for your efforts. I gave the info to my friend (who is not cute or female, Bob), and he ordered season 1 on amazon.com immediately. Thanks again.