Did the Cast of ‘M*A*S*H’ Really Hate Larry Linville?
M*A*S*H is one of the most beloved TV show all time — though old “ferret face” himself, Frank Burns, played by the talented Larry Linville, was rarely anyone’s favorite character. But did that dynamic also play out among the cast in real life?
M*A*S*H was based on a 1968 novel by Richard Hooker, who drew on his experiences as an army surgeon during the Korean War. That book was adapted into Robert Altman‘s 1970 film, which starred Donald Sutherland and Elliott Gould with Robert Duvall portraying a more menacing Frank Burns. Due to its dark humor and anti-war themes, the movie was a surprise commercial success. And in 1972, when the M*A*S*H TV series debuted on CBS, it forever changed television with its unique blend of comedy and drama.
Over the years, Alan Alda‘s Hawkeye Pierce became the show’s heart and its conscience, with Wayne Rogers as Trapper John initially playing off Hawkeye’s wisecracks. Larry’s version of Frank Burns was less threatening than Duvall’s and more of a bumbling foil to Hawkeye and Trapper John’s shenanigans.
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Larry Linville’s performance as Frank Burns was nothing short of a masterclass in comedic acting. He made Frank both infuriating and strangely endearing. While I hated the character’s self-righteousness and outright hypocrisy when it came to the rules that governed the 4077th, I must admit that there were times when I felt bad for him, due to his desperate attempts to fit in with the other surgeons, who saw him as uptight and out of touch. Truthfully, I think we all know someone like Frank Burns — and if I’m being even more honest, while I don’t think I’m as annoying as Burns, I often feel that desperate desire to fit in around other people.
Now, the big question: Was Larry Linville anything like Frank Burns in real life? And if so, did the other cast members hate him?
The maybe-not-so-surprising truth is that his M*A*S*H co-stars universally described him as a kind, friendly, and cultured individual. In fact, by all accounts, Larry was pretty much the opposite of the uptight character that he played so well on TV.
Larry and fellow castmate Gary Burghoff were especially close. Gary described Larry as a “renaissance man” who knew about the intricacies of the Egyptian pyramids, and once even built and flew his own airplane.
I remember an interview with Alan Alda just after Larry passed away in 2000, at the far-too-young age of 60. Alan talked about how Larry was one of the nicest people that he had ever worked with, on M*A*S*H or anywhere else. Alan remembered Larry’s willingness to do anything for the show, and that he was also an extremely generous actor when something needed to be rewritten.
Actor Jamie Farr, who played Klinger, said this: “He was a wonderful man, a wonderful father, and certainly well prepared for the acting craft.”
Over the years, Loretta Swit talked about the close working relationship that she had with Larry on the show. However, there were also a handful of times when she has let down her guard and talked about their relationship beyond the show. She has called their relationship, and this is a quote, “very special.”
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And here’s one more, this time from someone who worked behind the scenes. According to former child actor Jackie Cooper, who directed some of the early episodes of M*A*S*H, Larry, along with Wayne Rogers, were the two cast members that he felt caused the least amount of problems.
Despite the popularity and critical acclaim, Larry left M*A*S*H after five seasons. There are various theories about his departure, with some saying She grew tired of being typecast as the uptight villain. It has also been said that Larry grew so weary of his character being the butt of everyone’s jokes that during his final season on M*A*S*H, he quit attending dailies because they were just so darn frustrating for him.
While Major Charles Emerson Winchester was a worthy replacement, and I enjoyed David Ogden Stiers very much on the show, I’ve got to admit that there was a certain charm, or lack thereof, to Larry’s portrayal of Frank Burns that just wasn’t there with Winchester.
Larry Linville’s career extended way beyond M*A*S*H. He continued to act in television and movies throughout the eighties and nineties, often playing unlikable characters that showcased his comedic talent. He was, to a certain extent, typecast; people expected all of the characters that he played to be similar to Frank Burns.
One final thing worth mentioning, at Larry’s request, Alan Alda spoke at his funeral. Why? Because Larry had made him promise to share a very important message, which was simply this: “Frank Burns eats worms”.
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