STEVENSON, 66, ACTOR ON TV'S 'MASH'.Byline: Ray Richmond Ray Richmond (born October 19, 1957) is a globally syndicated critic and entertainment/media columnist. A longtime fixture on the Los Angeles journalism scene, he is best known for his years with The Hollywood Reporter. Daily News Television Writer McLean Stevenson McLean Stevenson (November 14, 1927 – February 15, 1996) (full name Edgar McLean Stevenson, Jr.), born in Normal, Illinois, was an American actor most recognized for his role as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on the TV series M*A*S*H. , the actor who gained his greatest fame portraying the eccentric Col. Henry Blake For the British colonial administrator, see . Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake is a fictional character introduced in the 1968 novel M*A*S*H, written by H. Richard Hornberger under the pen name of Richard Hooker. during the first three seasons of TV's "MASH," died Thursday evening following bladder surgery. He was 66. Stevenson died at 6:46 p.m. at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center after having had surgery that morning to correct a bladder problem. The death was "very unexpected," said Robert Malcolm, one of the actor's agents. Malcolm said he was told that Stevenson died of a heart attack. But Scott Carrier Scott Carrier is an American author and radio producer. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. Written work
"This is not to imply that the bladder surgery had anything whatsoever to do with Mr. Stevenson's death, and we can't yet say it was a heart attack, either," Carrier said. "We will know more sometime next week." As the womanizing wom·an·ize v. woman·ized, woman·iz·ing, woman·iz·es v.intr. To pursue women lecherously. v.tr. To give female characteristics to; feminize. , off-the-wall commanding officer of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
The Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH , Stevenson created an endearing character that won him a 1973 Golden Globe Award. But in a decision that would go down in Hollywood lore, the actor left "MASH" following the 1974-75 season to sign a series deal with NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. . The show continued its hit run through 1983. "MASH" gave Stevenson a big send-off, writing him out of the series in spectacular fashion during that season's final episode. Col. Blake was discharged from the 4077th and sent home, only to have his plane go down in the Sea of Japan. "There were no survivors," Radar O'Reilly announced to surgeons in the operating room operating room n. Abbr. OR A room equipped for performing surgical operations. - and the national viewing audience. "McLean Stevenson was one of the kindest, most sensitive people I've worked with or known," actor Gary Burghoff 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. , who played Radar, said in a statement. "My personal sense of loss is magnified a thousand times by what this kind, funny gentleman has meant to all those who knew him." Burghoff told CBS Radio that he had spoken to Stevenson last week. "He was his kind, gentle self on the telephone, upbeat and just cheerful," he said. After "MASH," Stevenson starred in five consecutive series flops, beginning with NBC's "The McLean Stevenson Show" in 1976-77 and also including CBS's "Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes" (1978), CBS's "In the Beginning" (also '78), "Hello, Larry" on NBC (1979-80) and ABC's "Condo" ('83). Stevenson told People magazine in 1991 that his early departure from "MASH" may have been misguided. "I probably got too big for my britches," he said. "The biggest mistake I made was I thought everybody loved McLean Stevenson. It was Henry Blake that people loved. So when I went out (and) did 'The McLean Stevenson Show,' nobody gave a damn." Stevenson, the son of a cardiologist and cousin of one-time presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson, was born in Bloomington, Ill. in 1929. Upon graduation with a theater arts degree from Northwestern University, he worked in his cousin's campaign for the White House. It wasn't until he was 31 that the lanky, 6-foot-3-inch Stevenson broke into acting. In a career that spanned three decades, he worked in both stage and television, earning his first break in Hollywood writing comedy for Tommy Smothers in the 1960s. Stevenson is survived by his wife, Ginny; daughter, Lindsey; son, Jeffrey MacGregor; and sister, Ann Whitney. Funeral services are pending. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Children's Burn Foundation, 4929 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo McLean Stevenson Played Col. Henry Blake |
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