For fans of the 4077th, the doctors and staff of MASH feel less like television characters and more like old friends. The loss of Loretta Swit in May 2025, the unforgettable Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, serves as a poignant reminder of how much time has passed since the series finale. Today, only a small brotherhood of the original MASH actors are still alive. Alan Alda (Hawkeye), Gary Burghoff (Radar), Jamie Farr (Klinger), and Mike Farrell (BJ Hunnicutt) are the final four main actors who remain with us. As we honor the legacy of those who have moved on, and laugh at the memories they brought us, many fans are left wondering: how are these four legends faring today?
Quick Guide: Which MASH Actors Are Still Alive in 2026?
As of early 2026, the following four main cast members from the original 4077th are still living:
- Mike Farrell (Captain B.J. Hunnicutt) – Age 86
- Alan Alda (Captain Hawkeye Pierce) – Age 89
- Gary Burghoff (Corporal Radar O’Reilly) – Age 82
- Jamie Farr (Corporal Maxwell Klinger) – Age 90
The Final Four: Which MASH Actors Are Still Alive?
The passage of time has sadly thinned the ranks of the 4077th, leaving only a few remaining members from the legendary main cast. While we have recently mourned the loss of icons like Loretta Switt and David Ogden Stiers, the enduring spirit of the show lives on through those who are still with us. These four actors who portrayed some of the most beloved characters in television history continue to represent the heart of the series. Below is a look at which MASH actors are still alive today and an update on their lives decades after the final scene was shot.
Alan Alda
Alan Alda, who played Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, was born January 28, 1936. He is now 89 years old. Alda is a six-time Emmy and Golden Globe winner. He is also a three-time Tony nominee. In 2018, he announced his 2015 diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. Despite this, let’s hope he sticks around until he’s well into his one-hundreds or more!
Gary Burghoff
Gary Burghoff, who played Corporal Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly, was born May 24, 1943. He is 82 years old. I am not aware of him having any active health problems. However, he was born with Poland Syndrome. This is a rare birth defect that causes developmental abnormalities on one side of the body, mostly the right side.
While Gary Burghoff is still with us, many fans are surprised to learn about the physical challenge he hid throughout the series. You can see photos and learn the full story behind why Radar always hid his left hand here. By the way, you may not realize that Gary Burghoff speaks the first full line of dialogue in the show.
Jamie Farr
Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Maxwell Klinger, was born July 1, 1934. This underrated actor is 90 years old! Farr has suffered from severe rheumatoid arthritis since the early 1990s and today uses a wheelchair to get around. After a dinner show in Edmonton in 2014, Farr collapsed and was taken to the hospital. He managed to finish the week of shows until a replacement was found. Back home in California, a stent was put into his heart to treat atherosclerosis. He was advised to adjust his diet and lifestyle. After this, he retired from performing.
Let’s hope old Klinger is doing well and is still laughing and smiling! Klinger was such a great character, he rated his own tent.
Mike Farrell
Mike Farrell, who played Captain BJ Hunnicutt, was born February 6, 1939. He is 86 years old. There are no reports of ongoing health concerns from Farrell, but unfortunately, Mike Farrell’s wife, Shelley Fabares, required a liver transplant due to complications from an auto-immune disorder. This caused Farrell to have to become her full-time caregiver. While, as far as we know, he is healthy, he has spoken about the challenges of being a caregiver for his wife and balancing that with his own needs. Mike Farrell has also become Co-chair Emeritus of Human Rights Watch in California and President of Death Penalty Focus.
Other MASH Actors Still Alive
Jeff Maxwell played the recurring character Igor Straminsky. Although he was not a principal character, he is currently alive and well. MASH fans remember him fondly, especially for his many sardonic lines. He has hosted a podcast called MASH Matters since September 2018. Much like this website, his podcast honors the legacy of the show.
G.W. Bailey played the colorful Sergeant Luther Rizzo. He may have seemed like a long-term regular to many fans. However, Rizzo only appeared in 13 episodes starting in Season 8. Despite this, the character remains incredibly memorable. Bailey is well-known for his role in the Police Academy films. In that series, he played Lieutenant Thaddeus Harris. He also appeared as Captain Felix Maxwell in the 1987 film Mannequin. From 2005 to 2018, he played Detective Lieutenant Louie Provenza. This role spanned both The Closer and its spin-off, Major Crimes.
Rosalind Chao, who played Soon-Lee, Klinger’s love interest and later wife, only appeared in two MASH episodes. She then later appeared in 30 episodes of AfterMash as Klinger’s wife. She may not be a MASH regular, but she certainly captured the hearts of viewers. She is likely the only Korean character whose name most fans remember. She is still alive, well, and enjoying a very busy career. For example, she recently starred as Ye Wenjie in the Netflix series 3 Body Problem. Wow!
In Memoriam: The Original Cast
- McLean Stevenson (Col. Henry Blake): Died 1996, age 68
- Larry Linville (Maj. Frank Burns): Died 2000, age 60
- Harry Morgan (Col. Sherman T. Potter): Died 2011, age 96
- Wayne Rogers (Capt. “Trapper” John McIntyre): Died 2015, age 82
- William Christopher (Father Mulcahy): Died 2016, age 84
- David Ogden Stiers (Maj. Charles Winchester): Died 2018, age 75
Deaths of MASH Actors
Johnny Haymer, who played Sergeant Zale, passed away in 1989. McLean Stevenson was the first main cast member to die. He suffered a sudden heart attack at the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center. His death occurred on February 15, 1996, while he was recovering from surgery. Larry Linville, who played Major Frank Burns, died in April 2000. Doctors found a malignant tumor under his sternum and removed part of a lung. Unfortunately, his health never fully recovered. He passed away at the Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Here is a list of those MASH actors who have died, in the order in which their deaths occurred.
- Johnny Haymer (Sergeant Zelmo Zale): Age 69, cancer – born January 19, 1920, died November 18, 1989
- McLean Stevenson (Colonel Henry Blake): Age 68, heart attack after bladder surgery – born November 14, 1927, died February 15, 1996
- Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns):Age 60, complications from cancer surgery – born September 29, 1939, died April 10, 2000
- Edward Dean Winter (Colonel Flagg): Age 63, complications of Parkinson’s disease, born June 3, 1937, died March 8, 2001
- Harry Morgan (Colonel Sherman T. Potter): Age 96, natural causes – born April 10, 1915, died December 7, 2011
Remembering Loretta Swit (1937–2025)
The M*A*S*H community mourned a profound loss on May 30, 2025, with the passing of Loretta Swit. Known globally as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, Swit was one of only two cast members to appear in both the pilot and the series finale. Beyond her iconic military role, she was a passionate animal rights activist and a highly respected stage actress. Her transition from the strict, high-strung Major to a vulnerable, respected head nurse remains one of the greatest character arcs in television history.
More Beloved MASH Cast Members Who Have Passed
- Allan Arbus (Dr. Sidney Freedman): Age 95, congestive heart failure – born February 15, 1918, died April 19, 2013
- Wayne Rogers (Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre): Age 82, complications of pneumonia – born April 7, 1933, died December 31, 2015
- William Christopher (Father Francis John Patrick Mulcahy): Age 84, non-small-cell carcinoma (lung cancer) – born October 20, 1932, died December 31, 2016 (one year after Wayne Rogers)
- David Ogden Stiers (Major Charles Emerson Winchester): Age 75, bladder cancer – born October 31, 1942, died March 3, 2018
- Kellye Nakahara Wallett (Nurse Kellye): Age 72, cancer – born January 16, 1948, died – February 16, 2020
- Loretta Swit (Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan): Age 87, natural causes – born November 4, 1937, died May 30, 2025
- Patrick Robert Adiarte (Ho Jon): Age 82, pneumonia – born August 2, 1942, died April 15, 2025
The Enduring Legacy of the 4077th
The legacy of the 4077th continues to resonate with fans around the world, even as we reflect on the recent passing of icons like Loretta Swit. While it is bittersweet to realize that only four of the main MASH actors are still alive, their enduring health and continued presence in the public eye allow us to celebrate the heart of the series. From Alan Alda’s advocacy to Jeff Maxwell’s popular podcast, the cast members who remain with us serve as a living bridge to one of television’s most groundbreaking eras. As we honor those we have lost, we also cherish the “Final Four” for the joy and humanity they continue to bring to the show’s incredible legacy.
