For 11 sensational seasons, the engrossing war dramedy M*A*S*H delivered plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments, as viewers became invested in its unforgettable characters. The fan-favorite program famously followed the personnel at the 4077th MASH during the Korean War, centering on Alan Alda’s Hawkeye Piece as he and his fellow comrades saved lives during the height of the battle.
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With a star-studded cast and lovable personalities like Radar, Klinger, and Hot Lips, the trailblazing dramedy was lauded throughout its television tenure and won countless accolades including 14 Primetime Emmys and 8 Golden Globes, and its series finale remains the most-watched finale of any television show in history. Let’s check out the 11 best characters on M*A*S*H.
M*A*S*H
- Release Date
- September 17, 1972
- Cast
- Alan Alda , Mike Farrell , Loretta Swit , Jamie Farr , Harry Morgan , David Ogden Stiers
- Seasons
- 11
11 Margaret «Hot Lips» Houlihan
The tough and by-the-book Margaret «Hot Lips» Houlihan (Loretta Swift) has no problem keeping the rambunctious men around her in check, and she takes great pride in her position as head nurse in the unit. An army brat, Margaret is fiercely protective and deeply loyal to the fellow women in her command, and she goes to great lengths to keep a calm and cool demeanor.
Margaret’s Major Growth
As the series progresses, Margaret eventually loosens up and lets her guard down, as she ultimately wants to be admired and not resented by the other nurses. She had a long and arduous relationship with the married Frank Burns, with the duo hilariously thinking they were being sly and keeping the affair under wraps despite it being a poorly kept secret. Margaret shares a unique bond with Hawkeye, with whom she holds a mutual respect for, regardless of their constant bickering.
10 Maxwell Q. Klinger
The quirky and wonderfully over-the-top Maxwell Klinger was famous for dressing up in women’s clothing and getting into some wild shenanigans in an effort to get a psychiatric discharge from the Army. From Snow White to Cleopatra and even The Wizard of Oz‘s Dorothy, Klinger had no shame when it came to sporting some unforgettable ensembles, with the goofy character hoping his antics and schemes would result in him being deemed unfit to serve.
Klinger Becomes a Fan-Favorite
Klinger became synonymous with his colorful outfits and provided sidesplitting comedic relief, and though he was initially supposed to be a bit character, Jamie Farr‘s sensational performance was so well-received that he became a series regular beginning in the fourth season. Klinger became more mature as the seasons went on, and he began to take his responsibilities and rank more seriously. Like his co-stars Alan Alda and Mike Farrell, Farr had actually served in Korea and the dog tags Klinger wore were actually his.
9 Charles Emerson Winchester III
Following Frank Burns’ departure from the 4077th unit, Major Charles Emerson Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers) was brought on during the show’s sixth season and swiftly became a major foil for both Hawkeye and B.J. Unlike Burns, Charles was able to hold his own when he engaged in a battle of wits with Hawkeye, and though he was stern he also possessed a great deal of compassion and impressive skills as a surgeon.
Hawkeye’s Formidable Foe
Charles refused to be the butt of the joke like Frank had been, and the character often showed off his sophistication and immense talent with a scalpel. The playful banter and amusing ribbing between Charles, Hawkeye, and B.J. was a delight for audiences to watch, as was Charles’ refreshing platonic relationship with Margaret. The pompous and undeniably intelligent character helped fill the void on the show that was left when Larry Linville (Frank) left, and he became a hit with viewers.
8 Henry Blake
For the first three seasons of the groundbreaking show, McLean Stevenson appeared as Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, the laid-back and easygoing commanding officer at the unit who is beloved by his fellow comrades. Both loved and loathed for his hands-off approach to leading, Blake developed a heartwarming bond with Radar and became a father-figure to the young and naïve man. Hawkeye and Trapper loved having Blake as a superior because they could get away with a lot of their amusing shenanigans.
Resentment Boils Over
Despite winning a Golden Globe Award for his role as Henry Blake, Stevenson was unhappy and resentful of playing a supporting role to Alan Alda’s Hawkeye, and he asked to leave the series during its third season. Stevenson was frustrated at having to compete for attention and, according to costar Loretta Swift, the actor once told her, «I know I will not be in anything as good as this show, but I have to leave and be number one.» He was subsequently written out, though his career never reached the heights it did while on M*A*S*H.
Related: MASH: How the Iconic ’70s Dramedy Captured the Despair of War
7 Trapper John McIntyre
Hawkeye’s best friend and partner-in-crime, Trapper John McIntyre is a fun-loving ladies man who is both easygoing and a highly-skilled surgeon. Portrayed by Wayne Rogers during the show’s initial three seasons, the character struggles with being away from his wife and children and copes with his homesickness by heavily drinking (often to his detriment). Even though he’s known for being happy-go-lucky, Trapper still adheres to a strict moral code and takes his responsibilities seriously.
Bitterness Strikes Again
While Trapper gets more fleshed out over the course of his tenure, Rogers (like McLean Stevenson) eventually got restless because his character became Hawkeye’s sidekick, and he was eventually written out after he officially quit during season three. The actor would later express how he greatly enjoyed working alongside Alan Alda and his other brilliant cast members, but felt slighted that Hawkeye was getting the best dramatic and humorous moments.
6 Walter Eugene «Radar» O’Reilly
Undeniably the heart-and-soul of M*A*S*H, Walter Eugene «Radar» O’Reilly earned his endearing nickname because of his extremely good hearing and dazzling ESP gift. The eager and earnest Radar is able to anticipate the needs of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, whom he looks up to and greatly admires, and the character transforms from a naïve farm boy to a mature and capable man. Radar truly kept the unit together and was always trying to keep everyone happy, initially idolizing Hawkeye before gradually seeing himself as his equal.
Radar Steals the Show
Gary Burghoff was the only actor to reprise his role from the 1970 film, though his character underwent a major reworking and evolved from a brooding loner to a down-to-earth, innocent character. Burghoff revealed in a 2012 interview:
«In the original feature film M*A*S*H, I created Radar as a lone, darker and somewhat sardonic character; kind of a shadowy figure. I continued these qualities for a short time until I realized that the TV M*A*S*H characters were developing in a different direction from the film characters…I began to mold Radar into a more innocent, naïve character as contrast to the other characters, so that while the others might deplore the immorality and shame of war…»
He would go on to portray the fan-favorite Radar for eight seasons and won a Primetime Emmy for his lovable performance, but left the series after becoming burnt out and wanting to spend more time with his family. Co-star Mike Farrell later said that Burghoff «may well have been the best actor in the company, it’s always seemed to me. His focus, his ability to find those little gems of behavior that made everything absolutely true were a marvel to behold.»
5 Sherman T. Potter
Coming in as a replacement for McLean Stevenson’s character Henry Blake, Colonel Sherman T. Potter (Harry Morgan) was the commanding officer at the 4077th MASH and was a devoted career man on the cusp of retirement. He began his tenure with the unit as a stern, no-nonsense presence but eventually softened and earned the respect and admiration of those in his command. Potter previously served in both World War I and World War II, and is one of the most experienced and knowledgeable leaders in the group.
Looks Can be Deceiving
While Hawkeye and the rest of the gang initially lament over Potter being a «Regular Army» career officer (unlike the breezy Blake), he eventually shows he’s far more laid-back than his subordinates first thought and frequently engages in camp hijinks to let off some steam. Potter also garners Radar’s appreciation and the two end up growing close, as the Colonel takes him under his wing following the heartbreaking loss of Blake, and adopts a more fatherly role to the young man.
4 Frank Burns
The high-strung and egotistical Major Frank Burns adheres to a strict military discipline and believes he is a superior surgeon and far better than his peers. Frank and Hawkeye were sworn enemies throughout the show, and the only person who truly seemed to enjoy his company was Margaret Houlihan (whom he had a not-so-discreet affair with). He desperately wanted to rise in the ranks and take Colonel Blake’s position, yet his incompetence got in the way and he was hilariously the target of many jokes and pranks by Hawkeye and the gang.
The End of Frank’s Story
After five acclaimed seasons, Larry Linville opted out of extending his contract for two additional seasons upon feeling as though his character had become one-dimensional and ran his course. Linville acknowledged how the series progressed from being a comedy to tackling more heavy and dramatic storylines, and felt Frank Burns didn’t fit in with that format. The actor also had a desire to pursue theater work and was eager to tackle new projects and try something different.
3 Benjamin Franklin «Hawkeye» Pierce
What would M*A*S*H be without Alan Alda‘s career-defining performance as the wisecracking, womanizing Benjamin Franklin «Hawkeye» Pierce? An excellent surgeon with little patience for military protocol, Hawkeye’s impressive skills led him to become Chief Surgeon at the 4077th MASH (much to the disdain of rival Frank Burns) and he is largely respected by the rest of his team. He loves having a good time but is also a chronic alcoholic with a strong moral code, often pondering why they are even in a war to begin with and questioning the reason for it.
A Star Is Born on Screen
M*A*S*H began as an ensemble piece, but Alda shined in the role of Hawkeye, becoming the dramedy’s most popular character and attracting widespread praise for his work; he emerged as the program’s lead character and eventually became an executive producer and creative consultant. Alda earned numerous accolades for his performance, including five Primetime Emmys and six Golden Globes, and when discussing the show’s 50th anniversary and its lasting legacy, Alda told People in 2022:
«Aside from really good writing and good acting and good directing, the element that really sinks in with an audience is that, as frivolous as some of the stories are, underneath it is an awareness that real people lived through these experiences, and that we tried to respect what they went through. I think that seeps into the unconscious of the audience.»
Related: TV Shows That Are Better Than the Movies They’re Based On
2 B.J. Hunnicut
After Wayne Rogers departed the series, Mike Farrell joined the show and appeared as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, Hawkeye’s newest ally and subsequent best friend. A devoted father and husband, B.J. is more mature than Hawkeye and becomes the straight man to his wild exploits; nonetheless, he loves a good prank and enjoys playing practical jokes on his buddies. B.J. is a highly skilled surgeon and has a great sense of humor, and enjoys teasing people about his ambiguous initials, which he claimed stood for «anything you want.»
Hawkeye’s New Partner-in-Crime
Farrell joined M*A*S*H along with fellow newcomer Harry Morgan, and stayed with the trailblazing show for its remaining eight years; he also went on to direct four episodes and write five of them. Fans enjoyed the on-screen camaraderie between Farrell and Alda and the hijinks the duo would get into, and the actors reunited in 2022 to honor the show’s 50th anniversary, delighting fans all across the world.
1 Father John Mulcahy
US Army chaplain and Catholic priest Father John Mulcahy (William Christopher) carried himself with compassion and love and never tried to blatantly evangelize those in his flock, fully realizing it would be an uphill battle. Regardless of their relationship with religion, the unit’s staff always treated Mulcahy with respect and they enjoyed seeing him become bashful over the sexual exploits and all-around shenanigans that raged on around him.
A Calming & Grounded Presence
Father Mulcahy often questioned whether the holy duties he was carrying out could compare to the importance of the lives the MASH’s surgeons saved on a regular basis, yet he always remained steadfast in his faith. The character brought a calming presence to those around him and pushed his flock to be better people, and he ultimately went on to reprise the divine role in the spin-off AfterMASH, appearing alongside original stars Jamie Farr and Harry Morgan.
Stream all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H on Hulu.
