Gary Burghoff: Life After M*A*S*H as Painter and Inventor

If you grew up watching M*A*S*H, Radar O’Reilly was the wide‑eyed company clerk who could type before breakfast and predict helicopters—yet the man behind the character, Gary Burghoff, had a story far more layered than anything the 4077th ever scripted. From a congenital hand difference he creatively hid on set to a quiet second career as a wildlife painter and inventor, Burghoff’s life after Radar is a study in reinvention.

Born: May 24, 1943 (age 81) ·
Occupation: Actor, musician, painter, inventor ·
Known for: Radar O’Reilly on M*A*S*H ·
Off‑Broadway role: Charlie Brown in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown (1967) ·
Disability: Missing a finger on left hand

Eight key biographical details, one pattern: Burghoff’s public identity is inseparable from his Radar role, but his private pursuits tell a very different story.

The implication: Burghoff’s legacy is split between one of TV’s most beloved characters and a deliberately low‑key second life that few fans fully know.

Do Alan Alda and Gary Burghoff get along?

Rumors of tension among the M*A*S*H cast have circulated for decades, often pointing to Alan Alda’s on‑set personality. But the evidence suggests Burghoff and Alda maintained a cordial professional relationship. Alda, in interviews, has never criticized Burghoff personally. At Larry Linville’s funeral, Alda delivered a eulogy reflecting on Linville’s talent—a moment that underscores Alda’s respect for his co‑stars generally. Burghoff, for his part, has spoken about his affection for the cast without singling out any conflict. (The List (entertainment editorial))

What did Alan Alda say about Gary Burghoff?

• Alda has praised Burghoff’s talent in interviews but has not commented extensively on their personal relationship. (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))

Did Harry Morgan get along with Gary Burghoff?

• Harry Morgan, who played Colonel Potter, spoke positively about working with Burghoff, describing him as a dedicated and professional actor. (The List (entertainment editorial))

Was Gary Burghoff a nice guy?

• Co‑stars and crew members generally regarded Burghoff as kind and easygoing. No credible accounts describe him as difficult on set.

What actor did Alan Alda dislike on MASH?

• Reports indicate Alda clashed with McLean Stevenson, who left the show after season 3. Burghoff was not part of that friction.

The catch: The “Burghoff‑Alda feud” narrative appears to be an internet myth. The documented tension involved other cast members, not Burghoff.

What is Gary Burghoff doing now?

After retiring from acting in the 1990s, Burghoff shifted his focus entirely. He now lives a quiet, private life away from Hollywood, devoting his days to wildlife painting, inventing, and animal‑rights advocacy.

Where does Gary Burghoff live now?

• Burghoff resides in Northern California, near a wildlife sanctuary. He intentionally avoids publicity. (The MASH Historian (deep‑fan research site))

Is Gary Burghoff still acting?

• He essentially retired from screen acting in the 1990s, though he voiced a character in the 1998 film Small Soldiers and wrote, directed, and starred in the 1995 film Behind the Waterfall. (YouTube profile (video interview))

What are Gary Burghoff’s artistic pursuits?

• Wildlife painting became his primary creative outlet. His prints were popular in the 1990s and early 2000s. He also holds at least one U.S. patent—the “Chum Magic” fishing device—and reportedly created additional patents for a fingerprint‑lift method and a toilet‑seat handle. (MeTV (classic TV archive))

Does Gary Burghoff have a disability?

Yes—and it’s the most consistent, verified fact across all sources. Burghoff was born with a congenital hand difference that left him missing a finger on his left hand, described as brachydactyly possibly associated with Poland syndrome. (IMDb Trivia (industry database))

What happened to Gary Burghoff’s hand?

• He was born with a shortened, partial finger on his left hand. He has never publicly specified the precise medical diagnosis.

How did Gary Burghoff lose part of his finger?

• It was not an amputation—it is a congenital condition. He has had the hand difference since birth.

Did Gary Burghoff’s disability affect his acting?

• On M*A*S*H, Burghoff often concealed his left hand behind a clipboard or other props to avoid drawing attention to it. He also learned to play drums and tap dance despite the condition, showing little limitation in practice. (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))

The pattern: Burghoff’s hand difference is a well‑known curiosity among fans, but it never hindered his career—he turned a challenge into an unnoticed detail on screen.

Why was Gary Burghoff written off MASH?

Burghoff left M*A*S*H after season 7 (1979) of his own volition. He was not fired. According to interviews, he cited burnout from the rigorous shooting schedule and a desire to spend more time with his young daughter. (The List (entertainment editorial))

Was Gary Burghoff fired from M*A*S*H?

• No credible source supports a firing. The network and producers wanted him to stay, but he chose to move on.

Did Gary Burghoff want to leave M*A*S*H?

• Yes. He felt the character had run its course and he was exhausted. In a later memoir, To M*A*S*H and Back, he reflected on the decision without bitterness. (The MASH Historian (deep‑fan research site))

How did Gary Burghoff’s departure affect the show?

• Radar was written out in the episode “Good‑bye, Radar,” where his character receives a hardship discharge to return to his family farm in Iowa. The show continued for four more seasons without him.

The implication: his departure showed that even a beloved character could be left behind for personal reasons.

Who is still alive from MASH 4077 in real life?

As of 2025, only a handful of the main cast from the original series are still living. Gary Burghoff (born 1943, age 81) is among them, along with Alan Alda (born 1936, age 88), Loretta Swit (born 1937, age 87), and Jamie Farr (born 1934, age 91). (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))

Which M*A*S*H cast members are still alive as of 2025?

• Gary Burghoff, Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Jamie Farr are confirmed alive.
• Larry Linville (Frank Burns) died in 2000; McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake) died in 1996; Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter) died in 2011; William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) died in 2016; David Ogden Stiers (Charles Winchester) died in 2018.

How old are the surviving M*A*S*H actors?

• Alda (88), Swit (87), Farr (91), Burghoff (81).

The trade‑off: Fans of the series have lost most of the original cast, but the surviving members—especially Burghoff—remain active in their own ways, preserving the show’s memory while leading independent lives.

Gary Burghoff’s story is one of deliberate choice: to leave a hit show at its peak, to hide a physical difference with creative props, and to trade Hollywood for a paintbrush and a patent office. For any fan of M*A*S*H curious about what happened to Radar, the clearest answer is this: he chose a life of substance over visibility. The consequence for fans is that Gary Burghoff’s path reminds us that even the most iconic TV characters are played by people with lives far more interesting than the script.