The hit 1972 sitcom “M*A*S*H” introduced the world to a number of memorable and beloved characters, from the smart-mouthed yet compassionate Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce to his endearing friend, Captain B.J. Hunnicutt. Almost every character had stuck in the minds of the fans.
One of the characters that often featured but was easily overlooked by his military counterparts due to his nervous nature was the 4077 MASH unit’s company clerk, Corporal Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly. Although many of the staff on the base tended to take Radar’s effort for granted, the fans sure noticed him.
Radar was portrayed by the acclaimed actor Gary Burghoff from the start of the TV show in 1972 until the seventh season, which aired in 1979. Although fans clamored for more of the unassuming clerk, Burghoff revealed that he needed to step away from the show to rekindle his personal relationships and fight burnout.
“M*A*S*H’s” Influence and Burghoff’s Personal Identity
Although Burghoff enjoyed playing Radar, the role became increasingly demanding. The actor commented that it became difficult to separate himself from his character in the eyes of the public, which soon became tedious. He also noted that he despised being fawned over by the crowds:
“Aw, I know I’m cute. Cute, cute, CUTE! I was always cute because I was always the smallest kid on the block. I hate cute.”
Everyone saw Burghoff as an adorable, short, timid character as they’d known him on-screen and on the stage for many years. However, after years of being looked down upon, both metaphorically and physically speaking, Burghoff grew tired of the persona so easily attributed to him by scores of people he had never even met.
The actor lashed out against this view of him as a cute little fellow by defending his height. As he so rightly pointed out, 5 feet 6 inches isn’t irregularly short, and he would have seen the tops of Arte Johnson or Mickey Rooney’s heads had they ever met. Nonetheless, the persona stuck.
Luckily for all his fans, Burghoff didn’t let his disability stand in his way, and he pursued his dream of becoming an actor.
Despite his misgivings about how others perceived him, Burghoff’s fellow cast members adored him. The director Charles Dubin recalled working with Burghoff before he left “M*A*S*H,” noting how caring and pleasant Burghoff was to everyone on set. However, Burghoff had another aspect of himself that drove down his self-esteem.
Burghoff had been born with a congenital disability called Brachydactyly, a form of Poland Syndrome. The condition left the actor with three fingers on his left hand that were noticeably smaller than the rest of his digits, and the abnormality had plagued him since he was a small child. The actor commented:
“Of course, this defect affected me while I was growing up. I suppose when I was very young, I knew my disability would set me apart and make me special.”
Luckily for all his fans, Burghoff didn’t let his disability stand in his way, and he pursued his dream of becoming an actor. Yet, becoming a fan-favorite on one of the most iconic TV shows America had ever produced never managed to quell his insecurities about his stout fingers and stocky frame.
Throughout his run on “M*A*S*H,” Burghoff tried to hide his left hand from the camera. He would often position himself so that the camera could only see one side of his body and usually gestured with his right if the scene required it, although the actor would be obligated to use both hands now and again.
In one of the earliest episodes, viewers were introduced to Radar as he stood in an open area, wearing a greyish shirt and his trademark cap. As the actor turned around and looked at the sky — once again hearing approaching helicopters before everyone else — the camera briefly panned over both his hands holding a football.
When Colonel Sherman T. Potter first made his appearance on the show, taking over from the beloved Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, Radar and the new commander shared a scene where they first met. As Colonel Potter exited the room to find the latrines, the camera centered on Burghoff’s upper body as he opened a box with both hands.
Another infamous scene caught Burghoff with both hands on camera. During a regular morning salute, with the loathsome Major Frank Burns leading the ceremony, Radar does his usual morning salute with a bugle. In a hilarious twist, one of the men fires off the ceremonial canon at Burns’s behest.
Naturally, Radar gets the short end of the stick as the cannonball flies directly at him, knocking his instrument clean out of his hands. In the next few seconds, Burghoff turns toward the camera in a pantomime of rage, balling his fists and stomping in outrage. Here, both his hands can be seen for a brief second.
In one of the later episodes, the writers showed off Radar’s softer side when he cuddled his pet guinea pig, Babette. Naturally, Radar stood with his left hand beneath his right, but just as he started to sing, Father John Mulcahy called for him. Burghoff’s hands were visible again as he put the Babette away.
One of the scenes where Burghoff openly showed his left hand came as part of another gag the show pulled. At the start of the scene, Radar could be seen walking across a dirt road while two other military personnel walked away from the camera. The man on Radar’s right first lifted his hand in salute, followed shortly by one on the left.
Radar, the pleasant character he was, lifted his right hand in response to the first salute, as military etiquette dictates. Caught off guard by the quick second salute, Radar lifted his left hand as well, essentially performing a double salute. Feeling sheepish, he frowned and lowered his hands slowly in one of Burghoff’s classic displays of confusion.
‘He’s Going Bald!’ Fans React to Ben Affleck’s Unrecognizable New Look!
Two-time Academy Award winner Ben Affleck was spotted on a film set wearing an outfit inspired by autumn. The actor is still working while he and Jennifer Lopez handle their divorce.
On October 15, 2024, Ben Affleck was seen with a woman while holding an iced coffee, but it was his hairstyle that caught the attention of fans. Many people wondered if the actor might be losing his hair.
Affleck had a serious look on his face as he grabbed his iced coffee with his assistant, Gigi Fouquet. He wore a casual wine-red fleece-lined jacket over a cream shirt that was partly unbuttoned, with a t-shirt underneath. Gigi, on the other hand, wore a black crewneck sweater with light beige pants.
Getty Images
Despite Ben Affleck’s serious look, it was his hair that caught most of the fans’ attention. One fan seemed surprised and asked, “What happened with his hair?” while another wondered, “Is he going bald?”
Someone else joked, “He looks like he got too hot and tried to take a bath, but was still too hot, so he cut his own hair.”
Many shared similar thoughts, with one comment suggesting, “He’s going bald. The JLo glow really wore off quickly,” and another fan expressed concern by saying, “Ben looks very old!”
Still, Affleck’s fans quickly defended him. One person declared, “Ben Garner Affleck looks better than ever,” and another fan enthusiastically noted, “Handsome Ben, good job getting out of that relationship. You look awesome and healthy!”
Others focused on his future, with one fan saying, “So happy to see him staying busy and focused on the future. Good luck!” Another fan affirmed, “He’s a great actor, very smart. He will do amazing things.”
Affleck is busy with many projects, most of which he produces through his company, Artists Equity, which he co-owns with Matt Damon. Earlier this year, he finished filming a sequel to his 2016 action movie, “The Accountant.”
As for his acting roles, he is currently involved in two upcoming films, including “RIP,” where he stars with his longtime friend and collaborator, Damon.
In early October, Damon and Affleck were seen working together on a new beer commercial, reportedly for Stella. Affleck directed the ad, which features Damon and former soccer star David Beckham.
The trio was photographed at the Griffin Club Los Angeles, where they filmed the commercial on a tennis court.
Affleck seems focused on his work while he and Jennifer Lopez navigate their divorce. Sources say they are working out their financial issues amicably.
The actor’s social and romantic life has also been a topic online. He was recently seen with a mystery woman from a famous family. Many users pointed out that she looks like his ex-wife.
Online users believe the woman resembles Affleck’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. On August 24, 2024, a media outlet reported that Affleck has been seen with Kick Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy’s 36-year-old daughter.
According to the outlet, an insider confirmed that Affleck and Kennedy have been spotted together at popular places like the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel. However, neither has clarified their relationship.
The timing of their outings coincides with the period when Lopez and Affleck began having marital issues, which led to Lopez filing for divorce on August 20, 2024, citing irreconcilable differences.
Many people have reacted to Affleck’s outings with Kennedy, noting the similarity to Garner, the mother of his children. Some comments online include, “[She looks] exactly like Jennifer Garner,” and “She looks like his [ex-wife], not [JLo].”
Kennedy has made headlines before. A profile from 2012 reveals details about her interests beyond being a mystery woman. She is passionate about acting and activism, particularly advocating for clean water.
Kennedy started a nonprofit called Waterkeeper. She even hiked with famous actors Emile Hirsch and Jessica Biel to raise awareness about water shortages.
Kennedy enjoys making the most out of life. “I like to say life is just a collection of experiences — some good, some bad — and the more you have, the better,” she shared in the 2012 interview.
As for her acting career, Kennedy has appeared on popular TV shows like “Gossip Girl” and “The Newsroom.” In the interview, she was still searching for her big break while dividing her time between Los Angeles and New York.
She admitted feeling held back by her famous family. “I was born with a sticker — a name — that made me uninterested in the fame factor of success,” she said.
The Harvard graduate studied dramatic and comedic acting and has a love for live theater. She played the lead role in the Storm Theatre’s production of “Antigone,” which sparked her passion for live performances.
Kennedy hopes to do more theater in the future but was focused on enjoying life in New York at that time. When asked what she loved about the city, she replied, “Just being able to walk into a bar with friends and shoot a round of pool.”
Many people have reacted to Affleck’s outings with Kennedy, noting the similarity to Garner, the mother of his children. Some comments online include, “[She looks] exactly like Jennifer Garner,” and “She looks like his [ex-wife], not [JLo].”
With the recent attention surrounding her connection to Affleck, it seems that the budding actress may be losing the anonymity she once enjoyed.
Leave a Reply