NOW: The 85-year old Swit has mostly stepped back from acting, although she appeared in the 2019 indie faith-based film Play the Flute. In the film, Elliott Gould played the Trapper John character and Donald Sutherland was Hawkeye. When Mike Farrell's Captain B.J. THEN: William Christopher replaced George Morgan, who portrayed the kind-hearted priest in the series pilot episode. ", and the nickname "Trapper John" permanently stuck. Vital information At the beginning of Season 4 he replaced Trapper John at the 4077th, shortly before Henry Blake's replacement, Colonel Potter, arrived as the new commander. Pilot; Novels. In 1986, Rogers hosted the short-lived CBS television series High Risk. [8][9] He died exactly one year before fellow M*A*S*H cast member William Christopher. M*A*S*H has remained one of the most popular sitcoms in television history. The entire script was completed in just three days by writer Larry Gelbart. Captain B. J. Hunnicutt is played by Mike Farrell in the TV show. B.J. Spouse(s): Hunnicutt is a character in the M*A*S*H TV series. He is Hawkeye's partner in chaos initially, but is replaced by Trapper John once he arrives. While discussing Fr. It has been conceded by fans, critics and the producers of Trapper John M.D. Wayne Rogers, who portrayed "Trapper" in the TV series, was told when he accepted the role that Trapper and Hawkeye would be equally important, almost interchangeable (much like how Hawkeye and Trapper were presented in the MASH film). Study now. Most years, it ranked in the top 10 most-watched series. Who replaced Trapper John Mash? Trapper left no goodbye note but did "give" Radar a kiss on the cheek to pass on to Hawkeye, which he very reluctantly does. Burghoff is notable for being the only actor from the movie MASH (1970) to reprise his role as a main cast member on the television series. We wouldn't have realizedit at the time. The characters were so beloved that the show inspired two spinoffs, After M*A*S*H, which ran for two seasons and won a Peabody award, and Trapper John MD, which ran for seven and was nominated for three Emmys. Klinger was only meant to appear in one episode of the show, and the character wasn't even in the book. Born: In Radars Report, when Trapper's patient later dies after a wounded POW smashed an IV blood bottle connected to the patient, Trapper was so enraged that he confronted the bedridden POW in a threatening manner, with serious thoughts of retaliation for the loss of his patient. But after an observation from Klinger, Hawkeye gets wise and convinces Charles to help him get revenge on B.J.. View history William Wayne McMillan Rogers III (April 7, 1933 - December 31, 2015) [1] was an American actor, known for playing the role of Captain "Trapper" John McIntyre in the CBS television series M*A*S*H and as Dr. Charley Michaels on House Calls (1979-1982). When did BJ Hunnicutt in MASH? Why did BJ replace Trapper on MASH? In the Season 7 episode Lil, when asked what his initials stood for, he answered, "anything you want", but Hawkeye became adamant to know what they actually meant. B.J. After the first three seasons of the show, it became clear to M*A*S*H producers that the audience favored Hawkeye's storyline, meaning Alan's character was given better development and screen time over Trapper. He wrote his novel in 1956. Bj all the way! The series, which was similar in comedic tone to the earlier seasons of M*A*S*H, aired from 1979-1982 with Rogers as Dr. Charley Michaels, a character similar to Trapper John, with Lynn Redgrave playing hospital administrator Ann Atkinson, replaced after two seasons by Sharon Gless as Jane Jeffries. Fans who tuned in for the series penultimate episode, "As Time Goes By," know that there was a time capsule buried by the characters. No matter who pitches a TV show today, most writers and producers couldn't dream of hitting those numbers. received a letter from Peg in which she tells of meeting Radar in San Francisco; he becomes particularly upset when he reads that Erin ran up to Radar and called him "Daddy"; his anger reaches a level where he destroys the still in the Swamp and punches Hawkeye in the face before storming out. 2 daughters, Kathy & Becky (mentioned on M*A*S*H TV series) Dr. John 'J.T.' 's daughter, B.J. BJ > Trapper Again, Trapper just felt like diet Hawkeye (which is funny because Trapper was the main in the movie). It probably won't compare to the sheer numbers that watched the finale of M*A*S*Hon Monday, February 28, 1983. Naval Institute, he wore his "real dog-tags on M*A*S*H.". When they return to the site, all that remains are the foundations of the wood and metal buildings. Richard Hooker wrote MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors (1968), based on his experiences as a surgeon at the 8055th MASH in South Korea. The two exchange a long brotherly embrace, and Hawkeye boards a chopper while B.J., now wielding his San Francisco sign from the fingerpost, gets back on his motorcycle, but says one last thing to Hawkeye before he rides off: "I'll see you back in the States. Once Trapper settles in at camp, he becomes the wild one of the group, drinking, carousing, and playing pranks on the others, especially Margaret. Hunnicutts character evolved to provide heart and warmth as the series progressed. THEN: Larry Linville played Hawkeyes primary antagonist, Major Frank Burns, for the first five seasons of M*A*S*H. Feeling he had taken the Burns role as far as it could go, Linville declined a contract renewal. Much of the story line of Trapper John, M.D. Colonel Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, colloquially referred to as "Mac," wanted to end his contract with M*A*S*H. But the thing that made his leave stand out amongst other characters who left the popular television sitcom was that Henry Blake's leave was permanent. RELATED: M*A*S*H Star David Ogden Stiers Passes Away at 75. Rogers played Trapper John, usually acting opposite of Alan Alda's Hawkeye. Trapper also had a moral code, and though he was normally easygoing, he occasionally showed his dark side. Wayne became very aware of this and was displeased by the direction the show's writers were taking his character. Early on, Trapper and Hawkeye were partners, both partaking in hedonistic pursuits and playing practical jokes on Majors Frank Burns and Margaret Houlihan. NOW: Stevenson passed January 15, 2016, from a heart attack. If you look closely at Gary Burghoff's appearances on the show, you'll notice his left hand tends to be hidden. After five weeks of army training at Fort Sam Houston, Peg has their daughter Erin, and while they're out dining at the Top of the Mark (Peg's first night out since giving birth), B.J. He succeeded Elliott Gould, who had played the character in the Robert Altman movie MASH, and was himself succeeded by Pernell Roberts on the M*A*S*H spin-off Trapper John, M.D. Elliott Gould as "Trapper John" in the 1970 film. Part of the original cast, the amount of signs grew as the show continued. Interestingly, the growth of the mustache also coincided with a change in B.J. Richard Hooker's book MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors is the story of the 8055th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Korea, . After three seasons, Rogers left the show after a contract dispute with the producers. His exit is abrupt and, in the show, only explained as Trapper having been "discharged," though viewers are offered no other explanation. NOW: Linville passed from pneumonia in 2000. [7], Rogers died on December 31, 2015, from complications of pneumonia in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 82. Jeff Maxwell was never a series regular on M*A*S*H, but he appeared on the show in a recurring role for ten years. Legally, Trapper John, M.D. Crmetteer. B.J. (son) & Kimberly 'Kim' McIntyre (daughter) (on Trapper John, M.D. However, the home bases of some of the characters were never added. RELATED: 10 Sitcoms From The '70s Everyone Forgot About. Hazel Weight: tries to reassure him that they will still get to see one another back home, but with each of them living on an opposite coast, Hawkeye doesn't see how and becomes convinced that once they go home they'll never see one another again; B.J., however, refuses to accept that finality. He also appeared on The Big Valley in 1968. Once the degree of MD or DO is conferred on a member of the military they are given the rank of Captain in both the US Air Force and US Army. But audiences took to the bit character that he was written in as a regular on the show. They married in 1960, had two children, and divorced in 1983. On April 23, 2012, Rogers signed on as the new spokesman for Senior Home Loans, a direct reverse mortgage lender headquartered on Long Island, New York. THEN: Serving as star, director, writer, and guiding creative force behind the long-running sitcom over his ten year tenure, Alan Alda became not only the face of M*A*S*H, but of a generation of thoughtful feminist men throughout the 1970s and into the 80s. In 2001, Rogers made Destin, Florida, his home. "Abyssinia, Henry" (Season 3 finale) Instead, the Trapper John, M.D. Ironically, nearly three months after Trapper John, M.D. that followed them. Much of the story line of Trapper John, M.D. : Eventually, B.J. Before Farr acted on M*A*S*H, he actually did serve in Korea with the United States Army, and according to an article Farr wrote for the U.S. about Trapper, whom he is replacing, and then about Henry and Frank, the latter of whom Hawkeye reveals to B.J. He lives in the San Francisco suburb of Mill Valley, California with his wife Peg and their infant daughter Erin. Sadly, in the nearly four decades since the show went off the air, many of the main cast members have passed away, including William Christopher (Father Mulcahy), Wayne Rogers ("Trapper" John), Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns), Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter) and McLean Stevenson (Lt. Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. In the original novel he, Hawkeye and Duke were all married, while in the film there is no mention of Trapper's marital status, but they all lived a semi-hedonistic lifestyle with their drinking and carousing. A skill he developed despite the deformity. Trapper's TV portrayal was further compromised when the producers decided that Hawkeye, not Trapper, was to be the chest cutter and therefore Chief Surgeon. It will either be inside a glove, behind a clipboard, or in his pocket. Trapper John, M.D. The two were caught by a conductor, at which point the woman turned against him shouting, "He trapped me! They had been separated for almost four years prior to the divorce. In Mail Call, Trapper becomes overwhelmingly homesick. It also featured Robert Duvall and Tom Skerritt, while Sylvester Stallone also worked as an extra on the film. Hunnicutt, a character meant to replace Wayne Rogers' Trapper John. B.J. G. Wood played General Hammond in both, but only appeared in a few early episodes of the TV show. Hunnicutt replaced Trapper John in the show's fourth season, he was a young, clean-shaven, mild-mannered doctor drafted into the Korean War. In a season six episode, Major Charles Winchester added one for his hometown of Boston. M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, Wayne Rogers (for M*A*S*H) and Pernell Roberts (for Trapper John, M.D.). It ran from 1979 to 1986, and thus overlapped with M*A*S*H, which ended in 1983, but did not overlap with Trapper's time on M*A*S*H. Pernell Roberts (right) as an older Dr. John McIntyre, with Gregory Harrison (left) as Dr. George "Gonzo" Gates from Trapper John, M.D.. secretly manipulates things to where Charles again gets victimized (again losing his pants) while Hawkeye is vilified by the others and B.J. NOW: Alda continues to act in occasional projects, including playing Jack Donaghys soft-hearted liberal father on the sitcom 30 Rock. In addition to the disputes about contracts, he says he also left M*A*S*H (1972) because he felt the writers were not giving Trapper John any character development. After feeling as though he was being shafted from a more developed character arc, Wayne made the decision to quit the show. Sadly, in the nearly four decades since the show went off the air, many of the main cast members have passed away, including William Christopher (Father Mulcahy), Wayne Rogers ("Trapper" John), Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns), Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter) and McLean Stevenson (Lt. Mulcahy with Hawkeye Pierce, Trapper mentions that his parents wanted him to be a priest. The show begins following surgeons "Hawkeye" Pierce and "Trapper" John, played by Alan Alda and Wayne Rogers, respectively. TV series) In recent years, he has guest-starred on popular TV dramas like NCIS and American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. becomes the second main character (after Klinger, and before Potter and Winchester) to not appear in either the 1968 novel or the 1970 film. They were destroyed by the enormous heat of the wildfire. Her performance was critically acclaimed, and she won two Emmy Awards out of ten nominations for her performance on M*A*S*H. These days, Swit seems to be mostly retired from acting. They did all they could do with those characters, even Larry Linville (Major Burns) said that they did everything they could with his character. McIntyre, Jr., M.D. [4] He appeared regularly as a panel member on the Fox Business Network cable TV stocks investment/stocks news program Cashin' In, hosted since 2013 by Fox News anchor Eric Bolling. In the film he had a very dry and sardonic sense of humor, while in the TV series he was more of a clown. ", ~Hawkeye when he remembers Trapper John, telling Duke about how Trapper got his nickname (1970 film), "Trapper" John McIntyre BJ Hunnicutt, played by Farrell (replaced Trapper John after the fourth season) Reynolds (co-creator, producer, director): We named him "BJ" because our cameraman, a great guy, was named Bill . During production of M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell met Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams, who served as a technical consultant on the show. After 11 seasons sharing life, loss, and laughter with the actors who played their favorite military doctors, fans want to know: Where is the M*A*S*H gang now? Colonel Blake). THEN: David Ogden Stiers character Winchester replaced Frank Burns as Hawkeyes foe, although Charles Emerson Winchester III was a little more rounded, being less antagonistic and more stuffy and pompous, if kindhearted. This was the start of the 4 th season following the departure of Col Henry Blake and Trapper John. THEN: Standup comedian McLean Stevenson played the commanding officer of the 4077, Henry Blake, for three years before leaving to find starring roles in other shows and movies. In light of the series' lengthy run, Rogers later admitted he regretted leaving M*A*S*H. Trapper John's final M*A*S*H episode was "Abyssinia, Henry," which also included the final appearance of Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson). B.J. 's attitude toward the war and the military in general. On two separate occasions, Margaret drunkenly professes her attraction to Trapper John. The franchise depicts a group of fictional characters who served at the fictional "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M*A*S*H)" during the Korean War, loosely based on the historic 8055th MASH unit. Wiki User. He was also greatly frustrated with the producers demanding that he sign a contract that included a "morality clause" which stated the producers had the right to suspend him or fire him if he took part in an acting project outside of M*A*S*H without their approval, which he refused to sign because he saw it as an absurd demand. Wayne Rogers, who played Trapper John, was unceremoniously removed from the cast. 185 lbs. The franchise effectively ended with the conclusion of Trapper John, M.D. Family/Personal information Sandy reddish blonde (on M*A*S*H TV series), Black (in 1970 film and Trapper John M.D. Surgeon at the 4077th M*A*S*H was given the honor of speaking the last word in the series. was referred to in passing in the TV hospital drama. (Hunnicutt's orders are rescinded, however, and he gets only as far as Guam before being sent back, by which time Hawkeye has been discharged from the psychiatric clinic.). He replaced Trapper John, both in his position within the unit and as an ally of Hawkeye Pierce and a foil of Frank Burns, appearing in all but one episode of the rest of the series. Hawkeye and Radar rush to Kimpo airport to attempt to see him one last time before he departs stateside, but while they miss Trapper by a mere ten minutes, they meet his replacement, Captain B.J. Gary Burghoff played the popular character Walter "Radar" O'Reilly on M*A*S*H for the first eight seasons of the show's run. NOW: Farrell continues to act and produce, while also taking plenty of time for his work as an activist. 'Trapper' John! But despite the series starting with this surgical duo, by the show's fourth season, Trapper John was gone. Rank: Like many great long-lasting TV shows, many of the guest stars who appeared in M*A*S*Hwent on to become A-list actors. Peg later incorporated his dialogue into a home movie of herself and Erin that she sent back to Hawkeye. Despite generally empathizing with the man who became his best friend, he often suggests alternate, less confrontational solutions to problems and will occasionally outright refuse to participate in one of Hawkeye's schemes when it violates his own principles. itself; when Hawkeye rhetorically asks who would name their son "B.J. However, that changed radically when Alan Alda was cast as Hawkeye. They have also written several books. then tells about how he got drafted during residency in Sausalito while his wife Peg was eight months pregnant. I can't imagine what this place would have been like if I hadn't found you here." 's are considerably more brilliant- and devious. Their writing has been featured in numerous magazines, literary journals, digital projects, educational media, websites, nonprofit materials and marketing campaigns. He also starred as Walter Duncan in the 1987 movie Race Against the Harvest. is from California. Morgan, a veteran character actor and former Universal contract player, portrayed Colonel Sherman T. Potter. He replaced Trapper John, both in his position . The ruse didnt work, as the character was so popular he stayed for the entire run of the series. But B.J. Allegedly, he felt like he took Frank Burns as far as he could go, and there was not much more character to develop. InfoWorld called M*A*S*H "the exception" among the TI 99/4A's generally poor game library.[6]. Sara has been writing professionally for 26 years. It is believed that Trapper is, or was raised, a Roman Catholic. [1] He graduated from Princeton University in 1954 with a history degree, and was a member of the Princeton Triangle Club and the eating club Tiger Inn. Did you know that M*A*S*Hwas based on a novel? Incorrectly regarded as a goof in the series is him being shown as a Captain. Christopher continued the role of Father Mulcahy through all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H and into the spinoff AfterMASH. She also guest-starred on one episode of the M*A*S*H spin-off series Trapper John, M.D. Trapper was also referenced in Period of Adjustment, during which B.J. The track was muted for these scenes, and given the serious nature of the show, producers pushed for no laugh track at all. Even though the latter half of the third season started to flesh Trapper out a bit, Rogers departed, and his character was written out of the series. Wayne went on to act in another medical show, House Calls, after leaving M*A*S*H. He passed away in 2015. Once the degree of MD is conferred on a member of the military, they are given the rank of Captain in both the Army and the Air Force. They get acquainted over drinks at the Kimpo Officers Club. Hunnicut, served in the Marine Corps. Once the land was sold, the time capsule was discovered only months after the series ended, which likely affected its relevance to the construction worker who found it and asked what to do with it. Hunnicutt replaced Trapper John in the show's fourth season, he was a young, clean-shaven, mild-mannered doctor drafted into the Korean War. So fans might have been shocked tuning into Season Four to discover Trapper John M.I.A. In the TV series, while Hawkeye was depicted as a confirmed bachelor, Trapper was married, but still fraternized with the nurses while remaining devoted to his wife and children. It starred Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce and Wayne Rogers as Trapper John McIntyre. It starred Alan Alda as Hawkeye Pierce and Wayne Rogers as Trapper John McIntyre. Wayne's exit from the show was abrupt and against the wishes of the producers. We've updated this list with a few more items that should make you nod in understanding about some of the show's quirks. THEN: Alongside Alda, Loretta Swit was one of the longest-serving members of the 4077, playing head nurse and stickler for the rules Margaret Hot Lips Houlihan for all 11 seasons. is more reasoned and mature. "Trapper" John Francis Xavier McIntyre is a fictional character in Richard Hooker's M*A*S*H novels, as well as the film and the two TV series (M*A*S*H and Trapper John, M.D.) THEN: Wayne Rogers played surgeon Captain John Trapper McIntyre, Hawkeyes partner-in-crime in the shows first three seasons, before leaving to pursue other work. M*A*S*H character The actor who played Lt. And in his place was Mike Farrell playing Capt. TV series himself; he explains that he only got as far as Guam (one-third of the way home) before finding out that all flights are canceled, his orders had been rescinded, and that he was ordered back to the 4077th. left in the exact same way as Trapper John: without closure- to wit, going home without leaving so much as a goodbye note. That means doctors and nurses at the numerousMobile Army Surgical Hospitals were there for three Christmases. Back when TV shows like M*A*S*H, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, and other beloved hits of the 1970s and '80s first aired, fans didn't have the internet to connect them to the latest news and tidbits about actors, their lives, and behind-the-scenes insider information. Shelley Long, Leslie Neilson, Laurence Fishburne, Blythe Danner, John Ritter, Ed Begley, Jr., and Rita Wilson all had parts on the show at one point, as did Teri Garr, Andrew Dice Clay, and George Wendt. Updated March 6, 2020 by Richard Keller:As we near the 50th anniversary of this iconic show, more behind the scenes information comes out. Home: In Bottoms Up, after he stages a prank with Hawkeye during which Charles loses his pants in the OR (for which Hawkeye was blamed), B.J. is a TV dramatic series that showed the character in a contemporary setting (approximately 25 years after the Korean War ended). Rogers co-starred with Robert Bray and Richard Eyer in the western series Stagecoach West on ABC from 1960 to 1961. Played by: He trapped me! B.J. gets his discharge papers and is overly excited to finally be going home. But while Hawkeye continued womanizing, B.J. Rogers also played a role in Odds Against Tomorrow, which was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1960 as Best Film Promoting International Understanding. 2016-01-01 16:50:34. After the third season, Rogers left the show and was replaced by Mike Farrell as B. J. Hunnicutt. The series is correct in having him be a Captain. During season 4 of M*A*S*H, Mike Farrell joined the cast as B.J. Rogers considerably reduced his Alabama accent for the character of Trapper.[3]. does not consider himself a soldier in any way (in The Interview he calls himself a "temporary misassigned civilian"), but in Bombshells, B.J. In the final episode, B.J. said, but motions for the pilot to take off nonetheless. THEN: Coming in to replace Trapper John as Hawkeyes best friend/partner-in-crime, B.J. 'M*A*S*H' made all of its cast members into stars, but it's now been a long time since actors like Loretta Swit and Jamie Farr were household names. Though he did show some stubble from time to time, he remained without a full face of hair during his first few seasons. However, to relieve the pressures of duty in a field hospital close to the front and the attendant horrors of war, the staff engage in humorous hijinks, frivolity, and petty rivalries off-duty. I thought they were both awesome. over a contract dispute. A total of 15 M*A*S*H novels were published between 1968 and 1977, some co-authored by William E. Butterworth. Though not always the case, it was something fans of the series learned later. . is so pressed for time after hearing the news that he is unable to even to leave a note, echoing Trapper's failure to do so at his own departure. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. The rank of Major is attained for members of the AMEDD after serving as a Captain for 6 years. He found the character too cynical, however, and asked to screen test as Trapper John, whose outlook was brighter. is a direct spin-off of the MASH film rather than the television series due to licensing issues. According to ScreenRant, the show was involved in a lawsuit as the M*A*S*H creators claimed the series was a spinoff of their show. 's replacement supposedly arrives in camp, but to everyone's surprise, it is B.J. He has a devoted wife and baby girl back home and is known as the family man of the unit. Whenever I see a big pair of feet or a cheesy mustache, I'll think of you." "Pilot" (Season 1, Series pilot) Plus, Rogers came into and left MASH when the show was still fresh. When he joined the show, he had B.J. I PROMISE! His full name remained a mystery throughout the series. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Despite his friendship with Hawkeye, it is implied that Trapper never bothered to contact him for the remainder of the war to apologize for his awkward departure; even though that was completely selfish and out of character on his part, it was probably the writers' intent to not let his departed character cast a negative shadow on his replacement, B.J.