M*A*S*H Actors: Who’s Still Alive, Military Service & Cast Updates

Total episodes: 251 · Original run: 1972–1983 · Main cast members: 14 · Cast members still alive (as of 2025): 4 · Cast members who served in the military: 3 · Actor in all episodes: Alan Alda

The M*A*S*H main cast consists of 14 principal actors, but their fates vary widely.

Which M*A*S*H Actors Are Still Alive?

Current living cast members

• Alan Alda (born 1936) – alive as of 2025 (True North Brief)
• Mike Farrell (born 1939) – alive (True North Brief)
• Jamie Farr (born 1934) – alive (True North Brief)
• Loretta Swit (born 1937) – alive (True North Brief)
• Gary Burghoff (born 1943) – alive, though not in the main cast by the end (True North Brief)

Alan Alda

Alan Alda, who played Capt. Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, is the most recognizable living cast member. He is still active in television, writing, and advocacy. Biography.com notes he served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Mike Farrell

Mike Farrell played B.J. Hunnicutt and is known for his political activism. He is alive and well (True North Brief).

Jamie Farr

Jamie Farr played Cpl. Maxwell Klinger. He is alive and occasionally makes public appearances (True North Brief).

Loretta Swit

Loretta Swit played Maj. Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan. She is alive and devotes her time to animal rescue (True North Brief).

The pattern: while the show’s legacy lives on, the surviving actors are a dwindling link to its original magic.

How Many M*A*S*H Actors Are Still Alive Today?

Count of survivors

As of 2025, four of the eleven main cast members are reported alive (True North Brief). The four are Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Jamie Farr, and Loretta Swit. Gary Burghoff, a recurring main cast member, is also alive.

Breakdown by main cast

• Living: 4 (Alda, Farrell, Farr, Swit)
• Deceased: 7 (Stevenson, Rogers, Linville, Christopher, Morgan, Stiers, Burghoff? Actually Burghoff is alive. So 10 deceased total includes others.)

The implication: more than two-thirds of the principal cast have passed away, leaving a small but active group of survivors.

Did Any M*A*S*H Cast Members Serve in the Military?

Alan Alda

Alan Alda served in the U.S. Army Reserve, spending time in South Korea from 1956 to 1958, according to the U.S. Department of War (official government source). He was a real-life Army officer before playing one on TV.

Harry Morgan

Harry Morgan served in the U.S. Army during World War II, as confirmed by the same U.S. Department of War feature.

Jamie Farr

Jamie Farr was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years on active duty, including time in post-war Korea (Biography.com). The U.S. Department of War also mentions his Navy service, reflecting a discrepancy.

The pattern: three main cast members had real military backgrounds, adding authenticity to the show’s portrayal of the Korean War.

Which M*A*S*H Actor Appeared in All 251 Episodes?

Alan Alda

Alan Alda is the only actor to appear in every single episode of M*A*S*H, as confirmed by TV Guide. He was the series’ lead and a creative force, writing and directing many episodes.

Other frequent actors

Loretta Swit missed one episode; Jamie Farr missed several; William Christopher appeared in all but a handful. The TV Guide cast list shows the full episode counts.

The trade-off: Alda’s constant presence made him the show’s anchor, but it also meant he carried the most creative and emotional weight.

What M*A*S*H Actors Have Passed Away?

Deceased cast members

• McLean Stevenson (1927–1996) – died February 15, 1996 (U.S. Department of War)
• Wayne Rogers (1933–2015) – died December 31, 2015 (ScreenRant)
• Larry Linville (1939–2000) – died April 10, 2000 (TV Guide)
• William Christopher (1932–2016) – died December 31, 2016 (TV Guide)
• Harry Morgan (1915–2011) – died December 7, 2011 (TV Guide)
• David Ogden Stiers (1942–2018) – died March 3, 2018 (TV Guide)
• Kellye Nakahara (1948–2020) – died February 16, 2020 (TV Guide)
• Others: Jeff Maxwell, etc.

Years of death

Most deaths occurred after the show ended, with the longest-surviving main cast member being Harry Morgan (died 2011 at age 96).

Did Cast Members Clash on the Set of M*A*S*H?

Alan Alda and McLean Stevenson

McLean Stevenson reportedly clashed with Alan Alda over the show’s direction. Stevenson left after season 3 to pursue other projects, a move he later regretted (ScreenRant). The exact nature of the feud is disputed, but it’s widely referenced.

Alan Alda and other cast members

No confirmed serious feuds with other cast members. The set was generally professional, though creative tensions sometimes surfaced.

The catch: the show’s success was built on strong personalities, which inevitably led to occasional friction.

Fourteen main cast members, one enduring show. The cast’s backgrounds and fates paint a varied picture — here’s how they compare.

“I was an Army officer in Korea and played one on TV.”

— Alan Alda, U.S. Department of War

“The M*A*S*H cast included several real-life military veterans, which added a layer of authenticity to the show’s portrayal of the Korean War.”

— U.S. Department of War feature story

For fans of the show, the story of the cast is a reminder that the actors behind the characters had real lives — some in uniform, some in the spotlight, and some in quiet retirement. The remaining four live actors: Alda, Farrell, Farr, and Swit, each carry a piece of that legacy. Alan Alda, the only actor to appear in all 251 episodes, remains the most enduring link to the show’s legacy.

For a more detailed look at which actors served in the military, check out these M*A*S*H cast updates.

Frequently asked questions

For more on iconic TV actors, see our guides on Larry Hagman: Cause of Death, Net Worth, and Life Story and Barry Williams: Life, Career, and FAQs After The Brady Bunch.