Get to Know the Characters of M*A*S*H*

M*A*S*H* is a sitcom developed by Larry Gelbart. It is based off a movie that was inspired by a novel, M*A*S*H*: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Richard Hooker. It ran for 11 seasons from 1972 to 1983. It is still a popular series as reruns are aired on both Nick at Nite and the Hallmark Channel. Here is a quick guide to recurring characters on the sitcom.

Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce

Hawkeye is one of the doctors of the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (M*A*S*H*). He is the only character that appears in every episode. He is not married, is a womanizer, and is also very sympathetic and anti-war. He lived in a tent that he referred to as The Swamp. Two other doctors always lived with him, though they were not always the same doctors. Hawkeye was played by Alan Alda.

Francis John Patrick Mulcahy

Father Mulcahy is the priest of the M*A*S*H*. He has a sister who is a nun resulting in many "My sister the sister" jokes. In the pilot episode, Mulcahy was played by George Morgan. In all other episodes, he was played by William Christopher.

Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan

Major Houlihan is the head nurse at the M*A*S*H*. Before she fell in love and married another man in the army, she has a relationship with Major Frank Burns that was extramarital for him. Major Houlihan has "Hot Lips" because she easily gets angry, yells, and then throws things out of order. Major Houlihan was played by Loretta Swit.

Franklin "Frank" Marion Burns

Major Burns is one of the doctors at the M*A*S*H*. He is supposedly not very good and he is also uptight about operations which makes him the butt of many jokes. Frank lived in The Swamp. He went crazy when Major Houlihan got married. Because of this, he was discharged from the army. Frank Burns was played by Larry Linville.

John Francis Xavier "Trapper" McIntyre

Captain McIntyre was another one of the doctors. He lived in The Swamp. He was married, but he was still a womanizer. He and Hawkeye were like best friends. Captain McIntyre was played by Wayne Rogers.

Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly

Radar is the company clerk. He got the name "Radar" because he could hear the helicopters comming before they arrived. When the series was first created, Radar did not have a name. The actor who played Radar, Gary Burghoff, complained and the writers gave him a name. He is a simple country boy. He was given a hardship discharge from the army.

B. J. Hunnicut

B.J. Hnnnicut is the doctor that replace Trapper when he left. He and Hawkeye became quick friends and he also made fun of Frank and later Winchester. He is loyal to his wife which is one thing that Hawkeye cannot really understand. Captain Hunnicut was played by Mike Ferrell.

Henry Braymore Blake

Captain Blake was a Surgeon and the head of the M*A*S*H*. He was not all that competent when it came to running the M*A*S*H* unit, but he was a good surgeon. Although he would act annoyed at Hawkeye's antics, he usually enjoyed them. When Captain Blake was sent home, his helicopter exploded over the ocean and he died. Captain Blake was played by McLean Stevenson.

Sherman T. Potter

Colonel Potter replaced Captain Blake as the Chief Surgeon at the M*A*S*H*. He, too, played along with Hawkeye many times. Frank often irritated him. Colonel Potter was played by Harry Morgan. Yes, Harry Morgan did play another character in one episode of M*A*S*H* called, "The General Flipped at Dawn."

Charles Emmerson Winchester III

Major Winchester replaced Frank Burns. He was irritating to both Hawkeye and B.J., but not so much as Frank. Rather than being incompetent, he was pompous. At times, though, he would join in the games and his compassion could be seen. Major Winchester was played by David Ogden Stiers.

Maxwell Q. Klinger

Klinger was an orderly. When Radar left, he took his place as company clerk. Klinger dressed in women's clothes trying to convince others that he was crazy so he would get a section 8 discharge from the army. When the war was over, Klinger ended up staying in Korea because he married a Korean woman. Klinger was played by Jamie Farr.

There are always other characters in M*A*S*H* that come and go, but these are the main characters. The best way to get to know the different characters is to simply watch the show, though information can be found on the Internet.