and Trapper John.

Stiers played the WJM tv station manager who fired all of the news writing staff but kept Ted Baxter in the final episode of The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

Winchester started as a replacement nemesis for Hawkeye and BJ after Frank Burns left. Winchester was a brilliant surgeon and upper class snob. Winchester gradually softened to be rational and agreeable with the other characters even if he may get the better of Hawkeye and BJ at times which Burns never did.

Trapper left before Charles showed up, so Charles would have never met him.

If Winchester met Frank Burns, he would probably agree with Hawkeye that ol' Ferret Face was a twit.

I still remember Hawkeye pointing to the group they were training and just...

"YOU TELL EM FERRET FACE!"

Both Wayne Rogers and Pernell Roberts (a chum of my godmother's, nice chap) passed on before Mr. Stiers, which is what I think Arty meant.

The Rabbi is right. Winchester first appeared in Season 6. I could have added Henry Blake to what I thought was the full list of deceased MASH tv people.

True enow!

https://www.mash4077tv.com/wherenow/

Thanks! Mike Farrell appeared in the recent FX miniseries The Assassination of Gianni Versace as Chicago real estate developer Lee Miglin who was also a victim of serial killer Andrew Cunanan.

Johnny Haymer who played Sergeant Zale died in 1989.

Allan Arbus who played Major Sidney Freedman the psychiatrist died in 2013 at age 95. The husband of photographer Diane Arbus who was the subject in the biopic "Fur"...(not about anthro animal fans but there was Robert Downey Jr with hair all over his body).

I remember Winchester had a short arc where he taught some Koreans how to play classical instruments, and then they were killed. I'm not sure if it was the final episode or one late in the series, but it seemed like it broke him a little in a good and a bad way, expanding him so he could feel compassion for 'the other' or include them in his group, and made him a little less elitist at the time.

I enjoyed his character, and I think it was some skilled acting to carry that off. It's easy to be a snobbish buffoon (or I would imagine so). Making one likeable, more of a challenge. Definitely had a lot more depth than Burns.

That musician arc was in the final movie. Winchester rode off into the sunset in a garbage truck with Rizzo the motor pool guy.

I re-watched the final scene in the link lower in the comments.

I remember watching the last episode when it aired. Still heartfelt.

You, me, and millions watched the last movie. Top ten most watched episode in US tv history.

I remember that one... lots of feels, and sad to see that everyone left, but at least BJ and Hawkeye got the best good-bye before the final ep ended.

And I agree, if Maj. Winchester had met Burns before he was "sent home", he'd agree with BJ and Hawkeye... Ferret Face was a total jerk and loser.

A lot of great actors have since passed on since that show ended. I wish they'd do a major reunion of the surviving cast and directors, writers and such, before too many more of them pass on.

Thanks for the tribute, Rabbi. I'll wager Mr. Stiers is smiling up in heaven.


-- Stephen

he did Kamajii


I had no idea, rest in peace David

He will be missed. Time to binge watch MASH

"Let me put this as clearly and succinctly as possible...

GET ME THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

My favorite Maj. Winchester (the IIId) quote...

He was also in one episode of "Star Trek The Next Generation," playing a scientist who is facing being put to death.

And the character of "Cogsworth" the clock in the animated "Beauty And The Beast."

You remember both of the references I was going to post; thank you for that.

Stiers played J'onn J'onnz the Martian Manhunter in an unsold Justice League tv show pilot in the 1990s.

Stiers was in the pilot of the 70s Charlie's Angels series as their Bosley-like backup before David Doyle was added in the series as Bosley.

Stiers appeared in 4 Woody Allen films Shadows and Fog, Mighty Aphrodite, Curse of The Jade Scorpion, and Everyone Says I Love You (sharing a scene with Alan Alda).

Correction: Stiers played Scott Woodville, the boss of Bosley in the Angels pilot.

In this day and age, 75 is still far too young.

Speaking of Father Mulcahy, I actually met William Christopher once. Real nice guy.

Good on you for the memorial.

The world's a little poorer for his passing.

It's a sad day, My favorite Role he did was Oberon the leader of the Replicators in Stargate Atlantis.

"I do one thing at a time. I do it very well. And then I move on."

You have lived one life, you have done it very well, and now it is time to move on.

Goodbye David, you are missed.

If only you could like comments here. You made me cry with this one.

Got me too. Well put.

I remember him from his Disney roles, Cogsworth and the Narrator, Jumba, Governor Ratcliffe and Wiggins.

Always liked Major Winchester. He could be charitable, but preferred to keep that secret. Then there was the episode when he ran afoul of an Aussie MP who then closed down Rosie's.

He was one of my favorite characters on MASH. In one moment arrogant and self-absorbed, in the next softly and genuinely human. Stiers did so much with that character. It is a loss to all of us that he’s gone.

Remember the episode where he operated on a young fellow, who injured his hand and later told the Major in post-op that he was a concert pianist? Winchester went out of his way to find him some sheet music of a piece written for a one-handed pianist, all while emphasizing that the young man could do more for music than just play: writing, conducting, teaching, etc.

One of the more poignant stories in all of MASH.


-- Stephen

Yes, one of my favorite eps.

One of my favorite ones as well. Also the episode where he gave fancy Christmas chocolates and treats anonymously to a nearby orphanage. Upon learning that they were traded he furiously confronted the manager of the orphanage, but then melted when he learned the chocolates had been traded for a month's worth of food. Was a very touching episode.

A shame. :(

Saw this quote from Loretta Swit, who played Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, about Stiers and the series finale.
“A few episodes before, Margaret had borrowed a book of poems from Winchester. He got angry with me at one point and made me return it. In real life, we had this running gag. I would tease David all the time that no one had his private phone number. He was very much his own person, very reclusive in a way. So, in the final episode Winchester gives Margaret the book back. I open it and read the inscription. David had written his phone number inside. That’s my real emotion on camera.”

The scene she mentions https://youtu.be/wNn-LrIglfo?t=1h50m20s

Great Scene, thanks for the link.

Not a good way to go. My condolences to his family and friends.

Having been treated for Prostate cancer it’s painful down in that area: had one friend treated for bladder cancer too - he’s survived but it’s hard to treat.

Well, fuck.

I was too young to watch M*A*S*H when it originally aired, but while in college I became a big fan watching the reruns.
Best & most poignant line from Chuck was "For me, music has always been a refuge from this miserable experience... now it will always be a reminder." That line stabbed me in the feelz and twisted the knife.

RIP David.

Damn. *Nods*

I always liked him...

V.

Good Work as usual, Rabbi! Thank you, even if its a bit of melancholy news.

When people ask me what my favorite TV show is, I always say M.A.S.H. It had everything, comedy, drama, pathos, tragedy, silliness, passion, wisdom, thoughtfulness and sometimes it was just plan fun - often several in the same episode. The actors were superb and the writing excellent. There were a few good shows during the same time period, but M.A.S.H. is the one that stands out. I haven't watched TV on a regular basis in close to 20 years. Most of the shows bore me to tears and the so-called comedies leave me flat. The Carol Burnett 50th anniversary special reminded me of what TV used to be. Sadly, those days are gone. Now, I'd rather read a book.

"I do one thing at a time, I do it very well and then....I move on....." ~ Charles Emerson Winchester III

"Please, gentlemen... Mozart."

--he always gave it BACK to them.

Winchester, Kamaji and Dr. Jumba Jookiba. Among his many roles those are the ones that I will remember him best for. Another fitting tribute rabbi-tom, to one of our lost greats.

I'm so glad you included Kamaji in his memorial, I thought he was one of David's most heartfelt characters