MASH Cast Relationships: Meet Their Real-Life Partners

The concept of a television sitcom focusing on doctors stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Uijeonbu, South Korea, wouldn't seem to be the blueprint for a hit TV series. But that's exactly what M*A*S*H was, thanks to an incredible ensemble of actors that the audience felt as though they'd gotten to know intimately through the years. Yet in terms of the private lives of those performers, many have wondered about who they spent their lives with romantically, which is explored in this look at the real-life relationships of the M*A*S*H cast.

Running from 1972 to 1983 for a total of 256 episodes and following the 1968 Richard Hook novel M*A*S*H: A Novel About Three Army Doctors and the 1970 feature film, the series brilliantly mixes comedy and drama and still stands as one of the most unique TV shows in history, which was true from the premiere all the way through its finale episode.

Dale Sherman, author of the MASH FAQ, offers of the series' success, "I really think it has to do with the writing and acting more than anything else. I don't think anybody was really wanting to just watch a show about surgeons in the Korean War for 11 years. It really had to do with people wanting to see a quality comedy show — or comedy drama show — as it went on to become."

At the heart of it all, of course, were people like Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, Mike Farrell and Harry Morgan, among others, and this is an opportunity to get to know even more about them.

Alan Alda and Arlene Weiss

Alan Alda (Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce) was attending Fordham University in 1956 when he met musician Arlene Weiss, who was a student at Hunter College. He related to The New York Times that they met and connected at a dinner party thrown by a mutual friend, the "historic" moment occurring when a rum cake fell on the floor and neither one of them hesitated in nonetheless eating it.

"We did eat the rum cake off the floor and were inseparable after that," said Alda. "But I was captivated by her even earlier in the meal when I heard her at the end of the table laughing at my jokes. She had me at 'ha.’"

They married each other in 1957 and have been together ever since, becoming the parents of daughters Eve, Elizabeth and Beatrice; and grandparents to eight. Alda went on to embody the leading man of M*A*S*H, the beloved "Hawkeye" Pierce, and to this day is synonymous with his character to many who watched the show. 

1980

Alan Alda and Arlene Alda with Harry Morgan and wife Eileen at the 1980 People's Choice Awards, January 24, 1980.

1990

Alan Alda and his wife attend a memorial service for broadcasting executive William Paley, November 12, 1990, in New York City. Paley founded the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) in 1929 and headed the company for 50 years.

2005

Alan Alda, nominee as Best Actor in a Supporting Role for The Aviator, with wife Arlene (L) and family.

2019

Alan Alda and wife Arlene Alda attend the World Science Festival's 12th Annual Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 22, 2019 in New York City.

Wayne Rogers and Amy Hirsh

Wayne Rogers ("Trapper" John McIntyre) was married twice. He met his first wife, actress Mitzi McWhorter, in the late 1950s and they got married in 1960. The parents of two, the marriage lasted until 1983, which is when they divorced. Five years later, Rogers married second wife, Amy Hirsh.

The actor was a part of M*A*S*H from 1972 to 1975, before his character of Trapper was transferred stateside. He died on December 31, 2015 at the age of 82.

McLean Stevenson and Polly Ann Gordon

McLean Stevenson (Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake) was married three times. His first wife was Polly Ann Gordon, who he met while the two of them were attending Northwestern University. They married in 1957 but were only together until 1960.

While Stevenson was enjoying some success in his acting career, he married wife number two, Louise Herbert, in 1969. Their union was short-lived as well, the duo filing for divorce in 1971, which was right before the actor became a part of M*A*S*H. Stevenson's time on the show was memorable, yet rather short lived, as his character was transferred stateside but ultimately died in a aviation accident on his way home. 

Marriage number three was to Ginny Fosdick, who was a talent coordinator for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The two met when Stevenson appeared on the show, after which they fell in love and were married in 1980. They were together for 16 years until his death on February 15, 1996 at the age of 68.

Loretta Swit and Dennis Holahan

Houlihan was married to Holahan! Actually, Loretta Swit (Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan) met actor Dennis Holahan when they were performing together in the play The Desert Song. They were married in 1983 and were together for 12 years, divorcing in 1995. Neither one of them married again.

Larry Linville and His 5 Wives

Larry Linville (Major Frank Burns) was married five times. His first wife was actress Kate Geer, to whom he was with from 1962 until their divorce in 1975, the duo parenting son Christopher and daughter Jennifer.

Two years later he married Vana Tribbey and was with her until their divorce in 1982. Next was Melissa Gallant, from 1982 to 1985; Susan Hagan, from 1986 to 1992, and, finally, his fifth wife, Deborah Guydon, who he wed in 1993 and was with until his death on April 10, 2000 at the age of 60.

Gary Burghoff and His 2 Wives

Gary Burghoff (Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly) was married twice, first to Janet Gayle from 1971 until 1979, choosing to divorce. In 1975, they became the parents of a daughter named Gena.

His second and final marriage was to Elisabeth Bostrom, the two of them being wed in 1985 and staying together until 2005.

Burghoff is the father of three.

Mike Farrell and Judy Hayden

Mike Farrell (BJ Hunnicutt) married actress Judy Hayden, a high school English and drama teacher at the time, in 1963. They had two children — son Michael and daughter Erin — and were together until they separated in 1980, divorcing three years later. Judy played Nurse Able on M*A*S*H between 1976 and 1983.

Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares

In 1984, Farrell married actress Shelley Fabares, who is best known for her portrayal of Mary Stone on the sitcom The Donna Reed Show. The two, who met while filming the TV movie A Place to Call Home, have been together ever since.

2002

Mike Farrell arrives with his wife actress Shelley Fabares at the Tourette Syndrome Association Awards dinner February 19, 2002 in Los Angeles, CA.

2018

Actors Shelley Fabares and Mike Farrell attend the Los Angeles Premiere of 'The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story' at ArcLight Hollywood on January 8, 2018 in Hollywood, California.

Harry Morgan and Eileen Detchon

Harry Morgan (Colonel Sherman Potter) was married twice. His first wife was Eileen Detchon, who he wed in 1940 and was with until her death in 1985. Morgan’s love for his wife was obvious in that when he played Officer Bill Gannon on Dragnet, the character’s wife's name was Eileen. Additionally, on M*A*S*H, a photo of Eileen was always on Potter's desk, portraying his character's wife of Mildred Potter. They were the parents of four children, Christopher, Charles, Paul and Daniel.

Harry Morgan and Barbara Bushman

A year after Eileen's death, Harry Morgan married Barbara Bushman Quine, who he was with until he passed away on December 7, 2011, at age 96. Things weren't always smooth, however: in 2006, he was arrested under charges of domestic violence after striking Barbara in such a way that she had to go to the hospital. After he attended court-ordered domestic violence and anger management programs, those charges were dropped.

Jamie Farr and Joy Ann Richards

Jamie Farr (Corporal Max Klinger) has been married to model Joy Ann Richards since 1963. The duo met shortly after Farr's military service ended (he was drafted in 1957). Their children are Jonas, who was born in 1969; and Yvonne, born in 1972. They are also the grandparents to a grandson named Dorian. Farr's portrayal of Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger quickly propelled him to the top of M*A*S*H's ticket, and his embodiment of the quirky soldier gunning for a Section 8 discharged remains beloved to this day. 

William Christopher and Barbara O'Connor

William Christopher (Father Francis John Patrick Mulcahy) enjoyed a near-60 marriage to Barbara O'Connor, the couple walking down the aisle in 1957. They were the parents of two sons, John and Ned, the latter of whom was diagnosed with autism at a young age. As a result, they devoted much of their lives to raising autism awareness and even wrote the book, Mixed Blessings. 

Christopher died on December 31, 2016 at age 84.

NOTE: David Ogden Stiers, who played Major Charles Winchester, never married.

Other Real-Life Couples from Classic TV

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Real-Life Couples of ‘The Partridge Family’: See Which Cast Members Dated and Who They Married