Age, Biography, and Wiki
Gary Burghoff was born on May 24, 1943, in Bristol, Connecticut. He started his artistic journey early, relocating to Clinton, Connecticut, and later settling in Delavan, Wisconsin, where he honed his skills in tap dance, drumming, and acting. Burghoff's early life was filled with artistic endeavors, and he went on to receive professional acting training at HB Studio in New York City.
| Occupation | Inventor |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 24 May 1943 |
| Age | 82 Years |
| Birth Place | Bristol, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Gemini |
| Country | U.S |
Height, Weight & Measurements
There is limited publicly available information regarding Gary Burghoff's current height, weight, and measurements. However, he is often remembered for his distinctive appearance as Radar O'Reilly, which included his endearing character's innocence and small stature.
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Dating & Relationship status
Gary Burghoff's personal life is not extensively covered in recent media. He is known to have been married, but specific details about his current relationship status are not widely reported.
Burghoff left M*A*S*H in 1979 after the seventh season because of burnout and a desire to spend more time with his family, though he returned the following season to film a special two-part farewell episode, "Goodbye Radar". He explained, "Family, to me, became the most important thing. I was not available as a father because of my work. That doesn't stop when the work stops. Whenever you go out as a family, you're always torn from family to deal with public recognition." "Goodbye Radar" was supposed to be the final episode of season 7, but at the behest of CBS, it was extended into a double-episode for the November sweeps the next season. Fellow cast member Mike Farrell tried to persuade Burghoff to stay on the show, citing the lackluster careers of former M*A*S*H regulars Larry Linville and McLean Stevenson after their departures.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Janet Gayle (m. 1971-1979) Elisabeth Bostrom (m. 1985-2005) |
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Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Gary Burghoff's net worth is estimated to be around $6 million. This figure is primarily derived from his successful acting career, including his iconic role in MASH* and other television and film appearances.
Career, Business, and Investments
- Acting Career: Burghoff is most famously known for playing Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly in MASH*, both in the 1970 film and the subsequent television series. He won an Emmy Award for his performance in 1977 and was nominated several times more.
- Other Ventures: After MASH*, Burghoff appeared in various TV shows and became a regular on game shows like "Match Game" and "Tattletales." He is also a skilled jazz drummer and has pursued a career in wildlife painting. His art has been exhibited in galleries nationwide, reflecting his passion for nature conservation.
- Inventions and Patents: Burghoff holds patents for fishing equipment and developed a method for lifting fingerprints, showcasing his inventive side.
Burghoff made his feature film debut in Robert Altman's M*A*S*H (1970). Although several actors from the original film made guest appearances in the television series M*A*S*H, Burghoff was the only actor to continue as a regular, in the role of Radar O'Reilly. Although he played the same character in the series as in the film, Burghoff has cited differences in the portrayal: "In the original feature film M*A*S*H, I created Radar as a lone, darker and somewhat sardonic character; kind of a shadowy figure. I continued these qualities for a short time until I realized that the TV M*A*S*H characters were developing in a different direction from the film characters. It became a group of sophisticated, highly educated doctors (and one head nurse) who would rather be anywhere else and who understood the nature of the 'hellhole' they were stuck in. With [Larry] Gelbart's help, I began to mold Radar into a more innocent, naïve character as contrast to the other characters, so that while the others might deplore the immorality and shame of war (from an intellectual and judgmental viewpoint), Radar could just REACT from a position of total innocence."
Farrell later said, "Gary Burghoff may well have been the best actor in the company, it's always seemed to me. His focus, his ability to find those little gems of behavior that made everything absolutely true were a marvel to behold."
Social Network
Gary Burghoff's presence on social media platforms is not widely documented. As an actor from a different era, his online presence may be limited compared to contemporary celebrities.
Education
Burghoff received professional acting training at HB Studio in New York City. Prior to that, he developed his skills in acting, tap dance, and drumming from an early age, notably with the Belfry Players in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.