As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others Henry's affectionate individual goodbyes to the others are cut short by the imminent arrival of his helicopter, but Hawkeye pulls him aside and persuades him to give a long parting kiss to Margaret, to her surprise and Frank's annoyance. I'm OK! The creators and also the network granted his wish. When the series concluded in 1981, the bear mysteriously disappeared for nearly 30 years, prompting my non-ending search for my little on-camera companion and friend. In 1980, the Argus-Leader reported that Alan Alda was the highest-paid TV actor of all time, earning $5.6 million a season on M*A*S*H, which also included the money he made as a writer. Blake will always be remembered as a kind and gentle man, who cared deeply for his friends and colleagues. After bringing Meg to the hearing to testify in Henry's behalf, the presiding officers were ready to drop the charges with Frank's approval, which he naturally refused at first, but when Hawkeye and Trapper threatened to tell Frank's wife about Margaret, Frank abruptly changed his mind. Episodes following this represented a major change in focus for the show; the individual effects and psychological damages of war were explored more, often in parallel to the ending of the Vietnam War, and the Korean culture was portrayed in greater depth than had been done before, instead of focusing on a "boorish, military mindset" as before. The creators and also the network granted his wish. WAYNE ROGERS WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE SHOW BECAUSE HE NEVER SIGNED A CONTRACT. Edgar McLean Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 February 15, 1996) was an American actor and comedian. "Over the River and Through the Woods" (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:29. There were no survivors. This highly rated episode remains notable for its shocking ending: the (off-screen) death of Colonel Henry Blake.. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Does this place look like the Mayo Clinic? Longtime recurring guest cast member Jamie Farr, who played Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger, was elevated to the regular cast, with his name being featured on the opening credits. 24th episode of the 3rd season of M*A*S*H. "Abyssinia, Henry." ", The final scene, in which Radar informs the 4077th of the death of Henry Blake, was unprecedented: it was the first time in American television history that a main character departing a comedy series was killed off in a tragic way. However, nowadays, Three cars and a motorcycle were involved in a fatal crash in Lee County on Friday. In the 1970 film, though SFC Vollmer was the camps Sergeant Major, it was Radar who was company clerk and was invariably entrusted with everything by Colonel Blake. They talked to the surviving cast members of M*A*S*H. Stevenson died in 1996. The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was show down over the Sea of Japan. He was shanked by a fellow murderer on August 19th, 1966 and died the next morning. Lorraine (called Mildred in Season 1), ?-1952 (his death) "[7] Many of those who objected also cited the fact that M*A*S*H was considered a situation comedy, and that Blake's "cheap" killing did not belong in the show; one caller to Reynolds stated after the episode aired that they "don't know why [they] did it; it's not necessary, it's just a little comedy show" and that "you've upset everybody [in the family]," before vowing never to watch the show again. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? It would have colored their performances.. M*A*S*H character Blake, before he boarded a chopper the day of his departure, changed into a civilian suit. if we turned on the [television] set we would see fifteen people [killed in Vietnam every night]. But then again, Henry Blake was kind of corny. What is the reflection of the story of princess urduja? Performance & security by Cloudflare. During the summer 1975 break between seasons three and four, he quit the series. He is eventually released and returns to the 4077th, but dies shortly thereafter from his injuries. The series never mentions how he came to receive a Purple Heart (for wounds in battle) and it is shown as being worn AFTER the Army Commendation Medal, which is incorrect. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." According to multiple accounts, one most famously from co-star Loretta Swift, corroborated by writer Ken Levine, McLean left because he wanted to be No. Please whitelist to support our site. Henry even had a file full of Klinger's various phony attempts at hardship discharge. Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. [10], Not all reaction to the airing was negative. Radar then leaves the operating room as the camera pans across the stunned staff, each visibly fighting to retain composure and continue with their work. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Rogers. A teacher walks into the Classroom and says If only Yesterday was Tomorrow Today would have been a Saturday Which Day did the Teacher make this Statement? There were no survivors. Sandy Brown The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. In the Richard Hooker novels and Robert Altman film, Henry Blake remained in command at the 4077th after Hawkeye and Duke went home. Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. Writers gave them a page of dialogue at the last minute. Radar walks into the operating room, without a mask, and announces that Blakes plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan. The producers, Larry Gelbart and Gene Reynolds, decided almost at the last minute to add Henry's death to the episode. Your email address will not be published. Why did Henry Blake leave mash? In return, Radar, more or less, was Henry's backbone, and kept the unit running like a well-oiled machine, utilizing his nearly magical skills for getting everything done, counter-balancing Henry's laissez-faire attitude. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. After the production of this episode, both Stevenson and Wayne Rogers, who played the character of Trapper John McIntyre, left the series to pursue other interests. Stevenson decided to leave M*A*S*H after the third season when the series enjoyed the fifth highest ratings in the country. Being a genuinely kind-hearted and forgiving person, Henry chose not to reprimand Margaret when she got herself so drunk that she could not even pronounce her own name properly. The night before Blake left, Hawkeye, Trapper John and Radar threw a going-away party for him. At one point, Henry mocked Hot Lips by saying that she had gone over his head so many times that he had athletes scalp. Or, they applauded it. (1941-1984). "[11], In Bobbie Ann Mason's 1985 novel In Country, the teenage protagonist recalls having watched the episode as a child and being "so shocked she went around stunned for days," and confesses that Blake's death on the show had seemed more real to her than the death of her own father in Vietnam. because "everyone loved Henry". Rank: Birthplace: Henry Blake was a Korean War veteran and the commanding officer of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. He rushed to tell him goodbye but missed him at the airport. The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. Lt. They are unfortunately not accurately portrayed. The next morning, Frank attempts to assemble the company for a formal send-off, but Hawkeye and Trapper are out of uniform and unshaven, and Corporal Klinger (Jamie Farr) wears a particularly elaborate dress made specially for the occasion. Why did Frank Burns leave? [17] The character of Trapper John McIntyre was subsequently written off the series in "Welcome to Korea," the first episode of the next season. The death of a major character on a sitcom was practically unheard of. It was a huge deal at the time because no one had ever seen anything like it before. Here's an oldie but a goodie half of the family dying, other half pregnant. Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. And cast members still remembered how they felt when writers gave them the dialogue for the final scene with Blake. They didn't expect it but it made the point. The episode ends with a touching montage of flashbacks set to the song Suicide Is Painless.. Why Did They Get Rid of Henry Blake On MASH? You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Required fields are marked *. We were working on the story of McLean leaving. Click to reveal The episode of M*A*S*H in which Henry Blake died is one of the most famous and well-known episodes in television history. He added: We thought everyone should feel a personal loss. (to Trapper) Boy oh boy, you gotta stay on top of these guys every second! WebM*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. There are a few theories floating around. So why did they do it? In 1983, they both starred in separate new sitcoms. Ex-WhatsApp Exec Pays $22.3M For New Beverly Hills Home, A New Requirement Decided by IRS for R&D Credit Refund Claims, The social security cost of living: Updated news, Real-Life K-Drama Is Streaming on Your Samsung, SEC Sets Clock for Delisting Chinese Companies Over US Audit Demand. Stevenson left the set almost immediately after the end of filming, and the party was canceled due to the dour mood of the cast. These combined departures and their subsequent cast replacements also signaled the beginning of a shift in focus of the M*A*S*H series as a whole, with a greater focus on the character of Hawkeye Pierce, played by Alan Alda. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. He is shown as having earned the following: The National Defense Service Medal was indeed awarded to personnel serving in Korea. How to Make a Disposable Vape Last Longer? In the 1970 film there seemed to be little to no father/son bond, though Henry entrusted everything to Radar, who was still company clerk, as opposed to SFC Vollmer, the camp's sergeant major, who invariably found himself one step behind Henry and Radar's machinations. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. RIP McLean and Roger. However, it is later revealed that he did not die in the crash and was instead captured by the North Koreans. ", (Comforting Hawkeye after the death of a friend) "If I had all the answers I'd be at the Mayo Clinic. The cigars that Colonel Henry Blake smoke in M.A.S.H are candela cigars,which are known for their distinctive green color.This color comes from the quick drying process that locks in the natural chlorophyll in the tobacco leaves before it can degrade. Roger Bowen (film)McLean Stevenson (TV) He was only 68. [3], To evoke genuine emotions of shock and sadness, the final O.R. He went back to him to return the salute and then said, "You behave yourself, or I'm gonna come back and kick your butt." Another time while drunk he claims he was sent to Korea after attending a party with a 30-year career military medical general; when the general made a remark about a coffee enema, Blake foolishly responded, "with cream and sugar?". In a related note, Ive found that there are two times when you can judge a person very well: How they behave when they have nothing, and how they behave when they have everything. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. He is best known for his role as Lt. Though Henry was a capable doctor and a decent man, he was largely ineffectual as a commanding officer, though in his defense, Henry never professed to be a great leader, and was fully aware that he was in over his head as commander. 1." "We didn't want Henry Blake going back to Bloomington, Illinois and going back to the country club and the brown and white shoes, because a lot of guys didn't get back to Bloomington. While Stevenson's departure was announced prior to and written into "Abyssinia, Henry", Rogers unexpectedly left the series during the break between seasons, and so his character's departure takes place off-screen in the following episode, "Welcome to Korea", the first of the show's fourth season. In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. After the M*A*S*H finale, maybe the most memorable episode of the most memorable TV series was the one in which Col. Blake was supposed to go home. What episode of Mash did Henry Blake die? Lieutenant Colonel Henry Braymore Blake is a character introduced in the 1968 Richard Hooker novel M*A*S*H. He also appeared in the 1970 film, played by Roger Bowen, and more famously in the first three seasons of the television series by McLean Stevenson. Henry begins planning his return and places a telephone call to Bloomington, Illinois to inform his wife and family of the good news. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? The creators and also the network granted his wish. Meg Griffin's plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. The moment went down as one of the most memorable in the shows long run. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. TIL Gary Burghoff, who played Radar OReilly on MASH, has a visibly deformed left hand, which ironically would have made him unfit for military service. Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. M*A*S*H fans hearts broke everywhere when the show decided to kill off fan-favorite Henry Blake during the shocking Season 3 finale Abyssinia, Henry.. c.1907 (?) Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Instead, he welcomed B.J. He did not survive the crash. But he did not stay in prison long. They even ripped out the last page of the script so the rest of the cast wouldnt know. Loretta Swit said it was because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one . (This is also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine) The departure would take place the last episode of the third season. Subscribe to our newsletter for new stories, tips & events. WebThe episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. To his aggravation, Lorraine sent him her bills and used check books to balance their account, though Henry insisted that he was terrible with numbers; he once complained about an expensive Vet bill for their elderly house cat care. Why did Frank Burns leave? He did not survive the crash. You never know who might be coming around! Heck, he attended West Hollywood Grammar School with the likes of Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. He admitted Job/Role in Unit: [9] It is estimated that over 1,000 letters were received by the producers regarding the episode; "some were from people who understood. McLean Stevenson/Date of death. Heart attack In the episode, Colonel Blake is flying a medical evacuation mission when his plane is shot down over North Korea. Thirty-nine years ago today (March 18, 1975) one of the most memorableand shockingmoments in American television was broadcast: In the final episode of the third season of MASH, Lt. As the tone of the series had evolved to more serious storylines, Linville felt that he had taken the Frank Burns character, which had become increasingly one-dimensional, as far as he could, and chose to leave the series to pursue other roles. What Is Willie Spences Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? According to Wikipedia, Alan Alda had McLean Stevensons character (Lt. Col. Henry Blake) killed off. Klinger, aren't you ashamed of yourself? The death of Henry Blake was a turning point for television and proved that anything can happen on TV. The episode is notable for its shocking ending, in which the unit's amiable commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake (played by McLean Stevenson) receives an honorable discharge and leaves for home, but in the final scene is reported killed by enemy fire. Having the much-loved Henry Blake (wonderfully played by McLean Stevenson) killed off when his plane was shot down during his flight home was a sort of reality check provided for the viewers by the show's writers. (Saying goodbye to camp, Klinger wearing a fruit-basket hat) "Klinger, (Saying goodbye to Radar) "You behave yourself or I'm going to come back and kick your butt.". Harry Morgan, as Sherman Potter, took over the 4077th. Henry was the commanding officer of the 4077th. As M*A*S*H progressed, Alan Alda, who played Hawkeye, became the starring male lead, and others The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge papers came through, but sadly on his flight home, his plane was show down over the Sea of Japan. Bloomington, Illinois Height: Blue 1." Major Margaret Houlihan and Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger both got married (Margaret in person, Klinger over the phone) and divorced during their service at the 4077th. The more earnest and faithful family man Captain B.J. McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. Blakes death showed that television could be more than just entertainment and it revolutionized the medium. The Colonels Last Flight was a groundbreaking episode of television for a number of reasons. Everyone was overwhelmed with grief and shock, even Frank and Margaret, who could be seen sobbing at the news. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Who was the first Colonel Blake in McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. They knew the public may be confused since they were both best known for playing the same character. His character dies, and he was that character., Gary Burghoff, who portrayed Radar, said he felt devastated by the cruel finality of it all., Burghoff said: I took Mac aside and said, If you dont want me to do this scene, I wont. I was hoping the shock of it would get him to change his mind. Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. We decided his character could, not should, could die. Henry even ordered Hawkeye and Trapper to sober her up quickly for incoming wounded so that the incident would not show up on her permanent military record. Both aired on ABC during the 8:30 p.m. time slot. 1." Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. How much money did Alan Alda make on MASH? The Chicago Tribune's Gary Deeb, for instance, revealed Blake's death nearly two months before the episode aired. Though at one point he caved To Frank and Margaret's demand that Klinger undergo psychiatric evaluation. Henry arrives in his new suit, and Frank and Margaret give Blake a formal salute, but Henry chides Frank for being too disciplined. WebMcLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. The episode, titled The Colonels Last Flight, aired on February 28, 1975, and was the shows 16th episode. 185.126.219.251 He studied tap dance and became a drummer, despite being born with brachydactyly caused by Poland syndrome, which made three fingers on his left hand significantly smaller than those on his right hand. The episode ended with Henry Blakes helicopter going down off the coast of Japan, off-screen. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. If they started filming the show knowing Henry was a dead man by the end of the episode, their performances would have been quite different. Radar was visibly emotional throughout the whole episode. Blakes death was a turning point for the show. Henry was not completely incapable of following military regulation. One is that the actor who played Henry Blake, McLean Stevenson, wanted to leave the show and they couldnt come to an agreement on his contract. Last appeared in: In Henry in Love, Henry almost leaves Lorraine for a college girl named Nancy Sue Parker, who was less than half his age (20 to his 44). The 4077th were happy for him. Just hours later, Roger died of a heart attack as well on February 16th. "Pilot" (M*A*S*H TV series, Season 1 opening) McLean Stevenson was Henry Blake, who in M*A*S*H, the TV series, was an Army reservist called up to serve in the Korean War as a doctor. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. He left the show at But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. No, Blake is not still alive. This caused three fingers of Gary Burghoff left hand to be smaller than that of the right hand. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It also proved that television could handle complex issues like death with sensitivity and intelligence. M*A*S*H was both a television series and a movie, so several actors played the same character. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was an athletic trainer for the football team. Trapper and Hawkeye make joking comments, but Radar announces, "I have a message. But Gelbart and fellow creator Gene Reynolds used his exit to drum up emotion. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2fea0c7a8cc2c8 As the tone of the series had evolved to more He was killed in a plane crash while on his way home from the war. Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. Henry Blake left 'M*A*S*H' because the actor was ready to move on. Henry made good use of his own downtime, as he was an avid golfer and fisherman, the latter of which is in frequent display on his non-uniform bucket hat which is covered with numerous fishing flies and lures (along with his rank insignia). They tried to hide it throughout the series run by having Radar hold a clipboard or other hand-obscuring prop in virtually all his scenes. Henry dared him to do it saying "He's done it so many times I've got footprints on my scalp". In the novel M*A*S*H Mania (set in the 1970s) it is revealed that Blake stayed in the Army and had attained the rank of Major General. They both died of a heart attack as well. The creators and also the network granted his wish. Look, all I know is what they taught me in command school; there are certain rules about a war, and Rule Number 1 is that young men die. Andrew Tate Lung Cancer: This Big News Has Arrived About Him! Heart The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Loretta Swit, who played Hot Lips Houlihan, said, that in hindsight, it was best that the cast didnt know days beforehand about the decision to have Blake die. While he was beloved by most of the camp, particularly Hawkeye and Trapper for his down-to-earth, laid-back manner, he was disliked and scorned by Margaret and Frank, with Margaret preferring stricter military discipline while Frank yearned to take command. The creators and also the network granted his wish. He said something similar to Hawkeye and Trapper when explaining that he had not, in fact, signed a dishonorable discharge for a soldier who was homosexual, despite Frank threatening to go over his head again. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Death. the Season 3 finale. Family/Personal information In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. In the film, Henry is a career Army man, having been commissioned prior to World War II.