It’s been over five decades since the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital first flickered onto television screens. We’ve all seen the reruns. The laughter, the canned applause that felt a bit weird during the surgery scenes, and that haunting theme song. But as the years tick by, fans are asking the same poignant question: who is still alive from MASH cast today?
Honestly, it’s a bittersweet reality. The show was about surviving a war, yet the passage of time is the one battle no one wins. However, a surprising number of the core medical staff and unruly enlisted men are still with us in 2026. They aren't just "surviving," either. Most are still active, sharp, and fiercely protective of the show’s legacy.
The Icon: Alan Alda (Captain Hawkeye Pierce)
Alan Alda basically was MAS*H. He didn't just play Hawkeye; he wrote and directed many of the most pivotal episodes. Today, at 89, Alda is a marvel.
Back in 2018, he dropped a bombshell. He revealed he’d been living with Parkinson’s disease for several years. You might think that would slow him down, but it’s done the opposite. He’s become a massive advocate for science communication. He even hosts a podcast called Clear+Vivid where he talks to experts about how we connect with each other.
He once mentioned in an interview that he first noticed the tremor while tossing a ball. Instead of retreating, he leaned into it. He still plays tennis. He still jokes. He’s essentially Hawkeye with a bit more wisdom and a lot more podcast equipment.
The Moral Compass: Mike Farrell (Captain B.J. Hunnicutt)
When Wayne Rogers left the show, everyone wondered if the chemistry would fizzle. Then came B.J. Hunnicutt. Mike Farrell brought a grounded, family-man energy that changed the show’s DNA.
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Farrell is now 86. He’s lived a life that Hawkeye would probably admire. For decades, he’s been a powerhouse in the world of human rights activism. He’s served as the president of Death Penalty Focus and has traveled the world as a spokesperson for various humanitarian causes.
You don't see him on red carpets much these days. He’s more likely to be found at a protest or a lecture hall. He’s still married to actress Shelley Fabares, and by all accounts, they’re still one of Hollywood’s most stable couples.
The Master of Disguise: Jamie Farr (Corporal/Sergeant Maxwell Klinger)
Klinger was only supposed to be a one-off character. One episode. That’s it. But the sight of Jamie Farr in a wedding dress was too good for the writers to let go.
Jamie Farr is now 91 years old. Think about that for a second. The man who spent years trying to get a "Section 8" discharge by wearing high heels has outlived almost the entire senior staff.
He’s mostly retired from the spotlight now. He dealt with some health issues a few years back—specifically a bout with rheumatoid arthritis—but he’s still the same sharp-witted guy from Toledo. He often pops up at autograph signings and M*A*S*H reunions, usually sporting a smile that hasn't aged a day since 1972.
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The Boy From Iowa: Gary Burghoff (Corporal Radar O'Reilly)
Radar was the soul of the camp. The only actor to play the same role in both the original movie and the TV series, Gary Burghoff left the show a few seasons before it ended. He was burnt out. He wanted to be a dad.
At 82, Burghoff lives a very different life than his co-stars. He’s a semi-retired artist and inventor. Yes, an inventor! He actually holds several patents, including one for a specialized fishing tackle.
He’s famously private. While other cast members stayed in the Hollywood orbit, Burghoff moved to the woods (metaphorically and sometimes literally) to focus on his wildlife painting. He’s still very much alive, though he skips many of the big "industry" reunions in favor of a quieter life.
Recent Losses: Saying Goodbye to Loretta Swit
For a long time, the "core four" of the later seasons—Alda, Farrell, Farr, and Swit—were all with us. Sadly, that changed recently.
Loretta Swit, the incomparable Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan, passed away in May 2025 at the age of 87. It hit the fan community hard. Swit was a pioneer. She took a character that started as a "shrieking blonde" stereotype and turned her into a nuanced, respected head nurse.
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Alda himself wrote a beautiful tribute to her, noting how she fought the writers to make Margaret a real person. Her death leaves a massive hole in the M*A*SH* family, but her work for animal rights and her legacy as a feminist icon in television remains.
Who Else Have We Lost?
It's a long list, and it doesn't get easier to read.
- William Christopher (Father Mulcahy): Passed away in 2016 from lung cancer. He died on New Year's Eve, exactly one year after his co-star Wayne Rogers.
- Wayne Rogers (Trapper John): Died in 2015.
- Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter): Lived to the ripe old age of 96, passing in 2011.
- David Ogden Stiers (Charles Emerson Winchester III): We lost the camp’s resident aristocrat to bladder cancer in 2018.
- McLean Stevenson (Henry Blake) and Larry Linville (Frank Burns): Both passed away quite a while ago, in 1996 and 2000 respectively.
Why MAS*H Still Matters in 2026
There's a reason you're looking up who is still alive from MASH cast. This show wasn't just a sitcom. It was a pressure valve for a country dealing with the Vietnam War, even though it was set in Korea.
The actors who are still with us—Alda, Farrell, Farr, and Burghoff—represent a bridge to a different era of television. An era where 100 million people would sit down to watch a series finale. They weren't just "celebrities"; they were the people we had dinner with every week for eleven years.
What you can do next:
- Watch the 2024 Reunion: If you haven't seen MASH: The Comedy That Changed Television*, find it. It features some of the final interviews with Loretta Swit and great segments with the surviving men.
- Listen to Clear+Vivid: Check out Alan Alda's podcast. It’s the best way to hear his voice and see how his mind is still as sharp as a surgical scalpel.
- Support Animal Rights: In honor of Loretta Swit, consider donating to the SwitHeart Animal Alliance. It was her life's work outside of acting.