Birthplace: Certain journalists revealed Blake's fate in the weeks leading up to the episode's broadcast. Rank: 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 FAQS Clear - All Rights Reserved Henry is Christian, having mentioned his faith in many episodes, but his denomination remains unknown. Sherman T. Potter. Blake, Commanding officer of the 4077th. 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. Hawkeye, Trapper and Radar threw him a private going-away party in the back of Rosie's bar, while Margaret and Frank were even more overjoyed as Henry's departure automatically elevated Frank to commander (though their joy would be short-lived when Colonel Potter arrived as the new CO). They knew the public may be confused since they were both best known for playing the same character. Burghoff was born in Bristol, Connecticut, moved to Clinton, Connecticut, and then later moved to Delavan, Wisconsin. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a Eerily enough, the drunken Margaret told Henry that he looked just like her father before he died, to which Henry merely shrugged and replied, Yeah, a lot of people have said that. (Later in the series, Margaret's father was retconned as still alive and visited her in camp). Colonel Henry Blake in the television series M*A*S*H, which earned him a Golden Globe Award in 1974. Cast members didnt know how the final scene in the operating room would play out. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Abyssinia, Henry Blakes death showed that television could be more than just entertainment and it revolutionized the medium. MASH (film) /M*A*S*H/TV series In 1975, Henry Blake decided to leave the show. Bloomington, Illinois, USA Why did Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. 1." When Nancy leaves camp, Henry strangely finds himself relieved that she is now gone. His friends sent him off with a round of applause. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. The creators and also the network granted his wish. I think that if there is such a thing as the loss of life there should be some connection. 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. Even when they were alive, there were other odd coincidences. The characters learn the news and are shocked by Blakes death. Hunnicutt (Mike Farrell) had replaced Trapper John, and the regular Army Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) had replaced Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th. When he goes home he wears a civilian suit, which was against army regulations; first of all, though he had earned enough rotation points to go home he has not been actually discharged from the army, and his civilian garb would have subject him to arrest by the MPs for being out of uniform. "Over the River and Through the Woods" (, This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:29. M*A*S*H Cast and Crew Once Discussed Making - Outsider However, it is later revealed that he did not die in the crash and was instead captured by the North Koreans. And Rule Number 2 is doctors can't change Rule Number 1.". everyone loved Henry, but not necessarily McLean Stevenson. Henry was referenced in several subsequent episodes, most notably in "The Late Captain Pierce", "Period of Adjustment", "Depressing News", and "As Time Goes By". WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? Appeared in: WebOn the rare occasion when Henry actually stood his ground the maverick captains would criticize Henry for not being one of the guys; for example, when Henry decided to send a lost Korean boy to an orphanage, accurately insisting that the unit wasn't qualified enough to look after him, Hawkeye called him a villain, which offended Henry. In 1975 Stevenson decided to leave the show. Remember, on the show, Henry Blake was going home, back to Illinois to his wife and son, who had been born while he was in Korea. He admitted The episode, titled The Colonels Last Flight, aired on February 28, 1975, and was the shows 16th episode. Hoda Kotb illness: Her Brave Fight Against Disease! Unfortunately he was right -- How did McLean Stevenson die? Second, the death of Colonel Blake was significant because it showed that even fictional characters were not immune to the horrors of war. It was a huge deal at the time because no one had ever seen anything like it before. Click to reveal McLean Stevenson , who had established himself on Broadway, as well as in TV writing, played Blake on TV beginning in 1972. All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. died in 1952 (plane shot down over Sea of Japan while returning back to the U.S.) 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. For instance, McLean Stevenson played Col. Henry Blake on TV but Roger Bowen played the role in the movie. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. 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. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. M*A*S*H Why was Colonel Blake killed off 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 Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. He was in charge of the 4077th. The creators wanted fans to experience the loss associated with war, so they ultimately decided to kill Blake off. Your email address will not be published. the CBS television comedy M*A*S*H from 1974-75. Henry claimed in one episode to be the best diagnostician in Bloomington, Illinois. The title of the episode refers to the 1920s1930s slang use of "Abyssinia" for "goodbye". It was probably actually Baijiu . 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. (1941-1984). Henry Blake Colonel Sherman Tecumseh Potter appears in the M*A*S*H and AfterMASH television series. RIP McLean and Roger. Appearances Just as he climbed aboard, Radar emotionally gave him a final salute. "[13], In 1997, TV Guide included this episode in their list of the "100 Greatest Episodes of All Time," ranking it number 20. [3][4] As a result, Stevenson was still on the set and saw the final scene being filmed. The episode was called Abyssinia, Henry. It ran on March 18, 1975. 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 the movie the girlfriend was played by actress Indus Arthur because "everyone loved Henry". During the summer 1975 break between seasons three and four, he quit the series. Some time later, while the three remaining doctors were in surgery, a visibly shocked Radar came in to report that Henry's plane had been shot down over the Sea of Japan and everyone on board was killed. The episode centers on Henry leaving the 4077th MASH for the final time. Many were from people that didn't. "Abyssinia, Henry" is the 72nd episode of the M*A*S*H television series, and the final episode of the series' third season. The creators and also the network granted his wish. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. Actor McLean Stevenson, who played Henry Blake, had grown unhappy on the show and wanted to leave to pursue other opportunities. Henry Blake was a Korean War veteran and the commanding officer of the 4077th M*A*S*H unit. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. Why did henry leave mash? - Answers 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). He is best known for his role as Lt. Did Radars teddy bear on MASH have a name? Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen (TV series episode), Commanding officers of the 4077 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, "I never claimed to be a junior General MacArthur. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Henry begins planning his return and places a telephone call to Bloomington, Illinois to inform his wife and family of the good news. At one point, Henry mocked Hot Lips by saying that she had gone over his head so many times that he had athletes scalp. WebWho replaced Henry Blake on MASH? The staff follow Henry to the helicopter pad, which also bears a wounded soldier that Henry tries to care for before the other doctors nudge him on. Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. There are a few theories floating around. . 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. Henry Blake scene was kept a secret from the cast until immediately before filming; only then did Gelbart hand out the last page of the script. We decided his character could, not should, could die. the Season 3 finale. 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. 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. Blake, before he boarded a chopper the day of his departure, changed into a civilian suit. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? Heart we covered some top articles, you can check the. It seems their lives were always meant to intertwine. ", (Comforting Hawkeye after the death of a friend) "If I had all the answers I'd be at the Mayo Clinic. According to his colleague Loretta Swit, Blake left because he was tired of being in an ensemble and wanted to be number one. This was also confirmed by MASH writer Ken Levine. He left the show at the Season 3 finale. Vital information The death of Henry Blake was a turning point for television and proved that anything can happen on TV. They called it gin as many have already said, but despite that it couldnt have been gin. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. 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. 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. How was Trapper John written out of MASH? What episode of Mash did Henry Blake die? McLean Stevenson, who played the Colonel decided to leave the show 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. How Did Tom Sizemore Die? Another is that the producers wanted to shake things up and create some drama for the show. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. When Henry Blake died on M*A*S*H, it was a major event for television. 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.. He was portrayed by Harry Morgan, and replaced the departing character of Henry Blake as commander of the 4077th MASH. 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. The plot of that film centers on two married people who become attracted to each other, start spending more time together, but never actually sleep together before deciding to part ways. 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. WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. McLean Stevenson He is shown as having earned the following: The National Defense Service Medal was indeed awarded to personnel serving in Korea. Lorraine was most likely feeling guilty for just considering an affair." Know the Real Truth! WebThe show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the final episode of the 19741975 season (entitled "Abyssinia, Henry"), in which Lt. And wars are rarely funny and dont always have happy endings. Colonel Henry Blake His tenacity nearly cost him his life when, in Cowboy, he stubbornly refused to let a distraught helicopter pilot go on leave to see his wife, and the nearly unbalanced pilot almost killed Blake four times. Farr stated that show creator and writer Larry Gelbart showed a very top-secret script of the scene to the cast but not the crew, who were left uninformed until the scene was filmed. 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. Please whitelist to support our site. WebOriginally Answered: On the TV show M*A*S*H Why was colonel Blake killed off? The departure took place in the last episode of the third season. Henry was replaced by Colonel Sherman Potter as the 4077th new commander. Just for playing Hawkeye, though, Alda earned $5.4 million that year. The cast was stunned when they learned about Blakes death. Over time, however, Henry became more assertive and willing to stand his ground when it involved principle or serious medical matters. McLean Stevenson; Played Lt. Col. Blake 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. We wanted to say a lot of boys dont make it home.. Roger Bowen (born May 25, 1932 died February 16, 1996) was an American comedic actor and novelist, known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the 1970 film MASH. 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. Routing number of commercial bank of Ethiopia? McLean Stevenson as Henry Blake in the M*A*S*H TV series. Farrell was one heck of a Captain Hunnicutt and such a great counterpart to Alan Alda. In Suzy Kalter's book The Complete Book of M*A*S*H, Jamie Farr (Klinger) relates his own version of the events leading up to the scene in which Radar announces Henry's death. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Family/Personal information 3 What episode of Mash did Henry Blake die? Your IP: In the film, Henry is a career Army man, having been commissioned prior to World War II. Henry Blake He did not survive the crash. This caused three fingers of Gary Burghoff left hand to be smaller than that of the right hand. Under Henry's watch, Hawkeye and Trapper repeatedly got away with numerous shenanigans, either because Henry looked the other way, or they were able to manipulate him into seeing things their way. Who is Jason crabb mother and where is she? The leading entertainment news publicationLeedaily. He was in charge of the 4077th. Similar to Henry, Potter was easygoing, fun-loving and compassionate enough to earn the deep respect of his staff (including Margaret, but not Frank, who resented being passed over for command), but in contrast, Potter was a career soldier and consummate leader and surgeon, and never hesitated to put his foot down when things got out of hand. Of course, Mac was as torn apart as we all were. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. In the latter episode, the final episode produced and the next-to-last aired, Margaret decided to bury a time capsule and asked others to volunteer various items from the camp. He once admitted causing his college football team to lose a championship game after Henry taped the wrong leg of the star running-back. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. 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. McLean Stevenson; Played Lt. Col. Blake First, it was one of the first times that a major character had died on a television show. In reality, the Army stopped using the point system after World War II, and doctors were never rotated according to points. Henrys Exit In the third seasons finale, Abyssinia, Henry, Blake had finally gained enough points to get him discharged from the unit. Colonel Henry Blake Written by Everett Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell, it was first aired by CBS on March 18, 1975. The character Henry Blake left the show because his discharge Most important to Ottumwa is the clerk, Radar OReilly, nicknamed for his acute hearing. The creators and also the network granted his wish. "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. He wanted more of a starring, instead of a supporting, role in the series, and he thought he could do better because "everyone loved Henry". 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. Henry Blake What happened to Gary Burghoff hand? The moment went down as one of the most memorable in the shows long run. McLean said, I wanna get off the show, so we finally made a deal with him: Finish the year. Blakes death was a turning point for the show. What Is Willie Spences Net Worth At The Time Of His Death? "Klinger, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon and you're still in a housecoat?! All were short-lived, and he later conceded that leaving MASH was the mistake of his career. What is the answer punchline algebra 15.1 why dose a chicken coop have only two doors? Roger Bowen (film)McLean Stevenson (TV) 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. He and Radar embrace before Henry gets back on the chopper to leave camp for the final time. On the night before Henry's departure, Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), Trapper McIntyre (Wayne Rogers), and Radar throw a drunken going-away party for Henry at Rosie's Bar and Grill, and present him with a tailored civilian suit as a parting gift.