Larry Linville

Larry Linville played the obnoxious Frank Burns in the television series M*A*S*H. Larry was born in Ojai, California on September 29, 1939. As a child he started designing and flying gliders and this became a lifelong hobby. He attended the University of Colorado where he majored in engineering and also performed in a local civic theater group. He applied for a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and was one of three Americans out of 300 applicants to be accepted.

After returning to California, he acted in repertory theater for eight years. He also had numerous roles in television shows including Bonanza.

Gene Reynolds say Linville in Room 222 and cast him as Frank Burns in M*A*S*H. Linville was very unlike the character he played as was often described as very kind and friendly. He became good friends with Gary Burghoff who played Radar. When the show first started, Larry signed a five-year contract, but would not renew after this period. He had grown tired of playing the negative character and the fifth year was especially hard since his character no longer had “Hot Lips” on his side. Linville even refused to watch the dailies because his character was the brunt of so many jokes.

After M*A*S*H, Linville appeared in numerous television shows and movies and remained active in regional theater.

Linville was known for his hard drinking and smoking and this finally led to a battle with cancer. After surgery to remove part of his lung, Linville died from pnemonia at the age of 60. Ironically, he died on Harry Morgan’s 85th birthday, April 10, 2000. Linville was married five times and has one daughter.

When Larry was asked whom he’d based his Frank Burns character on, he responded: “Every idiot I’ve ever known.”