As of 2026, four main M*A*S*H cast members remain alive: Alan Alda (90), Jamie Farr (91), Mike Farrell (86), and Gary Burghoff (82).
The beloved series lost Loretta Swit in May 2025, marking the end of an era for the show that ran from 1972 to 1983.
There was a time when cable TV had better shows than non-stop reality content like 16 and Pregnant, American Pickers, or The Bachelorette.
From 1972 to 1983, M*A*S*H ruled cable TV. The American-style show had a unique premise that has always found fans in each generation since it first aired.
M*A*S*H was about the medical unit in the army serving the country in the Korean war. The iconic series was a comedy, but it had some deeply emotional moments that fans still talk about.
It was also one of those shows that turned actors into stars. Almost everyone who played a regular role on the show became a household name.
It has been more than 40 years since the show went off the air, and it’s safe to say that a lot has changed in those years.
The saddest part of watching a series as old as M*A*S*H is finding out how many of the actors don’t exist anymore. The loss of Loretta Swit in 2025 was particularly heartbreaking for fans, as she and Alan Alda were the only two actors who appeared in all 256 episodes of the series.
But luckily, several M*A*S*H actors are still here, and we have compiled a list of those who are still alive in 2026:
Alan Alda played Hawkeye
Alan Alda was one of the four original cast members who appeared on all the show’s eleven seasons. He played Captain Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce, a brilliant surgeon who hated the idea of war. His excellent portrayal of Hawkeye earned him five Emmy awards.
Now 90 years old, Alda celebrated his birthday in January 2026 with a low-key family celebration. He remains remarkably active despite managing Parkinson’s disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2015 and went public about in 2018.
Alda has described managing the condition as a “full-time job” requiring disciplined exercise and cognitive adaptation. He also struggles with prosopagnosia, or face blindness, which complicates his social interactions.
Despite these health challenges, Alda continues to work. In January 2026, he made a rare return to scripted television with a guest appearance on the series 9-1-1, demonstrating his continued capacity for performance at 90.
He also continues his work with the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science and hosts the podcast Clear + Vivid, which explores the intricacies of human connection.
Alda’s post-M*A*S*H career included winning five Emmy awards for playing President Arnold Vinick in The West Wing. His most recent major role was in the Academy Award-winning Netflix movie Marriage Story.
The Loss of Loretta Swit in 2025
Loretta Swit, who brought Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan to life with a blend of rigidity and profound vulnerability, died on May 30, 2025, at the age of 87. Her death marked the end of an era for M*A*S*H fans, as she and Alan Alda were the only two actors to remain with the series for its entire eleven-year run.
Swit’s death was attributed to natural causes, and she passed away at her home in New York City. In her final years, she remained a tireless advocate for animal rights through her SwitHeart Animal Alliance and was an accomplished watercolor artist.
Her final recorded interview was released posthumously in early 2026 as part of a tribute episode of The Love Boat Podcast, where she reflected on her career and her enduring bond with her M*A*S*H colleagues.
Loretta was the only female character in the original cast of M*A*S*H. She was a guest star in many popular TV franchises before joining the show that made her a household name. Just like her other castmates, she also got nominated for Emmy awards quite a few times and even won it twice.
Odessa Cleveland played Ginger Bayliss
Odessa only appeared on the first three seasons of the television series, but her character left a lasting impact. Her role as a black nurse dealt with racist patients, an important issue that needed to be highlighted even then.
Born on March 3, 1944, Cleveland is now 81 years old and remains one of the surviving members of the early cast. In 1986, she appeared in one episode of the show’s spinoff series called Trapper John M.D.
Jamie Farr played Maxwell Q. Klinger
Jamie Farr also stayed for all eleven seasons. Initially, his character Max Klinger was just a recurring role, but after seeing the audience’s response, he was bumped to series regular in the fourth season.
While the other actors of the show acted like they lived their characters, Jamie is the only one who did. He had served in the war with Korea and even wore his real dog tags on the show.
Born on July 1, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio, Farr is now 91 years old and living away from the hustle and bustle. Recent years have brought increased health challenges.
In late 2025, Farr was forced to cancel a high-profile appearance at the FanX convention in Salt Lake City after contracting shingles, a condition that is particularly difficult for individuals in their nineties.
He has also lived with severe rheumatoid arthritis since the early 1990s and underwent a cardiac procedure to insert a stent in 2014 following a collapse during a performance in Edmonton.
Despite these health hurdles, Farr remains deeply connected to his roots and his fan base. He continues to be an advocate for his hometown of Toledo, where the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic (now the Dana Open) began as a tribute to his civic pride.
In early 2026, Farr remains engaged with audiences through the video shout-out platform Cameo, where he shares personalized messages with “MASHaholics” around the world.
His philosophy remains rooted in optimism, often quoting the line from Auntie Mame: “Life is a banquet, and some poor suckers are starving to death.”
Gary Burghoff played “Radar” O’Reilly
Even before landing the role of Radar, Gary had been in a handful of movies. He was popular because of his portrayal of Charlie Brown.
Gary Burghoff’s character Radar was the heart of the show. He provided much-needed comic relief to an otherwise somber backdrop.
He was the youngest member of the cast and the only one to appear in the movie M*A*S*H from which the TV show was derived.
He became such an important character that the producers demanded to make a two-part episode named “Goodbye Radar” to give the audience closure.
Gary left the show because he was feeling exhausted because of the long working hours. While he was on a shoot, a wildfire spread close to his home, almost consuming it.
This was the last straw, and after that, he just wanted to be with his wife Gena Gale Burghoff and not far away on some set.
Born on May 24, 1943, Burghoff is now 82 years old and has largely retired from the public eye. In the decades since leaving M*A*S*H, he has pursued a multifaceted career as a wildlife painter and an inventor, holding several patents for fishing tackle and medical aids.
While he has occasionally returned to acting, such as in the 2010 film Daniel’s Lot, his recent years have been spent in semi-retirement in the American Midwest.
Mike Farrell played Captain Hunnicutt
Mike joined the show later than the actors we have described in the list so far. His character Captain Hunnicutt came in season four to replace Wayne Roger’s Trapper. Mike’s wife, Judy Farrell, played a recurring role in the series as Nurse Able.
Born on February 6, 1939, Mike Farrell is now 86 years old and remains a highly active figure in both the entertainment industry and political activism.
In early 2026, Farrell made a notable return to the small screen. On January 29, 2026, he guest-starred in an episode of the ABC series 9-1-1, playing an elderly man named Bill who causes a minor crisis by driving a lawnmower to the airport.
This appearance marked his first scripted role in seven years and reaffirmed his continued vitality in the industry.
After M*A*S*H, Farrell did guest-starring roles in many long-running American shows such as NCIS. Beyond acting, he has dedicated much of his life to humanitarian causes. He served as the vice president of the Screen Actors Guild and has been a prominent advocate for the abolition of the death penalty, animal rights, and global human rights.
He has been married to actress Shelley Fabares since 1984, and their partnership remains one of the most enduring in Hollywood.
Other Notable Cast Members Still With Us
Several supporting cast members from M*A*S*H are also still alive in 2026. G.W. Bailey, who played Sergeant Luther Rizzo, is 81 years old and remains active with the Sunshine Kids Foundation, which provides trips and activities for children undergoing cancer treatment.
Robert Ito, who had recurring appearances as Sam, is 94 years old and remains one of the oldest living associates of the show.
Loudon Wainwright III, who appeared in the third season as Captain Calvin Spalding, the “singing surgeon,” is 79 years old and continues to be a major figure in folk music. In early 2026, Wainwright remains on tour with scheduled performances in Philadelphia and Minneapolis.
Enid Kent, who portrayed Nurse Bigelow from 1976 to 1983, also remains alive and appeared in dozens of episodes during the later seasons.
Clyde Kusatsu, who played multiple roles on the series including various Korean officers, is 77 years old and remains an active member of the Hollywood community.
George Morgan played Father Mulcahy
George only appeared in the pilot episode of the show. He got replaced after appearing once. In all the episodes afterward, the character of Father Mulcahy was portrayed by William Christopher, who passed away on December 31, 2016, at the age of 84. George didn’t appear in anything noteworthy since his brief M*A*S*H appearance.
Fans believe if he had stuck to this role, his career trajectory would have been different. Sadly his career never took off, and he never got the chance to get it on track.
Jeff Maxwell played Igor Stravinsky
Jeff’s acting role in the series was recurring, but Igor was a popular character.
His role wasn’t even credited in the early seasons, but as the show’s popularity grew, so did his screen time. He clearly loved being part of such an iconic show as he now hosts a podcast titled “M*A*S*H Matters.” The show’s die-hard fans got to learn so much about everything that happened behind the scenes of their favorite show.
The M*A*S*H Matters podcast, hosted by Jeff Maxwell and Ryan Patrick, has emerged as the definitive archival project for the series.
In early 2026, the podcast continues to release episodes, including a comprehensive Season Nine recap in January 2026 and a special tribute to Loretta Swit.
The podcast has allowed minor players, writers, and technical advisors to share stories that would otherwise have been lost to time.
Recent Losses from the M*A*S*H Family
The years leading up to 2026 have seen the M*A*S*H family lose several beloved members. Beyond Loretta Swit’s passing in 2025, the show also lost Patrick Adiarte, who played Ho-Jon in the first season, on April 15, 2025, at the age of 82. He died of pneumonia in a Los Angeles hospital.
Eileen Saki, the longest-serving of the three actresses who played Rosie, the owner of the local bar, died on May 1, 2023, at the age of 79 from pancreatic cancer.
Judy Farrell, Mike Farrell’s first wife who played Nurse Able, died on April 2, 2023, at the age of 84 following a stroke.
Nurse Kellye Nakahara, a fan favorite who became a recurring regular as the series progressed, passed away on February 16, 2020, at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer.
Reunion Of M*A*S*H Cast
In 2018 Alan Alda invited the other castmates on his podcast “Clear + Vivid” to talk about M*A*S*H.
They specifically wanted to honor those castmates who aren’t alive anymore: John Orchard, Timothy Brown, Mike Henry, Herb Voland, Marcia Strassman, Edward Winter, Johnny Haymer, Patricia Stevens, Roy Goldman, Kellye Nakahara, Allan Arbus, William Christopher, David Ogden Stiers, Wayne Rogers, Larry Linville, Harry Morgan, McLean Stevenson.
In an interview with USAToday, the reporter asked him how they all would be present at the same spot. Alda replied:
“Loretta Swit and I will be talking from New York; Mike Farrell will be in a studio in L.A., Jamie Farr will be on the phone from his house in Bell Canyon, and Gary Burghoff will be on the phone from Northern California.”
The reunion kept getting postponed but finally happened in 2019. With the help of audio/video chats, they all came together. As soon as they heard each other’s voices, it became impossible not to feel their chemistry.
The cast discussed everything from their dresses on the show to the lack of toilet facilities on set.
Gary Burghoff revealed that “Walter,” the first name of his character, was chosen as a tribute to his late friend of the same name.
He even said that to this day, he is in touch with his family. That podcast is a must-listen for anyone who wants to know all about those 11 years of the show.
Their reunion was truly one of the most surreal moments for their fans. In the podcast, they shared how clueless they were about the show’s popularity. Unlike today, where you can see the exact number of viewers and trending position of the show as soon as it is released, they had no idea how massive their audience was.
Alda recalled the night when the series finale aired. The cast realized how big they were when they saw empty streets. Everyone was at home watching the show!
In January 2024, Fox aired a major reunion special titled M*A*S*H: The Comedy That Changed Television. This retrospective featured some of the final joint appearances of the surviving cast, including a particularly poignant segment where Alda and Swit reflected on the show’s finale.
The special reinforced the show’s enduring relevance, highlighting its themes of anti-bureaucracy and camaraderie in the face of tragedy.
The Legacy Lives On
As of February 2026, the story of the M*A*S*H cast is one of profound resilience and cultural permanence. The 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital was a place defined by the struggle to stay human in an inhumane environment.
In their later years, the actors who brought these characters to life have engaged in a parallel struggle: the graceful navigation of the aging process while maintaining a legacy that has lasted twice as long as the war it depicted.
The transition of Loretta Swit in 2025 marked the loss of one of the show’s foundational pillars, yet the continued activity of Alan Alda and Mike Farrell provides a sense of continuity. Whether through Alda’s science communication, Farrell’s activism, or Jamie Farr’s civic pride, the values of the show continue to be practiced by its survivors.
The 4077th has not truly closed its doors.
Its influence remains a vital force in the 2026 media landscape, proving that “Goodbye, Farewell and Amen” was not an end, but a transition into a permanent place in television history.
