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Gary Burghoff
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American actor Gary Burghoff was the son of a Connecticut clockworks executive and a professional dancer. Under the aegis of his mother (the dancer), Burghoff studied tap dancing from age 5; he ... trained himself to be a professional drummer, despite the fact that he'd been born with three deformed fingers on his left hand. Turning to acting, Burghoff found that his high piping voice and his 5'6" frame consigned him to child and teenager roles - which became a blessing when he was cast in the title role of the off-broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in 1967. Director Robert Altman cast Burghoff as Cpl. "Radar" O'Reilly in his antiwar comedy M*A*S*H (1970); the name Radar was derived from the character's uncanny ability to anticipate what people were going to say and to sense when the "choppers" were bringing incoming wounded into the "Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" of the film's acronymic title. When M*A*S*H was converted into a TV situation comedy in 1972, Burghoff was the only member of the original movie cast to be signed for the series (It was not his first TV stint; he'd been a regular on 1970's Don Knotts Show). The actor played company clerk Radar from 1972 through 1979, winning an Emmy in the process and endearing himself to millions of fans.
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Gary Burghoff (born May 24, 1943) is an American actor, artist, and musician. He is probably best known for his role as Walter "Radar" O'Reilly a company clerck that had extraordinary hearing in the 1970 movie, M*A*S*H and on the television series of the same name.
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Over 30+ years after the Korean "conflict," William "Radar" O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) awakes one morning on his Iowa farm to a knock on his door. It's a 39-year-old Korean man with eight children, ranging from age three to seventeen, who claims to be Radar's long-lost son! Radar, after hearing of his putative daughter-in-law's death, promises to help out in any way he can. Laughs all around as lovable old Radar tries to cope with the hip new generation of kids living on his farm. This half-hour sitcom is sure to please fans of the original "M*A*S*H," with special guest appearances by Larry Linville (Frank Burns), Loretta Switt (Hot Lips), and Maclean Stevenson as the ghost of Henry Blake, or Radar's conscience. The first nine episodes are scheduled to be directed by Robert Altman.
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Gary Burghoff is more than a great actor. Since 1992 he has ... been a well-respected wildlife artist. Although he only started painting professionally in the early 90's, he has been painting all his life. While in high school in Wisconsin in 1961, he was awarded the Hallmark Award for his painting "Men of Jazz" which was also sent to represent the state in a national competition. Wildlife has also been a lifelong passion for Gary. He believes that true beauty exists primarily in nature.
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In Bristol, Connecticut in 1943 Gary Burghoff was born to Rodney Burghoff, who worked for a clock company, and Ann Burghoff, who had been a professional dancer and directed local theater productions. He has an older brother, David. From an early age, Gary's love for animals became readily apparent. He bred angelfish when he was 8; he ... freed a flock of ducks from a neighbor's farm. At age 14, he worked in a pet shop. Gary began honing his skills in music, art, and acting early as well.
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In the days before M*A*S*H, Gary Burghoff was known around Southern California as "The Birdman of Malibu." When he wasn't acting he could often be found tending to wounded animals in his backyard rehabilitation center.M*A*S*H producer Larry Gelbart transplanted Burghoff's love of animals into the character Radar O'Reilly after visiting the actor's home. Even though Burghoff, 57, left the sitcom in 1979, he's still known to many as the teddy bear-lovingradio operator. Though he occasionally acts and directs these days, he devotes more time to raising his three children. His affection for wildlife shines through in his paintings, which are often portraits of animals. Born in Bristol, CT, he'srecently returned to living in his homestate.
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Gary Burghoff