Gary Burghoff (born May 24, 1943 in Bristol, Connecticut) is the actor who played the character Corporal Walter "Radar" O'Reilly in both the film and television series M*A*S*H. He also played Charlie Brown in the 1967 off-Broadway musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Born with a club foot and two short fingers on his left hand, Burghoff uses props to deflect attention from this: in Charlie Brown he had a baseball glove on that hand most of the time, and in the M*A*S*H television series, he usually had a clipboard in it.
Burghoff was the only member of the movie cast to be a regular on the television series. He was not however, the only person from the movie to appear on the television series. Several other actors from the movie also made guest appearances on the television series.
Burghoff was married to Janet Gayle, from 1971 to 1979; they had one child before the marriage ended in divorce. In 1991 he married Elisabeth Bostrom; they have two children together. Currently resides in Paradise, California and does TV ads for local doctors.
In addition to acting, Burghoff also works as a professional jazz drummer, heading the trio The We Three, and as a wildlife painter. Other activities include outdoorsmanship and high-power rifle shooting.
Burghoff got his start in both acting and drumming during his high school years in Delavan, WI.
M*A*S*H (1970)
