Larry Linville (September 29, 1939 - April 10, 2000) was an American actor. Larry Linville was born in Ojai, California, and is best known for his portrayal of obnoxious, self-important Major Frank Burns in the television series M*A*S*H.
In stark contrast to the belligerent, callous, meanspirited and selfish Frank, Larry Linville himself has often been described by the show's other cast members as a kind, friendly man who was very openminded and courteous to those around him. When the show started Larry signed a five year contract and was offered to renew for two more seasons when his contract expired, but he declined contract renewal. After five seasons, Larry had grown tired of playing the same negative cartoonish antagonist, especially since his character's partner, Loretta Swit's 'Hot Lips' Houlihan, was no longer on his side - though even at her worst she still showed more humanity than Frank - and decided to leave the series so that he could pursue other more challenging roles.
He was married five times, to Vana Tribbey, Kate Geer, Melissa Gallant, Susan Haganand, and Deborah Guydon. He has one child, Kelly Linville, born in 1970, who is a photo technician in Los Angeles, California.
He starred in a total of 28 movies and TV shows. He had guest starred in many TV shows - most commonly Murder, She Wrote, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat and Mannix. He also appeared on episodes of the television shows Mission:Impossible, The Rockford Files and Kolchak: The Night Stalker. In the TV movie The Night Stalker he played a doctor. After MASH he played a stock character -the Crazy General-along with Edward Winter in the premier of a TV show Misfits. He also starred in the short lived The Jeffersons spin off Checking In, where he played Florence Johnston's (Marla Gibbs) nemisis Lyle Block. However, this series only lasted four episodes.
A lifelong smoker and drinker, Linville's excesses began to catch up with him in the late 90s. In February 1998, he underwent surgery to remove part of his lung after doctors found a malignant tumor under his sternum. His health problems continued over the next two years. Linville died of pneumonia in New York City on April 10, 2000, after complications from cancer surgery. He was 60 years of age.
