Life after M*A*S*H - Actor Gary Burghoff ("Radar") Talks about His Post-Show Pursuit of Truth

Scott Harrup / Aimee Herd reporting : May 3, 2006
ASSIST News Service

Scott Harrup, editor of the Pentecostal Evangel, and special contributor to ANS, shares excerpts from an interview with actor Gary Burghoff - known for his long standing role as Cpl. "Radar" O'Reilly on the hit TV show M*A*S*H.

The interview was recorded in February with Canadian talk show host Drew Marshall on Ontario radio station JOY 1250. Burghoff lamented about his years as an actor and the toll it took on his home life.

"Family, to me, became the most important thing. I was not available as a father because of my work. That doesn't stop when the work stops. Whenever you go out as a family, you're always torn from family to deal with public recognition." After leaving M*A*S*H. his marriage deteriorated, and in the late 1970's, he was left to raise his 4-year-old daughter on his own, in his home state of Connecticut.

Losing his father during the same period of time caused Burghoff to ask himself some important life questions. "My father had said when I was in New York early on struggling as an actor that if you don't know the Bible you don't have a foundation," Burghoff explained. "I had told him from an agnostic point of view that the Bible was a very good book, but it wasn't the only book. But after M*A*S*H I realized he might have something. I had given my life over to the world instead of to God."

An intense 2-year pursuit in the Scriptures brought his to a new perception of who God is. "When you become that empty vessel that is ready to be filled," continued Burghoff, "the veil is lifted. You suddenly understand those words. That's what happened. The Bible before was always an enigma to me. But now I could understand it. The Lord says, ‘Ask and you shall receive.' And I was asking."

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