Bringing The World Home To You

© 2024 WUNC North Carolina Public Radio
120 Friday Center Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
919.445.9150 | 800.962.9862
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WUNC End of Year - Make your tax-deductible gift!

'M*A*S*H' Actor William Christopher Dies At 84

William Christopher (far right) was best known for his role as Father Mulcahy on the 1970s TV show <em>M*A*S*H</em>. He died Saturday in California at the age of 84.
Red Mclendon
/
AP
William Christopher (far right) was best known for his role as Father Mulcahy on the 1970s TV show M*A*S*H. He died Saturday in California at the age of 84.

William Christopher, an actor best known for his role as Father Mulcahy on the sitcom M*A*S*H, has died at the age of 84. Christopher's agent, Robert Malcolm, told The Associated Press he died early Saturday morning at home in Pasadena, Calif., after a battle with lung cancer.

Christopher also had recurring roles on shows like Gomer Pyle: USMC and Hogan's Heroes. But it was his performance as Mulcahy that would come to be his signature role. M*A*S*H, which was based on a hit 1970 movie of the same name, debuted in 1972 and ran for 11 seasons — all of which featured Christopher.

As the U.S. Army chaplain at a mobile surgical hospital, Christopher's Father Mulcahy was the moral compass of the show.

After M*A*S*H, Christopher had a number of cameos on popular shows, like The Love Boat and Good Times.

Christopher and his wife, Barbara, adopted two sons, one of whom had autism. They co-authored a book called Mixed Blessings about the joys and struggles of parenting an autistic child.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

More Stories