by Katie Haefele
Lawrence (Larry) Linville (September 29, 1939 – April 10, 2000) was an American actor who was most known for his portrayal of an obnoxious, self-centered, and inept surgeon, Major Frank Burns, in the hit CBS television series, M*A*S*H. This series follows a team of doctors and nurses stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War.
Linville began his career by pursuing a degree in Engineering at the University of Colorado as he had always had a desire to fly jets. He gave up that plan when he began acting with the Nomad Players, starring in many shows with them. While performing with the Nomad Players, Linville competed for a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He won, which allowed him to attend the prestigious school until 1961. Once Linville returned to the United States, he joined the Association of Producing Artists, spending the next eight years performing with them. This provided Linville with the opportunity to make his debut on Broadway in Eugene O’Neill’s play More Stately Mansions. Once these performances had commenced, Linville took on acting jobs in television shows including Room 222, Bonanza, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Mission: Impossible, Airwolf, The Rockford Files and Adam 12, before he was cast as Major Frank Burns in M*A*S*H.
For a rather clear-cut contrast to the well-known, mean-spirited, selfish, heartless, and fussy Major Frank Burns, Linville was often described by the other cast members of the show as a kind, friendly man who was courteous and very open-minded to those who were around him. When the show M*A*S*H began, Linville signed a five-year contract and then after those five years expired, he was offered a contract renewal for two more seasons of the show. He declined, however, explaining that he had grown tired of playing the same character who was always negative, rather cartoonish and often seen as an antagonist. These things began to bother him after he felt that the show’s tone changed from strictly comedy to more drama-focused that followed storylines.
At this point in his career, Linville was proud of his work but he also believed that he had taken the character of Major Frank Burns as far as he possibly could. He did not want to be seen as “Frank Burns” forever, so he decided to leave and pursue other roles in different television shows that he found more challenging. After Linville left MASH*, he appeared as a guest star on numerous television shows. He also had regular roles in Grandpa Goes to Washington, Checking In, and Paper Dolls, as well as appearing in other telefilms. In 1998, he was diagnosed with cancer. While undergoing treatments, he stayed active in the regional theater by performing plays such as A Christmas Carol. He also lectured at colleges and designed, built and flew a one-of-a-kind aircraft, which was always a dream of his to do. On Tuesday, September 17, 1985, Larry Linville came to SUNY Geneseo as an entertainer and speaker. He was paid $4,500.00.