After stepping away from the legendary military-medical comedy M*A*S*H, actor Gary Burghoff — best known for his lovable yet sharp portrayal of Corporal Walter “Radar” O’Reilly — chose to shift his focus away from Hollywood and toward his personal life.
At a time when his career was thriving, Burghoff made the difficult decision to prioritize his family, which had begun to suffer under the pressure of his demanding schedule.
Now, decades later, the Emmy-winning actor has entered a heartwarming new stage of life.
At 82 years old, Burghoff has proudly embraced the role of grandfather after his son, Miles Burghoff — affectionately nicknamed “Sonar” — welcomed a baby girl into the world.
In late March 2023, Miles shared the joyful news on social media by posting a photo of himself holding his newborn daughter.
Staying true to his fishing background, he wrote a playful caption: “I caught the best 8-pounder of my life today! Everyone, meet Rylee Elisabeth Burghoff!”
Miles, who followed a very different career path from his famous father, has built a name for himself as a professional angler.
Still, he often credits Gary Burghoff for inspiring his love of fishing. During one tournament interview, Miles said warmly, “He’s the one who really got me started.”
Gary, however, humbly described his role in his son’s success a bit differently. “I’m just here for moral support,” he once joked. “It’s what parents do — they share the things they love with their kids.”
Although Miles didn’t pursue acting like his father, his nickname still carries a playful connection to one of television’s most beloved characters.
“They started calling me Sonar because my dad played Radar on MASH*,” Miles explained with a smile.
Miles and his brother Jordan are the sons of Gary Burghoff and his second wife, Elizabeth Bolstrom. The couple married in 1985 but later divorced in 2005. Bolstrom sadly passed away in November 2019.
Burghoff also has a daughter, Gena Gayle Burghoff, from his first marriage to Janet Gayle.
That marriage ended in 1979, long before the actor fully stepped away from the pressures of television fame.
Despite starring in one of the most successful TV series of all time, Burghoff did not leave MASH* with the wealth many fans might expect.
In an interview with People, he explained that his priorities were never centered on money.
“I didn’t leave MASH* a wealthy man,” he admitted. “I could have renegotiated my contract, but money wasn’t the most important thing in my life.
You either want to be rich and famous, or you want to be a daddy. You can’t do both.”
Throughout the 1980s, Burghoff turned down several offers to appear in sitcoms, including a potential role on Newhart.
Instead, he chose to perform in regional theater, which allowed him to control his schedule and spend more time with his family.
“I wanted to choose how many weeks I’d work,” he explained, “and spend the rest of my time at home.”
Even so, nothing in his career ever matched the impact of his breakthrough role on MASH*.
The iconic series ran from 1972 to 1983 and followed the lives of doctors and staff stationed at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War.
Burghoff’s character, Radar O’Reilly, became one of the most beloved figures on television — a shy, innocent farm boy who served as the company clerk and bugler while somehow always knowing what was happening before anyone else.
Interestingly, Burghoff holds a unique place in the history of the franchise. He is the only actor who portrayed the same character in both the original film M*A*S*H and the long-running TV series.
The movie featured stars like Donald Sutherland, Robert Duvall, and Sally Kellerman — who earned an Academy Award nomination for her role as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan.
In the television adaptation, the character was later played by Loretta Swit.
During the early seasons, Radar appeared in nearly every episode. However, the intense production schedule eventually began affecting Burghoff’s personal life.
As a result, his appearances were reduced from 24 episodes per season to just 13.
His final appearance came in the seventh season during the emotional two-part farewell episode titled “Good-Bye Radar,” which depicted the character receiving his discharge from the Army.
According to MASH* director Charles S. Dubin, filming those scenes was incredibly difficult for Burghoff.
During an interview with the Television Academy Foundation, Dubin recalled that the actor became overwhelmed while filming an emotional moment.
“He broke down in tears,” Dubin said. “I had to stop everything and take him for a walk around the Fox backlot.”
The scene in question involved Radar discussing a possible future with the woman he loved — a storyline that mirrored Burghoff’s own struggles in his personal life at the time.
The show continued for three more seasons with stars like Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, and Jamie Farr leading the cast.
Burghoff later returned briefly as Radar in the spin-off series AfterMASH and appeared in the pilot for another spin-off titled WALTER, which explored Radar’s life after the war.
However, the show was never picked up.
Years later, producers even offered Burghoff a $4 million contract to return to television, but he declined. By 1991, however, the financial consequences of those choices became clear.
“The money ran out,” he admitted. “I was down to my last $500.”
At that point, Burghoff decided it was time to reinvent himself once again.
A man of many talents — actor, jazz drummer, stamp collector, and inventor of a fishing device called “Chum Magic” — he turned to another passion: painting.
Burghoff began creating detailed oil paintings of North American wildlife. His artwork quickly gained attention in galleries, with some pieces selling for as much as $25,000.
Today, collectors occasionally find his work at auctions, where it continues to attract interest from fans and art lovers alike.
In recent years, Burghoff has also used his platform to support charitable causes. About four years ago, he appeared in a video supporting a GoFundMe campaign to help victims of the devastating California wildfires.
The video, shared by his son Jordan, quickly drew attention from longtime fans.
Many viewers were touched to see the beloved actor again.
One fan commented, “I remember watching MASH* as a child and loving Radar. Hearing his voice again brings back so many memories.”
Another wrote, “I’m donating because people need help — but also because I’m grateful. Your performances made me laugh and think when I was growing up.”
Gary Burghoff’s story is a reminder that success isn’t always measured by fame or fortune. Sometimes, it’s about choosing what matters most — family, passion, and the courage to start over.
