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Gary Burghoff Net Worth (2024)
Lifestyle | Bio | Facts [UPDATED]

Gary Burghoff Net Worth


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What is Gary Burghoff Net Worth?

Gary Burghoff Net Worth, Biography & Lifestyle: Gary Burghoff is a former American actor who famously played Charlie Brown (“You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”) and Corporal Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly (“MASH”). He has a net worth of $6 million.

We took time to present to you the details of Gary Burghoff Net Worth along with:

  • The reason he left “MASH” and what he did after that;
  • His personal life and animal-related stories when he was a kid;
  • The patents he acquired for his inventions;
  • The condition he was born with;
  • Lots more!

Why don’t you listen to “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” soundtrack as you read this article?

Let’s start this!

Who Is Gary Burghoff?

Gary Burghoff Net Worth & Biography

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Gary Burghoff is the retired American actor who portrayed the well-loved character Corporal Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly in the film and TV series MASH.”

Remember the Theme From M*A*S*H (Suicide Is Painless)Get It Here

Did you know…?

Burghoff started acting in the theater when he was in high school. After graduating, he entered an acting training school.

His TV debut was in Repertoire Workshop in 1960. After that, he appeared on the “Today” show and on “An Evening Journey to Conway, Massachusetts.”

Charlie Brown…

His big break came when he was cast to play Charlie Brown in the original off-Broadway production ofYou’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He performed the part over 1,000 times over the three years the show ran.

Because of his performance as Charlie Brown…

Robert Altman gave him a screen test that led to him getting the role of Radar in the film MASH.” 

I have a story related to this…

Burghoff was the one who wanted to give his character Radar a first name. He suggested the name “Walter” to the writer-creative executive Larry Gelbart.

“Why is it ‘Walter,’” you might wonder?

It’s because it was based on Gary’s childhood friend, who never understood a joke made at someone else’s expense.

Here’s another story…

Gary Burghoff was born with brachydactyly caused by Poland syndrome. This condition made the three fingers on his left hand smaller than his right hand’s.

‘But Radar was a character in the Army!’, you might think.

Well, yes. That’s why Radar was usually seen holding a prop like a clipboard – to hide his deformed hand. 

Amazing, no?

Burghoff gave such a wonderful performance in the show that he won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1977.

But all things must come to an end…

Shortly after the show’s season seven, Gary Burghoff left the show.

Read on to find out the reason!

How Old Is Gary Burghoff?

Gary Burghoff is 81 years old and was born in Bristol, Connecticut, United States of Americ

How Tall Is Gary Burghoff?

Burghoff is 5ft 5 ½ inches (166.4 cm) or 1.66 meters tall and weighs 60 Kg In Pounds – 132 lbs.

Profession: Acting, Inventions
Worth: $6 million
Date of Birth: May 24th, 1943
Children: 3
Eye Colour: Grey
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Favorite Food: Philly Cheese Steak
Place of Birth:  Bristol, Connecticut, United States of America
Language: English
Tattoos: None
Nationality: American
Drinking: Yes

How Much Is Gary Burghoff Worth?

Gary Burghoff net worth amounts to $6 million. 

Gary Burghoff Net Worth Year By Year

YearEarnings $
2019$3 million
2020$5 million
2021$6 million

Gary Burghoff Movies/ Books

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Gary Burghoff: To M*A*S*H and Back Paperback – June 10, 2009

Gary Burghoff’s autobiography

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The Wonderful Thing About Pets: Remarkable Stories About the Animals Who Share Our Lives Hardcover – May 1, 2000

A collection of unusual pet stories

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Gary Burghoff’s The Home Kindle Edition

A black-and-white three- to four-panel comic strip about a bunch of senior citizens

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TV’s M*A*S*H: The Ultimate Guide Book Hardcover – November 5, 2009

A very detailed guidebook about MASH made by fans for fans

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Daniel’s Lot

A Christian movie about a man who lost his job and is about to lose his wife

Gary Burghoff Business – Patents

Gary Burghoff Business - Patents

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He wasn’t just a good actor; Gary Burghoff is also an inventor who patented four products. They are:

  • Enhanced fish attractor device (Patent Number: 5235774)
  • Fish attractor device (Patent Number: 5117577)
  • Toilet seat lifting handle (Patent Number: D314322)
  • Fishing rod (Patent Number: D351012)

The Young Gary Burghoff

The Young Gary Burghoff

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Gary Rich Burghoff was born on May 24, 1943, in Bristol, Connecticut. His father, Rodney Burghoff, was a worker of a clock company, while his mother, Ann Burghoff, was a professional dancer and director of local theater productions.

Knowing about the patents he has, it’s not surprising…

…that Burghoff bred angelfish when he was eight years old.

An amusing story: he moved seven fully-grown geese from a neighboring farm to another neighbor’s fish pond so the geese could drink. Cute!

When he was 14, Burghoff worked in a pet shop.

Now we understand the patent and the book about pets that he has.

Gary Burghoff High School

Gary Rich Burghoff studied high school at Delavan-Darien High School in Delavan, Wisconsin.

This is where Burghoff honed his musical, art, and acting skills.

First, his musical skills: Burghoff played drums with the Bud Wilber Orchestra.

Second, his art skills: He won the Hallmark Award and was the representative of Wisconsin in the Hallmark Student Art Exhibit in Washington, D.C. This is all thanks to his painting, “Men of Jazz.”

Third, he portrayed Bobby in “The Boy Friend” and acted at the Belfry Theatre.

He graduated in 1962.

Gary Burghoff University

Gary Rich Burghoff attended HB Studio in New York City to receive professional training in performing arts. He studied there under Sandy Meisner, James Tuttle, and Charles Nelson Reilly.

Gary Burghoff Family & Relationships

Gary Burghoff Children

Gary Burghoff Children

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Gary Burghoff went through two marriages and divorces. He had three children – one daughter and two sons – from those. They are:

  • Gena Gale Burghoff (pictured on the left, born in July 1975)
  • Jordan Burghoff
  • Miles Burghoff (pictured on the right)

Gary Burghoff Mum – Ann Burghoff

Ann Burghoff was a professional dancer and director of local theater productions in Bristol, Connecticut. She was also a choreographer at the Belfry Theatre, where Gary Burghoff acted in his high school days.

Gary Burghoff Dad – Rodney Burghoff

Rodney Burghoff worked for a clock company when Gary was born.

Gary Burghoff Ex-Wife – Janet Gayle

Janet Gayle was Gary Burghoff’s first wife. They married in 1971. As a result of their love for each other, they had Gena Gale Burghoff. They divorced in 1979.

Gary Burghoff Ex-Wife – Elizabeth Bostrom

Elizabeth Bostrom married Gary Burghoff in 1985. They have two sons: Miles Burghoff and Jordan Burghoff. In 2005, they split up.

Now that we know the details of the personal life Gary Burghoff has…

Let’s proceed to take a look at his career. A little later, you’ll also find out what made him leave the TV show “MASH”! Don’t miss out on the fun facts about him, too!

Gary Burghoff Career

Gary Burghoff had several TV appearances along with some film roles. Let’s look at some of the highlights of his acting career:

  • Acted as Charlie Brown in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” (1967)
  • Became the drummer for the band called The Relatives (1969)
  • Made his feature film debut in MASH (1970)
  • Cast as Ted in the film “B.S. I Love You” (1971)
  • Was a regular on the television showMatch Game (1974)
  • Appeared in an episode ofThe New Adventures of Wonder Woman(1978)
  • Cast as Bob Willis in the TV movie show The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)
  • Left “MASH” (1979)
  • Came out of retirement to act as Pastor Mahoney in Daniel’s Lot (2010)

Award and Nominations For His Performance in M*A*S*H

  • Nominee for Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in Comedy (1973)
  • Nominee for Emmy Awards’ Best Supporting Actor in Comedy (1974)
  • Nominee for Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1975)
  • Nominee of Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1976)
  • Winner of Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1977)
  • Nominee of Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Continuing Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series (1978)
  • Nominee of Emmy Awards’ Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy (1979)

Post-MASH Career

After MASH, Burghoff created the All-Star Dixieland Jazz Band. They recorded an album and toured in some jazz clubs. He also became part of The Owl and the Pussycat and Woody Allen’s Play It Again, Sam production tours.

In the early 1990s, he took up the brush to do wildlife paintings.

Wait, there’s more…

Burghoff’s passion for fishing enabled him to invent fishing equipment like the Chum Magic, a device that attracts fish to the user’s boat.

Gary Burghoff Scandals & Controversies

Gary Burghoff Scandals & Controversies

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Gary Burghoff Leaving M*A*S*H — What’s The Reason?

Corporal Walter Eugene “Radar” O’Reilly is a well-loved character for M*A*S*H, so the fans were upset when they knew that Gary Burghoff was leaving the show after the seventh season.

But what could have pushed him to do so?

He had multiple reasons.

Director Charles Dubin said Burghoff felt that he was not getting proper dues.

Burghoff also had troubles at home – it was around the time before his first divorce.

Moreover…

According to producer Burt Metcalfe, Burghoff also had sleeping problems, which made him frequently late for call times. He said that Burghoff wasn’t as happy as other people in the show.

In an interview in “The Complete Book of M*A*S*H”

Burghoff said he suffered from burnout back then.

Gary Burghoff Philanthropy

Gary Burghoff Philanthropy

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Burghoff has donated some of his paintings to auctions held by wildlife preservation societies and other causes.

In 2018, he and his family created a GoFundMe account to help the people affected by the CampFire in northern California.

Fun Facts About Gary Burghoff

  • The teddy bear of Burghoff’s “MASH” character – Radar – was lost for 30 years but turned up at an auction in 2005. The medical student who bought it for $11,800 sold it back to Burghoff.
  • While studying performing arts, he sold underwear at Saks Fifth Avenue to make money.
  • He was the only actor in the film “MASH” who was asked to reprise his character and became a regular cast member.
  • He and his ex-wife Janet had a wildlife sanctuary in their backyard. He became known as the “Birdman of Malibu” because of this.
  • In “MASH” season 2, episode 10, “The Sniper” in 1973, there was a scene when Burghoff’s character, Radar, wore a towel, and it fell on his way back to the showers. Burghoff showing his bare buttocks is a first on US broadcast television.
  • Baseball and fishing are his favorite sports.
  • He became a born-again Christian sometime after he left MASH. 

5 Financial Freedom Lessons From Gary Burghoff

  1. Let your passion lead you.
  2. Don’t let any kind of handicap hinder you from doing what you want to do.
  3. It’s okay to call it quits when you’re burned out.
  4. Help people within your reach when you’re able.
  5. Hold your head high as you work an honorable job.

Top 3 Quote From Gary Burghoff

  • “The richest people are those who have life arranged, so they have food for the family and the rent or mortgage paid. After that, at least in my case, it can become a pretty boring existence if wealth is the only objective.”
  • “I’ve discovered that the standard all-American dream of fame and fortune is not success for me. Success for me is simply the joy of working – doing good work – and then bringing that joy home to my family. But if what I do in my work doesn’t enrich my life with my family, I’m doing the wrong thing.”
  • “It’s awfully nice when people thank you for the pleasure and laughter you’ve brought to their lives.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Did Gary Burghoff play the drums on MASH?

Yes, he played the drums himself on MASH.

What did Gary Burghoff do after MASH?

After the show, Gary Burghoff created All-Star Dixieland Jazz Band, performing as a jazz drummer. He also invented various products and became a wildlife painter.

How did Gary Burghoff lose his fingers?

Burghoff was born with brachydactyly caused by Poland syndrome, which caused three of his fingers on his left hand smaller.

Conclusion: Gary Burghoff Net Worth and Biography

And that’s all for Gary Burghoff net worth and biography. What do you think?

I find it a pretty inspiring life! I loved how his handicap didn’t stop him from acting. He even played drums.

I think that shows that anything is possible so long as we work hard for it.

I hope you enjoyed this article – you might also want to check out Loretta Swit’s Bounce Mojo Bio – he’s Gary Burghoff’s co-star on “MASH” or why not Check Out MASH Right Here and bring back some memores.

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