MovieChat Forums > M*A*S*H (1972) Discussion > Weird coincidences

Weird coincidences

posted 8 years ago by Jefferson_Adams97
7 replies | jump to latest

Commanding Officers in order: Henry Blake, Frank Burns, and Sherman Potter.

I do NOT count temporary commanding offices who took over while the regular was gone. The three above mentioned were the official CO, including Frank's brief time.

Now the weird part. They died in the exact order they were in command.

McLean Stevenson (1st CO died first, 1996). 4 years later (as in Season 4, CO Frank Burns) Larry Linville died in 2000. 11 years later, Harry Morgan died in 2011...as he was the one who was CO in Season 11.

Perhaps the weird coincidences about MASH was the deaths of Henry Blake actors McLean Stevenson (Show) and Roger Bowen. Both died on the same cause, same month, same year, only a day apart. Stevenson died first on the 15th, followed by Bowen on the 16yh.

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] randbanks 8 years ago

That one is strange, for sure.

For the two actors who played the same role to have died quite literally hours apart. The first time I saw that I had to triple check it to make sure I was reading it correctly.

Destroying an empire to win a war is no victory and ending a battle to save an empire is no defeat

[–] crockett_john 8 years ago

It's kind of coincidental, but I think it's only a one in six chance to happen in that order, but considering that Harry Morgan was the eldest, it would make more sense for him to have died first.

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I blame autocorrect.

You may all go to hell, and I will go to Texas.

[–] RyanChamberlain 8 years ago

Now William Christopher (Father Mulcahy) dies exactly a year apart from Wayne Rogers (Trapper John)

Another weird one. When you consider that the characters on the show kinda shared a name

John Francis Xavier McIntyre and John Francis Patrick Mulcahy.

This is a little eerie. IMO.

[–] mpiccolo55000 8 years ago

Yeah. A year to the day...I was thinking the exact same thing. RIP William Christopher...he will be remembered as much for his philanthropic work as his great acting abilities.

[–] ExplorerDS6789 8 years ago

Perhaps the weird coincidences about MASH was the deaths of Henry Blake actors McLean Stevenson (Show) and Roger Bowen. Both died on the same cause, same month, same year, only a day apart. Stevenson died first on the 15th, followed by Bowen on the 16yh.

That was the biggest coincidence of all. Two men with nothing in common except one character. Different ages, different backgrounds, completely unrelated, except through M*A*S*H and the character of Henry Blake.
In fact, when Bowen died, they waited a few days to announce it so the papers wouldn't think it was a regarbled version of McLean's obituary.

[–] indy_go_blue44 8 years ago

In fact, when Bowen died, they waited a few days to announce it so the papers wouldn't think it was a regarbled version of McLean's obituary

I never knew that. Very interesting.