Basic Information About McLean Stevenson
| Category | Celebrities › Actors |
|---|---|
| Professions | Actor |
| Net worth | $6,000,000 |
| Date of birth | 1927-11-14 |
| Place of birth | Normal |
| Date of death | 1996-02-15 (aged 68) |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| Curiosities and Trademarks | Often played likeable, absent-minded characters Wide range of humorous expressions |
| Spouse | Ginny Fosdick - (8 December 1980 - 15 February 1996) (his death) (1 child) 24 May - Louise Herbert ( 1969 - 1971) (divorced) (1 child) 13 April - Polly Ann Gordon ( 1957 - 1960) (divorced) (1 child) |
| Gender | Male |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.905 m) |
| Social Media | ↗︎ Wikipedia ↗︎ IMDb |
Famous Network of Actors with Similar Net Worth
What Movie Awards did McLean Stevenson win?
 Oscar |
 Golden Globe |
 Golder Raspberry |
 BAFTA |
 Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
McLean Stevenson awards
| Award Name | State | Movie / Series Name | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Globe - Best Supporting Actor - Television | Winner | M*A*S*H | 1974 |
McLean Stevenson roles
| Movie / Series | Role |
|---|---|
| Match Game PM | Self - Panelist 3 episodes, 1978-1981 |
| The Golden Girls | Ted 2 episodes, 1987-1991 |
| The Doris Day Show | Michael Nicholson 49 episodes, 1969-1971 |
| That Girl | Mr. McKorkle 1 episode, 1969 |
| M*A*S*H | Writer |
| M*A*S*H | Writer |
| M*A*S*H | Lt. Col. Henry Blake 72 episodes, 1972-1978 |
| Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour | Self - Panelist 15 episodes, 1983-1984 |
| Diff'rent Strokes | Larry Alder 3 episodes, 1979 |
| Love, American Style | Lt. Miller (segment "Love and the Penal Code") 1 episode, 1971 |
| The Love Boat | Writer |
| The Love Boat | Bob Crawford / ... 4 episodes, 1981-1984 |
| The Dating Game | Self - contestant 1 episode, 1968 |
| Hello, Larry | Larry Alder 38 episodes, 1979-1980 |
| Match Game 73 | Self - Panelist 26 episodes, 1973-1982 |
McLean Stevenson's Quotes
- [on leaving M*A*S*H (1972)] I probably got too big for my britches. The biggest mistake I made was I thought everybody loved McLean Stevenson. It was Henry Blake that people loved. So when I went out and did The McLean Stevenson Show (1976), nobody gave a damn.
McLean Stevenson's photos
The Talented McLean Stevenson: An American Icon
McLean Stevenson, an American actor who has starred in various TV shows and won several awards, had a net worth of $6 million. Born in Normal, Illinois in November of 1927, he left the world in February of 1996. He was an icon that continues to be remembered even after all these years.
What is McLean Stevenson known for?
Stevenson is most famously recognized for his role as Colonel Henry Blake in M*A*S*H that ran from 1972 to 1975. This role made him a household name in America due to the show’s popularity and his excellent performance. He was also a favorite on The Doris Day Show from 1969 to 1971, where he played Michael Nicholson.
Stevenson has many other prominent TV credits such as playing Mac Ferguson on The McLean Stevenson Show from 1976 to 1977, Father Daniel M. Cleary on In the Beginning in 1978, and Larry Adler on Hello, Larry, which ran from 1979 to 198. Additionally, he portrayed James Kirkridge on the hit TV series Condo in 1983, and Max Kellerman on Dirty Dancing from 1988 to 1989.
Early life and education
McLean Stevenson was born a preacher’s son who received his education from Illinois Wesleyan University. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the Navy and landed on the entertainment staff of Admiral Edward Perry. Stevenson then worked for NBC directing a show before appearing first onscreen in “The Bullfighter” on Goodyear Television Playhouse.
Career
Stevenson began his career with small roles in the entertainment industry, but his breakthrough role was in The Doris Day Show in which he played Doris’ friend and colleague. Afterward, he garnered widespread attention for portraying Colonel Henry Blake, a character on the 197s hit show M*A*S*H. Stevenson’s relatable performance as Henry Blake led him to be a star.
Outside of playing characters on screen, McLean Stevenson was also skilled in humor. His hand became visible in TV production by the mid-sixties. He was a comedy writer for several top shows, including The Tim Conway Comedy Hour, The Carol Burnett Show, and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. These exposures helped strengthen his position as an actor and extended his list of credits.
Death
Despite all the fame and attention given to Stevenson, he faced some tragedies as well. He passed away at the age of 68 on February 15th, 1996. His death was attributed to a heart attack caused by pneumonia and leukemia.
Other Achievements of McLean Stevenson
In addition to portraying iconic characters throughout his career, McLean Stevenson was also the voice behind many animated movies that have been highly appreciated by fans worldwide. Stevenson’s talent extended beyond on-screen work. He wrote, produced, and even directed two films; “One Life To Live” and “Before and After.”
Other accolades on his resume include four nominations for Primetime Emmy Awards and winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Television in 1974 for M*A*S*H.
The Legend Lives On
While McLean Stevenson may no longer be with us, his legacy remains strong. He was a talented actor, writer, producer, and director whose impact will undoubtedly linger around for years to come. As a result, his name will always be remembered in the entertainment industry, and he will live on in the characters and performances he portrayed throughout his celebrated career.
McLean Stevenson’s net worth may have been worth $6 million at the time of his passing, but his contributions to the entertainment industry could are immeasurable. Unfortunately, his life on Earth was relatively short-lived, yet Stevenson managed to accomplish and achieve like someone beyond his years. He left a legacy of positivity that not only touched the entertainment industry but people all over the world.
Interesting Facts about McLean Stevenson
- McLean's father was Edgar McLean Stevenson, whose mother was named Lottie Bell McLean. He was born and raised in McLean County, Illinois.
- Great-grandson of William Stevenson whose brother was Vice-President Adlai E. Stevenson, who served under President Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897.
- Cousin of Democratic presidential candidate (1952 and 1956) Adlai Stevenson.
- Stevenson died one day before Roger Bowen. Bowen played the role of "Col. Henry Blake" in the movie, M.A.S.H. (1970); Stevenson played the role on TV's M*A*S*H (1972).
- Interred at Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills), Hollywood, California, USA, in the Columbarium of Valor.
- To research for his role as an army surgeon on M*A*S*H (1972), McLean Stevenson thoroughly studied a book on the history of medicine loaned from Alan Alda. Months later, that knowledge proved extremely useful when he came upon a person who was critically wounded in a car accident. Drawing on his research, he was able to keep the person alive until help arrived.
- Brother of Ann Whitney.
- Was still in the hospital recovering from surgery when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest and died.
- In the season finale of the first season of M*A*S*H (1972), the name of his character's (Henry Blake) wife is Mildred. In the second season, her name was changed to Lorraine. When he was replaced by Harry Morgan, Morgan's character, Colonel Potter, had a wife named Mildred.
- Served in the Navy.
- After the news of Col. Blake's death on M*A*S*H (1972) (He left at the end of the third season) shocked the world, the very next night on The Carol Burnett Show (1967), the opening shot was of Henry Blake in a smoking raft, waving his arms, hollering, "I'm OK! I'm OK!".
- One legacy of Stevenson is a word coined from his first name. "McLeaning" is a term used in media, especially television, to refer to cases when a character is killed off because the actor who played him decided to leave the show, as happened to "Henry Blake", when McLean Stevenson left M*A*S*H (1972).
- The unexpected death of Stevenson's "Henry Blake" character from M*A*S*H (1972) at the end of the third season (1975) caused such a strong fan backlash, with countless letters of hate mail being received over the character's death, that the show's writers and producers all agreed that in the future, should one of their actors wish to leave, they would never give that actor's character a tragic send-off.
- Originally auditioned for the role of "Hawkeye Pierce" on M*A*S*H (1972) before being convinced to take the role of "Henry Blake".
- Spoke often at youth groups and organizations promoting the acting field.
- Was press secretary for his cousin Adlai Stevenson during the latter's two presidential campaigns.
- Good friend of Harry Morgan from 1974-96.
- He appeared with Harry Morgan ((Col. Sherman Potter, his successor on M*A*S*H (1972)) in the 1978 film The Cat from Outer Space (1978).
- Briefly worked as an assistant Athletic Director for Notre Dame.
- Was friends with Alan Alda and Gene Rayburn.
