Photo taken at a private military history museum exhibition in the tunnels at Torås Fort, a former naval fort/coastal battery on the island of Tjøme, Norway. The fort was established by the Norwegian Armed Forces in 1938, but completed by German military forces as part of the Festung Norwegen and Atlantic Wall during Nazi Germany’s occupation of Norway in the Second World War.
— Own work — License: CC BY-SA 4.0
The Heart of the Swamp: Hawkeye and His Comrades
Alan Alda (Captain Benjamin “Hawkeye” Pierce)
As the wisecracking, martini-swilling, profoundly humane heart of the 4077th, Alan Alda was more than the star of M*A*S*H; he was its creative soul. Hawkeye Pierce’s relentless wit was his shield against the horror of war, but his deep-seated empathy defined him. Alda’s influence grew throughout the series; he wrote and directed numerous episodes, including the iconic finale, earning him Emmys in acting, writing, and directing for the same show—a rare feat. When the show ended, the question on everyone’s mind was, where is Alan Alda now? Unlike some actors who become trapped by a defining role, Alda seamlessly transitioned to a distinguished career in film, television, and theatre. He earned an Academy Award nomination for his role in The Aviator (2004) and won critical acclaim for his recurring role as Senator Arnold Vinick on The West Wing. But perhaps his most significant post-M*A*S*H chapter has been his passionate advocacy for science communication. He helped found the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University and hosted the PBS series Scientific American Frontiers for over a decade. In 2018, he publicly shared his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, facing it with the same blend of honesty and humor that characterized his most famous role. He continues to act and host his popular podcast, “Clear+Vivid,” proving that his intellectual curiosity and charisma are as sharp as ever.
Mike Farrell (Captain B.J. Hunnicutt)
Arriving in season four to fill the void left by Trapper John, Mike Farrell’s B.J. Hunnicutt offered a different kind of counterpoint to Hawkeye. Where Trapper was a fellow prankster, B.J. was a devoted family man, a moral anchor whose quiet integrity often grounded his more volatile best friend. His deep friendship with Hawkeye became one of the show’s most enduring emotional cores. After M*A*S*H, Farrell continued a steady acting career, but his most profound work has been off-screen. A dedicated and tireless activist, he has spent decades advocating for human rights, social justice, and the abolition of the death penalty. He served as a co-chair of Human Rights Watch in California for many years and has traveled the world on humanitarian missions. He also formed his own production company, which produced the Robin Williams film Patch Adams. His life after the 4077th has been one of purpose, channeling the same compassion that defined B.J. into real-world change.
Wayne Rogers (Captain “Trapper” John McIntyre)
For the first three seasons, Wayne Rogers’ “Trapper” John McIntyre was Hawkeye’s partner-in-crime, the other half of a duo whose anarchic humor was a vital coping mechanism. Rogers, however, grew frustrated with his character playing second fiddle to Hawkeye and left the show in a contract dispute. While his departure was a blow to fans, it set Rogers on an unexpectedly lucrative path. He channeled his intellect and business acumen into a second career as a highly successful investor, financial analyst, and entrepreneur. He became a regular panelist on the Fox News stock investment show Cashin’ In and was the head of his own investment strategy firm and a real estate development company. Though he continued to act sporadically, his greatest post-M*A*S*H success was in the world of finance, where his sharp mind made him a millionaire many times over. Rogers passed away in 2015 at the age of 82, remembered as both a beloved television actor and a formidable businessman.
