Gary Burghoff Celebrates His 80th Birthday – Radar’s Transformation into a Grandfather

23 November 2023

1 minute read

Gary Burghoff rose to fame through his portrayal of Radar in the beloved TV series MAS*H. He portrayed a character who, at just 18 years old, joined the army with his cherished teddy bear and forged deep bonds with his fellow soldiers.

During his time on the show, Gary won many awards, which made him well-known. However, fans were very sad when he decided to leave the show because he felt he wasn’t getting enough recognition.

Gary’s departure from MAS*H appears to have been primarily influenced by personal factors. According to the show’s director, Gary was facing challenges in his marriage to Janet Gayle, whom he wed in 1971. Their daughter, Gena, was born on July 20, 1975.

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Following his departure from the show in 1979, producers extended a remarkable $4 million offer to Gary, which would have established him as the highest-earning actor of his era.

However, Gary declined this offer as he prioritized spending quality time with his family and friends.

Gary, who recently turned 80, got married to Elizabeth Bolstrom in 1985. They have two children, Miles and Jordan. Miles recently became a father for the first time on March 23, 2023. He shared pictures of his wife’s pregnancy and their newborn daughter, Rylee Elisabeth Burghoff, on social media.

Gary and his son Miles have a close relationship. While Miles didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps in acting, they both share a love of fishing. Gary mentored and supported Miles in pursuing a professional fishing career.

In 1977, when Gary won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, he couldn’t attend the ceremony because he was out fishing. This shows how much fishing means to them.

Gary also took part in a video and donated to a GoFundMe campaign to help people affected by California fires four years ago. Many of his fans remember him from his M*A*S*H days and appreciate his work.