Larry Linville American actor Date of Birth: 29.09.1939 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Acting Career
3. "MASH" and Beyond
4. Personal Life and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Lawrence Lavon Linville was born in Ojai, California in 1939. His parents, Fay Pauline and Harry Linville, moved the family to Sacramento, California shortly after his birth. Linville attended school in Sacramento but later moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder. While in college, Linville participated in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts scholarship competition and became one of three national finalists.

Acting Career

Linville's acting debut came in 1959 on the William F. Claxton-directed television series "Bonanza." He landed his next significant role in 1965 on the popular television series "The F.B.I." Throughout the 1960s, Linville appeared in numerous popular television series, including "Mission: Impossible," "Adam-12," "Outsider," and "Mannix," in which he played Lieutenant George Kramer. Many who worked with Linville described him as a kind and supportive individual.

"MASH" and Beyond

Linville is best known for his role as Frank Burns in the television series "MASH." He was a regular cast member for the first five seasons of the show. Surprisingly, Linville declined to continue filming after his contract expired. In an interview, he simply stated that he was tired of playing the villain and wanted to pursue more varied roles. However, Linville's association with the role of Frank Burns proved difficult to escape, and he often played unlikeable characters in subsequent films.

In 1993, Linville appeared in the television series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." He also starred in the comedies "A Million to Juan" and "No Dessert, Dad, Till You Mow the Lawn" in 1994. His final film, "West from North Goes South," was released posthumously in 2009.

Personal Life and Legacy

Linville was married four times. His first marriage was to Kate Geer in 1962, with whom he had a daughter named Kelly. He was married to Vana Tribbey from 1977 to 1982, Melissa Gallant from 1982 to 1985, and Deborah Guydon from 1987 until his death.

Larry Linville passed away on April 10, 2000, in New York City. The cause of death was complications from cancer surgery and pneumonia. He left behind a legacy as one of the most memorable character actors in television history.