On this Date (April 10th) in 2000, actor Larry Linville died of pneumonia in New York City after complications from cancer surgery.

Rest in peace Larry Linville.

Larry had the thankless task of playing a character (Frank Burns) with almost no redeeming values. And he did it very well. Sadly I don't think he ever got the credit he deservesd for this acheivment.

:rip: He may have played the role TOO well, for he got hate mail and mean people yelling at him on the street. Too many people could not separate Larry from Frank, when from what everything I read, Larry was one of the nicest people you'd ever want to meet. :(

It's sad that Larry was treated that way by people but in a backhanded sort of way it was a compliment because of how well he played the character. I just hope Larry was able to see the situation in that light.

One of the cast members remarked that Larry Linville was the opposite of Frank Burns. Linville wouldn't have tolerated a real life Burns very well.

It's understandable why he left M*A*S*H, but unfortunately, he never found another big role or hit series.

Larry was a very gifted actor and a wonderful man. :( God bless you Larry!

http://www.areavoices.com/attic/images/linville.jpg

May he rest in peace. It is a shame though when people can't distinguish between the character an actor plays and the actor themself. Often, they are VERY DIFFERENT form the role they played. For example, Carrol O'Connor was an extremely cultivated man in real life and was once an English Teacher. And Jack Benny, by all accounts, was the complete opposite of the tightwad he played on his show...

May he rest in peace. It is a shame though when people can't distinguish between the character an actor plays and the actor themself. Often, they are VERY DIFFERENT form the role they played. For example, Carrol O'Connor was an extremely cultivated man in real life and was once an English Teacher. And Jack Benny, by all accounts, was the complete opposite of the tightwad he played on his show...

The irony is that Carroll O' Connor was playing a bigoted conservative, yet he had more in common with the "Meathead" character in real life.

That, my friends, is the sign of a good actor.;)