William Christopher

William Christopher (born October 20, 1932) is an American actor who is best known for playing Father Mulcahy on the television series M*A*S*H and Private Lester Hummel on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.

Early life

Christopher graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, and attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, majoring in drama. He also participated in fencing, soccer, and the glee club. During his school days, Christopher met his future wife on a blind date, with whom he would eventually have two sons, John and Ned.^[1]

Career

Christopher appeared in a variety of regional productions, and eventually a number of off-Broadway productions, such as The Hostage at One Sheridan Square. His Broadway debut came in Beyond the Fringe, a British revue.^[1]

Christopher left the New York stage for Hollywood to attempt to gain work in television, where he guest-starred in several well-known series, including: The Andy Griffith Show (he portrayed a new, young doctor scheduling Opie Taylor for a tonsilectomy) and also as an IRS agent who came to collect taxes due from Aunt Bee (who had won some prizes on a TV show), Death Valley Days, The Patty Duke Show , The Men from Shiloh and Good Times (he portrayed the military doctor examining J. J. Evans). Christopher had recurring roles on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., That Girl and Hogan's Heroes. He also made a guest appearance on The Love Boat. In 1972, Christopher landed the role of Father Mulcahy in the television series M* A* S* H, when the actor who originated the role, George Morgan, was being replaced after one appearance.

Immediately following M*A*S*H, Christopher continued the role for the two seasons of the short-lived spin-off, AfterMASH.

In feature films, Christopher performed in The Fortune Cookie, The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell, The Shakiest Gun in the West, With Six You Get Eggroll, and Hearts of the West. He won parts in such telefilms as The Movie Maker, The Perils of Pauline, and For the Love of It. The Doris Day film With Six You Get Eggroll is notable for fans of M*A*S*H as Jamie Farr appears along with Christopher five years before the show, both playing hippies. The film also features Herb Voland, who played General Clayton in seven episodes of the first two seasons of M*A*S*H. Farr and Christopher also had bit parts (co-pilot and radio operator respectively) in the 1958 Andy Griffith movie, "No Time For Sergeants".

Christopher has also appeared on various series, including Murder, She Wrote. In 1998, Christopher guest-starred in an episode of Mad About You. Christopher has also remained active in the theater, including a tour of the U.S. in the mid-1990s with Jamie Farr doing Neil Simon's The Odd Couple on stage. He also appeared with Jamie Farr and Loretta Swit in an episode of Diagnosis: Murder.

Christopher was seen in 2008—2009 across the U.S. on stage in productions of Church Basement Ladies.^[2] In the fall of 2009, he was on tour with the show.^[3]

Charity work

Christopher, whose son, Ned, is autistic, devotes much of his spare time to the National Autistic Society, doing public service announcements to bring attention to autisim. In 1985, he and his wife wrote Mixed Blessings, a book about their experiences raising Ned.^[1]

References

External links

• William Christopher at the Internet Movie Database