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Larry Linville didn't start out in acting. He first went to the University of Colorado to study aeronautical engineering, but in the back of his head there was something that wanted him to go into acting. He quit college and joined a theater group called the Nomad Players in Boulder Colorado. After starring in many roles with the group, he applied for a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. He was one of three Americans to win it, and he attended the academy for two years. For eight years--after returning to the states--he performed with Association of Producing Artists. He made his premier on broadway in the play More Stately Mansions with Ingrid Bergman. Linville said that he was picked for the role because he was the only one tall enough to star opposite of her. He appeared in a few more plays and then moved to telelvision. He appeared in such televison shows as "Bonanza", "Mannix", and "Room 22." "Room 22" helped him come across his most well known role as Frank Burns on "M*A*S*H." Gene Reynolds saw the show and cast him in the role. He played Frank Burns, the mousy, annoying surgeon and third swamprat, for five years on "M*A*S*H." Larry Linville said he left the show because, "I wasn't tired of playing Frank Burns, I was tired of playing only Frank Burns." Linville kept himself busy after "M*A*S*H." He appeared regularly on such television shows as "Paper Dolls" and "Checking In." He also appeared in a few movies including School Spirit. He also spent some of his time taking part in regional theater performances. He even found time to go to the disassembling of the last M.A.S.H. Unit in the U.S. Army.
Larry Linville was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1998. He died on April 10th, 2000. He died of complications with pneumonia. His wife, his daughter Kelly, his mother, his father, two brothers, nieces, nephews, and sister-in-laws all survived him. |
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