History Creator / McLeanStevenson

* ''Series/{{Hotel}}'' as Harry Gilford (1 episodes)

As famous as his role on the show, however, was how he was written off from it. Despite the show's success, Stevenson began to resent playing a supporting role to Creator/AlanAlda's wisecracking Hawkeye, and asked to be released from his contract during the show's third season. The show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the Season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", in which Lt. Colonel Blake was discharged and boarded a plane home -- only for it to be shot down, killing everyone on board. As a result of his infamous exit, his name became shorthand in the industry for instances of ActorLeavesCharacterDies, known as [=McLeaned=].[[note]]Stevenson did, however, make a one-shot gag appearance as Blake on Music/{{Cher}}'s variety show, sitting in a rubber raft and [[BreakingTheFourthWall telling the audience]], "Hey, guys! I'm okay! ''I'm okay!''"[[/note]]

As famous as his role on the show, however, was how he was written off from it. Despite the show's success, Stevenson began to resent playing a supporting role to Creator/AlanAlda's wisecracking Hawkeye, and asked to be released from his contract during the show's third season. The show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the Season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", in which Lt. Colonel Blake was discharged and boarded a plane home -- only for it to be shot down, killing everyone on board. As a result of his infamous exit, he became the {{Trope Namer|s}} for McLeaned, for when a character is KilledOffForReal (with no subsequent DeathIsCheap shenanigans) after their actor leaves the show.[[note]]Stevenson did, however, make a one-shot gag appearance as Blake on Music/{{Cher}}'s variety show, sitting in a rubber raft and [[BreakingTheFourthWall telling the audience]], "Hey, guys! I'm okay! ''I'm okay!''"[[/note]]

As famous as his role on the show, however, was how he was written off from it. Despite the show's success, Stevenson began to resent playing a supporting role to Creator/AlanAlda's wisecracking Hawkeye, and asked to be released from his contract during the show's third season. The show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the Season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", in which Lt. Colonel Blake was discharged and boarded a plane home -- only for it to be shot down, killing everyone on board. As a result of his infamous exit, he became the TropeNamer for McLeaned, for when a character is KilledOffForReal (with no subsequent DeathIsCheap shenanigans) after their actor leaves the show.[[note]]Stevenson did, however, make a one-shot gag appearance as Blake on Music/{{Cher}}'s variety show, sitting in a rubber raft and [[BreakingTheFourthWall telling the audience]], "Hey, guys! I'm okay! ''I'm okay!''"[[/note]]

Edgar [=McLean=] Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 – February 15, 1996) was an American actor best known for playing Lt. Col. Henry Blake in the first three seasons of ''Series/{{MASH}}''.

He was married three times. Stevenson died in 1996 at the age of 68 as a result of a heart attack. (By a rather eerie coincidence, Roger Bowen -- who'd played the Blake character in the [[Film/{{MASH}} film version]] of ''M*A*S*H'' -- died the following day, and of the same cause.)

He was married three times. Stevenson died in 1996 at the age of 68 as a result of a heart attack. (By a rather eerie coincidence, Roger Bowen -- who'd played the Blake character in the [[Film/{{MASH}} film version]] of ''M*A*S*H'' -- died the following day, and of the same cause. Bowen's family held back announcing his death for a week to avoid media confusion.)

He was married three times. Stevenson died in 1996 at the age of 68 as a result of a heart attack. (By a rather eerie coincidence, Roger Bowen -- who'd played Lt. Col. Blake in the [[Film/{{MASH}} film version]] of ''M*A*S*H'' -- died the following day, of the same cause. Bowen's family held back announcing his death for a week to avoid media confusion.)

He was married three times. Stevenson died in 1996 at the age of 68 as a result of a heart attack.

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/mclean_stevenson.jpg]]

As famous as his role on the show, however, was how he was written off from it. Despite the show's success, Stevenson began to resent playing a supporting role to Creator/AlanAlda's wisecracking Hawkeye, and asked to be released from his contract during the show's third season. The show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the Season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", in which Lt. Colonel Blake was discharged and boarded a plane home -- only for it to be shot down, killing everyone on board. As a result of his infamous exit, he became the TropeNamer for McLeaned, for when a character is KilledOffForReal (with no subsequent DeathIsCheap shenanigans) after their actor leaves the show.

As famous as his role on the show, however, was how he was written off from it. Despite the show's success, Stevenson began to resent playing a supporting role to Creator/AlanAlda's wisecracking Hawkeye, and asked to be released from his contract during the show's third season. The show's writers reluctantly penned him an exit in the Season 3 finale "Abyssinia, Henry", in which Lt. Colonel Blake was discharged and boarded a plane home -- only for it to be shot down, killing everyone on board. As a result of his infamous exit, he became the TropeNamer for McLeaned, for when a character is KilledOffForReal (with no DeathIsCheap shenanigans) after their actor leaves the show.

Stevenson's post-''M*A*S*H'' career suffered, with multiple attempts to star in another show turning into ratings flops. However, he did enjoy some success as a regular on such game shows as ''Series/{{Pyramid}}'', ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' and ''Series/MatchGame'' and as a frequent guest on ''Series/TheTonightShowStarringJohnnyCarson''.

* ''Series/MatchGame'' as Himself (1 episode)

Edgar [=McLean=] Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927 – February 15, 1996) was an American actor best known for playing Lt. Colonel Henry Blake in ''Series/{{MASH}}''.

* ''Series/{{MASH}}'' as Lt. Col. Henry Blake (71 episodes)

Edgar [=McLean=] Stevenson Jr. (November 14, 1927- February 15, 1996) was an American actor best known for ''Series/{{MASH}}''.

He was married three times.

Stevenson died in 1996 at the age of 68 as a result of a heart attack.

!Film Roles

!Television Roles

* ''Series/TalesOfTheCity'' as Booter Manigault (2 episodes)