Burt Metcalfe Cause of Death: Longtime ‘M*A*S*H’ Producer Dead at 87
Burt Metcalfe, popularly known for working on all 11 seasons of "M*A*S*H" as an actor, producer, director, and writer, has passed away at the age of 87.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the producer's wife, Jan Jorden, confirmed the tragic news, saying her husband died of "natural causes" in Los Angeles, California.
Jorden also starred in the series as Nurse Baker.
Initially, Metcalfe worked as an actor and starred in different shows and movies like "Gidget" in 1959, "The Twilight Zone," and "Father of the Bride" for two years.
Later in life, he pursued working behind the camera, and his most notable credit was "M*A*S*H" wherein he worked in a total of 256 episodes from 1972 to 1983.
He directed 31 installments of the show, wrote the story of three episodes, and became an actor in a single episode.
Metcalfe's hard work paid off as he was nominated for outstanding comedy series seven times. However, he never won anything.
Born Denis Metcalfe on March 19, 1935, the director spent his early days in Montreal, Canada, before moving to Los Angeles in 1949.
He had a background in acting as he studied at the University of California, Los Angeles, for four years.
His first acting gig was in "The Bridges of Toko Ri" by Mark Robson in 1954. The producer left acting two years later to serve the U.S. Navy for a year.
Metcalfe's most notable roles as an actor include Don Martin, a panicked neighbor who points the finger at Claude Akins.
He also starred in an episode of "The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street" in 1960 and other various shows like "The Outer Limits," "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," "The Farmer's Daughter," "12 O'Clock High," "The Fugitive," "Hennesey," "Perry Mason."
The producer transitioned into working behind the camera in 1965 at Screen Gems. He started out as a casting director and producer.
The actor wasn't the first "M*A*S*H" star who died this year as Sally Kellerman also passed away.
The veteran actress died at an assisted care facility in Woodland Hills early this year. Her cause of death was due to complications relating to Dementia.
Her role on the famed comedy show was U.S. Army Major Margaret Houlihan AKA "Hot Lips."
Throughout her career, many fans labeled her as "Hot Lips" even outside filming and she humbly accepted the nickname.
