M*A*S*H: Where Are They Now?

Feb. 28, 2013— -- intro: Thirty years ago today, the world said good night to Hawkeye Pierce, Hotlips Houlihan, B.J. Hunnicut, Col. Potter, Winchester and Clinger for the last time.

Inspired by the 1970 Robert Altman film of the same name, M*A*S*H premiered Sept. 17, 1972, and followed the staff of a hospital in South Korea during the Korean War. Its stars included Alan Alda, Loretta Swit, McLean Stevenson, Jamie Farr, Wayne Rogers and Harry Morgan.

M*A*S*H struggled in the ratings during its first season and was nearly cancelled. But the show went on to win eight Golden Globes, six People's Choice Awards and 14 Emmys.

When it signed off, on Feb. 28, 1983, it set a record for the most-watched show in TV history. The series finale was seen by 105.97 million viewers, a record that stood until the 2010 Super Bowl telecast.

Click through to see what the cast of the show has been up to since then:

quicklist: 1title: Alan Aldatext: Alan Alda played army surgeon Benjamin Franklin Pierce, better known as "Hawkeye Pierce," on M*A*S*H.

The 77-year-old actor has a full and successful career starring in several television series, including "The West Wing" and "ER," and films such as "What Women Want" and "The Aviator," for which he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Alda has also starred in several Broadway plays including "Art" and "QED." He is also a wildly successful writer. He has written two memoirs. The first was "Never Have Your Dog Stuffed," and the audio version of his second, "Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself," was nominated for a Grammy award.

The actor also has a love of science. In 2009, he helped found the Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University in New York and created the Flame Challenge, which challenges scientists to communicate efficiently with the public.

Alda is married to children's book author Arlene Alda, and they have three children.media: 18502161

quicklist: 2title: Loretta Swittext: Loretta Swit played nurse Margaret "Hotlips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H. She was nominated for four Golden Globes for her role and won two Emmys.

The 75-year-old actress starred in several made-for-TV movies after M*A*S*H ended, including the romantic comedy, "14 Going on 30" and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever." She also wrote a book on needlepoint in 1986.

Swit married Dennis Holahan in 1983, but they divorced in 1995.

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quicklist: 3title: Harry Morgantext: On M*A*S*H, Harry Morgan starred as Col. Potter, a firm but kindly man in charge.

He was not the first choice to command the fictional hospital. The show, based on a book and film, first went on the air in 1972 with McLean Stevenson as Lt. Col. Blake. Morgan appeared as an eccentric general in an episode in 1974, and was nominated for an Emmy. The next season he replaced Stevenson, won an Emmy in 1980, and stayed through the finale in 1983 — one of the most-watched entertainment episodes in American television history.

"'M*A*S*H' was so damned good," Morgan later said in an interview with the AP. "I didn't think they could keep the level so high."

Morgan starred in several television movies including 1988's "14 Going on 30" in which he reunited with his M*A*S*H co-star Swit.

In July 1997, Morgan was charged with misdemeanor spousal battery after a confrontation with his wife, Barbara Morgan, at their home. The charges were later dropped after Morgan completed a six-month counseling program for domestic violence and anger management.

Morgan died at the age of 96 in 2011. He had three sons, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.media: 18501686