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Character Archive Profile This character is no longer part of the game. |
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| Name: Radar_OReilly |  | |
| Rank: Unknown * | ||
| Level: 15 | ||
| Status: Dead | ||
| Home City: Brooklyn, NY | ||
| Wealth: Moderately Wealthy | ||
| Start Date: Oct 15, '19 14:11:52 | ||
| Last Active: Nov 04, '19 17:49 | ||
| Messages Sent: 34 | ||
| Threads / Posts: 0 / 1 (View Activity) | ||
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Proud Associate of King's County United. "Why don't you sirs act like sirs, sir?" -- Radar Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O’Reilly is a fictional character in the M*A*S*H novels, film, the television series, the television movie W*A*L*T*E*R and two episodes of the series AfterM*A*S*H. The character was portrayed by Gary Burghoff in both the film and on television — the only main cast actor from the film to reprise his role on television (the other being G. Wood, who portrayed the recurring character of General Hammond). Early Life His father, who had been 63 when Radar was born, was deceased. Radar's mother Edna lived on the family farm and his Uncle Ed helped out on the farm and served as his father figure. The novel establishes that Radar was from Ottumwa, Iowa, and attempted to join the Marine Corps, but was turned away because he wore glasses. He then joined the Army in hopes of becoming successful in the Signal Corps, but was instead assigned as an orderly at a MASH instead. While in the novel Radar joined the army voluntarily right after finishing high school, in the TV series, he states that he was drafted. His nickname Radar acquired his nickname because he was seemingly endowed with ESP, appearing at his commander's side before being called and finishing his sentences. He also had super-human hearing, able to hear incoming helicopters before anyone else. In The Gun Radar explains to Major Burns that he keeps his bicycle lock key with him so his younger sister can't ride the bicycle [the chain slips off]; however, despite this, the series implies he was an only child (though in one episode, Radar did mention a younger brother who died in childhood). In another episode (Officer of the Day) Radar also mentioned another brother, who works in a retail store and was a previous owner of his teddy bear, and two episodes after that (There is Nothing Like a Nurse) he mentioned older sister, who is 37. Character Differences (Novel/Film from TV series) In the novel and movie, Radar's character was a worldly and sneaky individual, a clerk who carried with him at all times a pocketful of passes for any potential scam that might arise. But when the TV series began, his characterization shifted into that of a naive and trusting farm boy, and cigars and strong liquor made him ill and/or dizzy. His favorite beverage was grape Nehi soda. He also sold tickets to the male members of MASH so they could take turns sneaking looks through a peephole in the nurses' showers and also used his camera to sneak pictures of the nurses showering. He also won over $800 in poker playing with members of MASH and dismantled a jeep and smuggled it home piece by piece. He once persuaded the entire company of MASH 4077 into buying pairs of wing-tip shoes - although he was once conned into spending over $50.00 for an improved writing course by mail, which nearly drove Col. Potter crazy trying to read the daily reports. He was known for his tremendous appetite for heaping portions of meat. He was also not averse to drinking Col. Blake's brandy and smoking his cigars when the colonel was off-duty. At the 4077th (TV series) Radar was portrayed as a very naive but very friendly young man from the Midwest. Radar had a rough start as clerk at the 4077th, where it seemed he couldn't do anything right. The unit's commander, Lt. Col. Henry Blake, took him under his wing. Eventually, Radar became an excellent clerk, often balancing out Lt. Col. Blake's occasional silliness with his near-magical abilities to get the unit whatever it needed. Throughout much of the series, he was more or less the glue that held the 4077th together, keeping the unit running like a well-oiled machine. Blake and Radar grew very close, developing a father-son relationship, and it was Radar who tearfully announced Blake's death when his plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan. While Radar was devastated by Blake's death and needed some time to adjust to the new commander, Colonel Potter, he eventually became very close to Potter as well. Radar was very fond of animals and raised several during his time at M*A*S*H, including hamsters and several rabbits. For Colonel Potter's anniversary, Radar gave him a horse that he, Hawkeye, and B.J. rescued at Radar's request. Although Col. Potter refers to the horse as a male during this episode, throughout the rest of the series, the horse is referred to by name, Sophie, a mare. As a reflection of his very young age, he had brought his teddy bear with him to the 4077th. He related well to children and frequently spent time with the Korean villagers and orphans in the area. In season 2, Radar states that he is 19, meaning he was likely drafted at the age of 18. Radar initially idolized Hawkeye, but in Fallen Idol, after Hawkeye convinced him to go to Seoul to lose his virginity but instead came back to camp as a casualty, Hawkeye, overwhelmed by shock and guilt, spent a night binge drinking then had to leave the OR the next day to throw up (which he'd never had to do before). When Radar questioned Hawkeye about this, Hawkeye angrily berated him for his naivete, his hero worship, and even his home state. Later, when Hawkeye tried to apologize, Radar would have none of it, and even threatened to punch Hawkeye if he ever said anything bad about Iowa again. The two later reconciled at Potter's prompting, and from then on their relationship was on more of an equal footing, with Radar outgrowing his hero worship. Radar's short stature was a frequent source of humor during his tenure, with Hawkeye and the other doctors teasing him for his lack of height. At one point, Radar actually bought elevator shoes so that he could appear taller. The shoes almost made him eye level with Major Frank Burns. Radar's given first name is revealed in the series when he asks a patient, who believes he is Jesus Christ, to bless his teddy bear. He then blesses Radar, who corrects him with "Walter." |
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* Some data was not recorded when this character was
still active and is no longer available.
still active and is no longer available.
