Trivia

Chose not to renew his M.A.S.H. (1972) contract because "I felt I had done everything possible with the character" of Frank Burns. Said later that the fifth season (his last) had been hardest for him, since Frank no longer had Loretta Swit's character Hot Lips on his side, leaving him to bear the brunt of the insults alone. He even stopped attending dailies, because he was tired of seeing his character as the butt of so many jokes.

Admitted in a "TV Guide" interview in the 1970s that he was a lifelong insomniac, sleeping only a few hours every several days.

Contrary to his much-maligned character, Frank Burns, he was actually well-liked by his M.A.S.H. (1972) castmates. He and Gary Burghoff were close friends off the show. Burghoff described Linville as a "renaissance man" who knew about the intricacies of the Egyptian pyramids and who once even built and flew his own airplane. Alan Alda also remembered Linville fondly after his death.

He and David Ogden Stiers, who played Maj. Winchester, were both VIP guests at the ceremonial closing of the last active M*A*S*H unit in Korea in the 1990s. Ironically--because Stiers had replaced Linville on the show and neither they nor their characters had ever met--Winchester's last comment in the last regular episode had been about Maj. Burns.

Disclosed in an Howard Stern interview that, after his agent, business manager, accountant, US government and ex-wives all got their cut, his royalties from M.A.S.H. (1972) were enough to make his car insurance payment. He also said that he liked everyone he worked with on the series.

On 2/12/98 he underwent surgery to remove part of his lung after doctors found a malignant tumor under his sternum.

After college, he applied for a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, England. He was one of three Americans, out of 300 applicants, to win.

The nickname, "Ferret-Face", that was used to describe his "Frank Burns" character, was coined by his own brother.

When he left M.A.S.H. (1972), he made ends meet by returning to theater.

Stated in a 1990s "People" magazine "Where are they now?" feature about TV doctors that he had no regrets about leaving M.A.S.H. (1972) six years before it ended.

Studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Colorado.

His lifelong hobby was designing and flying gliders.

Attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art from 1959-61. His fellow classmates included Ian McShane, David Warner and John Hurt.

Frequently played stuffed-shirt characters. An interesting exception was when he appeared as a wise, all-powerful genie in L'île fantastique (1977).

He claimed that he was selected to appear opposite Ingrid Bergman on Broadway because he was one of the few actors tall enough to play opposite her.

His only child, Kelly Linville (b. 1970), is a photo technician in Los Angeles, CA.

Raised in Sacramento, CA.

According to former child actor Jackie Cooper, who directed early episodes of M*A*S*H (1972), Linville and Wayne Rogers, who left after season three, were the two cast members he felt caused the least amount of problems during his tenure directing the show. All the more ironic because Linville played Frank Burns, who, in the show, is the most despised fellow officer.

Is the second regular cast member of M.A.S.H. (1972) to pass away, after McLean Stevenson in 1996. Additionally, being aged 60 at the time of his passing, he is the shortest-lived of the regular cast members.

Spent eight years in repertory with the Association of Producing Artists in New York, the Barter Theater in Virginia and the San Diego Shakespeare Festival.

His ex-wife, Kate Geer, was the daughter of Will Geer and Herta Ware.

In the M*A*S*H episode, "Hepatitis," Linville's character, Frank Burns, tells Hawkeye, "I have a lump here, under the sternum and that's not supposed to be there, is it?" Tragically, a malignant tumor under Linville's sternum led to his death in 2000.

Ex-brother-in-law of Ellen Geer, Thad Geer and Ed Flanders.

His part of Major Frank Burns was originally played in the movie MASH (1970) by Robert Duvall. Despite being eight years older than Linville as of April 2025, Duvall has outlived Linville by 25 years.

Ex-uncle-in-law of Ian Geer Flanders.

No relation to Joanne Linville.