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Jamie Farr said there was no use in fighting the popularity of M*A*S*H
"There’s no way around that," said Farr.
Though fame can be intoxicating, it always comes at a price. Many actors have forfeited their anonymity in the name of a professional acting career. Though the life of an everyday Joe is lost, a good actor becomes known throughout the country. But what happens when the line between yourself and the character you play begins to overlap?
Well, for Jamie Farr, it’s best to take it in stride. During an interview with The Blade, the actor was asked whether he was upset that he would forever be known as Corporal Klinger of M*A*S*H.
“There’s no way around that,” said Farr. “It’s whatever made you famous. You can’t fight it. It’s better than anonymity, better than having no identity. You have to learn how to accept it.”
It’s easier said than done, even for Farr, who took time to adjust to his newfound fame. “It was very difficult. I have done other work since then. But M*A*S*H is a classic television show, voted the favorite TV show of all time, and it still has high ratings.
While Farr was never willing to express vitriol for the show that made him a star, he was honest enough to acknowledge his own irritations.
“I cannot get mad about it, but I admit it has frustrated me because I’ve wanted to do other things,” said the M*A*S*H actor. “I can do those things in the theater, but whether I can do them in a feature film or in a television series, I don’t know.”
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