August 14–21, 1997

20 questions

In the days before M*A*S*H, Gary Burghoff was known around Southern California as "The Birdman of Malibu." When he wasn't acting he could often be found tending to wounded animals in his backyard rehabilitation center.M*A*S*H producer Larry Gelbart transplanted Burghoff's love of animals into the character Radar O'Reilly after visiting the actor's home. Even though Burghoff, 57, left the sitcom in 1979, he's still known to many as the teddy bear-lovingradio operator. Though he occasionally acts and directs these days, he devotes more time to raising his three children. His affection for wildlife shines through in his paintings, which are often portraits of animals. Born in Bristol, CT, he'srecently returned to living in his homestate.

How do you feel about Radar being partially based on you?

I liked that the character cared about the environment and animals — the more vulnerable life forms around us. Radar was also kind to orphans, and that showed a type of gentleness that wasn't in vogue for television characters at the time.Everybody wanted to be cool, nobody wanted to be nerdy enough to be human.

Would you like to see more characters like that on TV?

Absolutely. I've got a children's series proposed to 20th Century Fox that I think would make a contribution in the lives of children. It kind of plays off of Radar's teddy bear. I portray myself living in a cabin up in the woods where I have mycollection of teddy bears. When we're alone, we speak with one another, and they ask me all about the world — questions about history, human relations and other educational subjects. I think it's a great way of opening up children to thephilosophies of the world and knowledge of everything from the great pyramids to the inner cities.

What do you think of children's television today?

For the most part, it's pretty good.The only problem is that children's television discourages opinions. If they don't see adults expressing opinions and then showing respect for other people's opinions, I don't think we're conditioningthem to be free-willed people.

Have you always been interested in wildlife as a subject for your paintings?

For me most of what's beautiful comes from the environment. Even in abstract art and furniture design we borrow all of these shapes and colors from nature.

Are there any artists who've influenced your artwork?

Maxfield Parrish, a great turn-of-the-century illustrator, has influenced my use of color and light. I revere the Scandinavian painter Vermeer, whose work was always filled with a quality of mystery.

Do you try to create an element of mystery in your own work?

I don't try to create it, but I hope it's there. The subject matter is the vehicle by which you express yourself. I don't think you can look into another soul and connect with it without also including yourself. So if I paint a duck I try to puta little mystery in the environment. I'll put him in a fog. A lot of wildlife artists tend to get perturbed when they're not recognized by art museums. Usually they're only recognized by natural history museums. They say, "What does the subjectmatter have to do with [the art being valid]? It's still a way of evoking a feeling in the viewer and showing the world in a different way."

Do you have a series of paintings that you're working on now?

I'm working on a suite featuring an [endangered] animal from each of the 50 states that's making a comeback. The first one is Nevada Rising, featuring Canada geese nesting in a desert lake. The second one is California Gold,featuring the cougar.

Do endangered species interest you in particular?

I can't see how they wouldn't concern everyone, but I don't dwell on the negative. I believe that environmental efforts of the last 40 years have started to have a positive effect on the rejuvenation of the environment. What I try to do isaccentuate the positive and make people aware that we have every reason to be encouraged.

How did you like playing a serial killer in the 1993 movie Small Kill?

I hated the film, but I was offered a chance to direct and I needed to do film. I was given a certain amount of freedom to change the script and made [the serial killer] less of a villain. Other than that, he was just an attempt to exploit themost evil character ever created in a movie. Unfortunately, I didn't end up having the artistic control that I was promised. It could have gone miles farther [in probing the character]. But I was proud of my direction. I think the scenes I directedin that film were effective.

How did you feel about the rumor that went around the M*A*S*H newsgroup that said you were the hardest man to work with in Hollywood?

[Laughs] I always had a strong point of view regarding professionalism and my approach to the work. If other people found that point of view repugnant, I'm sorry. I never wanted anyone to feel annoyed with me. On the other hand, I wouldn'tsacrifice the work, and Larry [Gelbart] and [M*A*S*H co-producer] Gene Reynolds understood that and that's why I had such a good relationship with them.

What did you expect from the work?

Number one, you have to entertain first, that's your job. You shouldn't hit the audience with the heavy message first in a preachy kind of way.

Did you ever come across scripts you thought were too preachy?

Oh sure, we all did. But we would all sit around discussing those things and everyone respected everyone else's point of view. We really worked together as a team.

Do you mind that you're seen as a celebrity artist rather than just an artist?

Look, I don't pretend to be a brilliant celebrity, nor do I pretend to be the world's greatest artist. I'm a damn good actor and I try to be the best artist I can be with each piece.

Gary Burghoff will be appearing on Fri., Aug. 15, 3-9 p.m. and Sat., Aug. 16, noon-6 p.m. at the Renaissance Art Gallery on 751 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne, PA, (610) 995-2501.