William Christopher
From Hogan's Heroes
William Christopher (born October 20 1932 in Evanston, Illinois) is an American actor who is most famously known for playing Father Mulcahy on the American television series M*A*S*H and AfterMASH as well as playing Private Lester Hummel on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.. He also appeared in a few episodes of the 1960s American sitcom, Hogan's Heroes.
After attending New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, he went to Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut in 1954. He majored in drama and was also active in fencing, soccer, singing with the glee club and performing in various dramatic performances. He met his future wife, Barbara O'Conner, on a blind date. They married in 1957 and have two sons, John and Ned. Christopher is also suppose to be a direct descendent of Paul Revere.
After appearing in a variety of regional productions, he landed roles in a number of off-Broadway productions, most notably The Hostage at One Sheridan Square. His Broadway debut came in Beyond the Fringe, a British revue.
Christopher left the New York stage for Hollywood television production, where he was seen on The Andy Griffith Show, Death Valley Days, The Patty Duke Show and The Men from Shiloh. He then had recurring roles on Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., That Girl and Hogan's Heroes. Since AfterMASH, Christopher has appeared in several series, including Murder, She Wrote and Mad About You.
In featured films, Christopher performed in The Fortune Cookie, The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell, The Shakiest Gun of the West, With Six You Get Eggroll and Hearts of the West. He also won parts in such telefilms as The Movie Maker, The Perils of Pauline and For the Love of It.
Christopher devotes much of his spare time to the National Autistic Society because his son Ned is autistic. He has done several public service announcements to bring attention to this serious problem. In 1985, he and his wife wrote Mixed Blessings, a book about their experiences raising Ned.
He has also remained active in the theater, including a tour of the U.S. in the mid-1990s with Jamie Farr doing Neil Simon's The Odd Couple on stage.
[edit] Filmography
- Return to 'Giant' (as Bill Christopher) (2003) (V)
- M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion (2002) (TV)
- M*A*S*H: TV Tales (2002) (TV)
- Heaven Sent (1994)
- Memories of M*A*S*H (1991)
- The Little Troll Prince (1985) (TV) (voice)
- AfterMASH (1983) (TV Series)
- The Smurfs (1981) (TV Series) (voice) (Additional voices)
- For the Love of It (1980) (TV)
- Hearts of the West (1975)
- Columbo: Mind Over Mayhem (1974) (TV)
- M*A*S*H (1972) (TV Series)
- With Six You Get Eggroll (1968)
- The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) (uncredited)
- The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968)
- The Perils of Pauline (1967)
- The Fortune Cookie (as Bill Christopher) (1966)
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1964) (TV Series) Pvt. Lester Hummel (1966-1968)
[edit] Notable TV Guest Appearances
- Mad About You playing "Chaplain Nilson" in episode: "A Pain in the Neck" (episode # 7.2) 29 September 1998
- Team Knight Rider playing "Professor Roykirk" in episode: "Apocalypse Maybe" (episode # 1.20) 4 May 1998
- Diagnosis: Murder playing "Art Amador" in episode: "Drill for Death" (episode # 5.15) 22 January 1998
- Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman playing "Andrus" in episode: "Meet John Doe" (episode: # 4.14) 2 March 1997
- Murder, She Wrote playing "Burton Hollis" in episode: "A Lady in the Lake" (episode # 2.7) 10 November 1985
- The Love Boat playing "Actor" in episode: "The Last Heist/Starting Over/Watching the Master" (episode # 8.9) 10 November 1984
- The Love Boat playing "Carl Mitchell" in episode: "Tony and Julie/Separate Beds/America's Sweetheart" (episode # 4.28) 16 May 1981
- Good Times playing "Major Bullock" in episode: "The Enlistment" (episode # 2.22) 4 March 1975
- Karen playing "Andrew" in episode: "Whistle Blowing" (episode # 1.5) 27 February 1975
- Lucas Tanner playing "Jack" in episode: "Why Not a Happy Ending?" (episode # 1.17) 12 February 1975
- Movin' On playing "Jewelry Clerk" in episode: "Grit" (episode # 1.3) 26 September 1974
- Alias Smith and Jones playing "Telegrapher" in episode: "Wrong Train to Brimstone" (episode # 1.4) 4 February 1971
- That Girl playing "Chippy" in episode: "There Sure Are a Bunch of Cards in St. Louis: Part 1" (episode # 5.6) 30 October 1970
- That Girl playing "Chippy" in episode: "I am a Curious Lemon" (episode # 4.14) 25 December 1969
- Hogan's Heroes playing "Thomas" in episode: "War Takes a Holiday" (episode # 3.21) 27 January 1968
- The Andy Griffith Show playing "Dr. Thomas Peterson" in episode: "A New Doctor in Town" (episode # 7.15) 26 December 1966
- Hogan's Heroes playing "Foster" in episode: "Will the Real Adolph Hitler Please Stand Up?" (episode # 2.12) 2 December 1966
- Hogan's Heroes playing "German Private" in episode: "Request Permission to Escape" (episode # 1.32) 29 April 1966
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. playing "Corporal Haynes" in episode: "Desk Job for a Sergeant" (episode #2.29) 8 April 1966
- The Andy Griffith Show playing "Mr. Heathcote, I.R.S." in episode: "Aunt Bee on TV" (episode # 6.10) 15 November 1965
- Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. playing "Marine" in episode: "The Grudge Match" (episode 2.9) 12 November 1965
- Hogan's Heroes playing "Lieutenant Donner" in episode: "Movies Are Your Best Escape" (episode # 1.8) 5 November 1965
- Twelve O'Clock High playing "Patient" in episode: "Then Came The Mighty Hunter" (episode # 2.3) 27 September 1965
