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Contact Info
Home Town Bloomington/Normal area of McLean County, Illinois
Last Address Los Angeles, CA
Date of Passing Feb 01, 1996
Location of Interment Forest Lawn Memorial Park - Hollywood Hills, California
McLean Stevenson was born in McLean County, Illinois (where his middle name -- his first name was Edgar -- came from) on November 14, 1929. His family boasted a number of successes: father Edgar was a cardiologist, sister Ann Whitney went into acting, his great-uncle was former Vice President Adlai Stevenson (Grover Cleveland's V.P.), and his second cousin was U.N. ambassador Adlai Stevenson II.
Edgar McLean Stevenson, Jr., better known as McLean Stevenson, was an American actor most recognized for his role as Lt. Colonel Henry Blake on the TV series M*A*S*H. He was also recognized for his role as Michael Nicholson on The Doris Day Show. Stevenson was born in the town of Normal, Illinois, in McLean County. He was the great-grandson of William Stevenson, brother of Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson, making him a second cousin once removed of presidential candidate Adlai E. Stevenson II. He was also the brother of actress Ann Whitney. His father, Edgar, was a cardiologist. Stevenson was educated at Lake Forest Academy and thereafter joined the Navy. After his service, he attended Northwestern University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in theater arts and was a proud and well-liked Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brother.
Stevenson served in the Navy as a corpsman, sometimes listed as pharmacist’s mate, then went to Northwestern University's to study drama. Instead of heading to Hollywood, however, Stevenson remained in Illinois, selling insurance and working as an assistant athletics director at his alma mater. He also worked on cousin Adlai Stevenson's failed presidential candidacies in 1952 and 1956 as a press agent. Stevenson later enrolling at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, in New York City, where Lee Strasberg and Sandy Meisner were instructors.
Other Comments:
WWII Victory Medal: Last awarded December 31, 1946
McLean Stevenson served in the Navy from mid 1946 to mid 1948 and was therefore eligible to wear this award.
The reason for this late date is that President Harry S. Truman did not declare an official end of hostilities until the last day of 1946.
Red Cross Rating Badge:
Effective 2 April 1948 the Navy changed the names and insignia of the Hospital Corps. The new titles were hospitalman recruit, hospitalman apprentice, hospitalman, hospital corpsmen third, second, and first class, and chief hospital corpsman. The red Geneva cross, which had marked corpsmen for 50 years, was replaced in the rating badge with the winged caduceus.
Other Memories After his service, he attended Northwestern University, where he studied speech and drama. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in theater arts and was a proud and well-liked Phi Gamma Delta fraternity brother.
Instead of heading to Hollywood, however, Stevenson remained in Illinois, selling insurance and working as an assistant athletics director at his alma mater. He also worked on cousin Adlai Stevenson's failed presidential candidacies in 1952 and 1956 as a press agent. Stevenson later enrolling at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, in New York City, where Lee Strasberg and Sandy Meisner were instructors.
