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Steven Loomis, IC3
to remember
Stevenson, McLean, S1c.
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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.
Character Actor, Comedy Writer. He was born Edgar McLean Stevenson in the Bloomington/Normal area of McLean County, Illinois, to a father who was a cardiologist. His extended family was a provider of famous politicians to the American scene. While attending Bloomington High School he was active in sports however there was never any indication of an acting career. Stevenson was confused after high school graduation, had no apparent occupational direction and his quest was nomadic...a medical supply salesman, insurance clerk, radio announcer, clown on live TV and a stint in the Navy before enrollment at Northwestern University coming away with a theater arts degree and a desire for a show business career. A visit to New York while attending a political function was his defining moment and well placed advise motivated him toward a show business career. Stevenson decided to stay while enrolling at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy where Lee Strasberg and Sandy Meisner were instructors. He spent much of the 60's in the city while performing in nightclubs and comedy spots leaving to work the summers in stock theatre at Warsaw, Indiana. His first Broadway stage break came in 1962 with a title role in "The Music Man" followed by parts in "Bye Bye Birdie" and "I'll Always Remember Miss What's Her Name." He broke into TV as a guest actor on various series such as "Naked City" and "The Defenders." When acting roles were scarce, he wrote revue comedy which further established him in show business. Hollywood beckoned in 1968 and initially work was found as a writer for the "Smothers Brothers Show." While guesting on various venues, he landed a regular role on the "The Doris Day Show" and simultaneously appeared on "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour." A tryout for a comedy series called "MASH" landed him a leading role as mythical Henry Blake, commander of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War which became his career highlight and made him an American household name. He performed this character, a laid-back, off-centered commanding officer from its premiere in Sept 1972 until miffed by the secondary role asked to leave and was willingly written out during the 1974-75 season. His departure hardly led to his dream of a leading man status. He was very busy but a series of sitcoms all were cancelled after the first season..."Celebrity Challenge of the Sexes" "The McLean Stevenson Show" "In the Beginning, Hello, Larry" and "Dirty Dancing." (movie spinoff) He appeared 56 times as host of "The Tonight Show" substituting for Johnny Carson during his absences. His movie appearances were scanty with a small role in "The Christian Licorice Store" and the ET film "The Cat From Outer Space". McLean performed in public service as the spokesman for USAir and First Alert. He was barely active in the 90's having been diagnosed with cancer but hosted "The Crosby Clambake" on the Nashville Network from 1991 to 1993 performing for the last time with a supporting role in the 1994 PBS miniseries "Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City." He died from a heart attack following surgery for cancer in Tarzana, California and was cremated. A memorial services was held at the Bel Air Presbyterian Church, Van Nuys. Legacy...During his three years on the MASH series, Stevenson collected three Emmy nominations and in 1974 garnered an Emmy nomination for writing a MASH episode entitled "The Trial of Henry Blake". Interesting family history...He was a member of the family that gave American politics two famous Adlai Stevensons...one was vice president of the United States under Grover Cleveland from 1893-1897 and the other was governor of Illinois, twice the Democratic party's nominee for president and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Many others, minor Illinois official originated from the Stevenson family He worked as the press secretary to candidate Stevenson during his quest for the White House in 1952 and again in 1956. Stevenson was also the brother of actress Ann Whitney. He was very instrumental in his final years working with various charities while appearing in scores of golf tournaments, telethons and other fund raising events. His favorite, where he was the national spokesman, The Children's Burn Foundation in Sherman Oaks, California. He was motivated from memories of his own having been seriously burned as a child by a Halloween pumpkin. In a bit of trivia...McLean's hasty departure from MASH and his subsequent disappointing career has led to the coining of a word. "McLeaning" derived from his middle name, which in turn came from McLean County, Illinois, his birth place. Its connotation in Hollywood denotes an actor leaving a show and his or her character's subsequent demise.
