Star Of Movie Version Of ‘Mash’ Dies

Roger Bowen, the comedic actor and novelist who portrayed the original Col. Henry Blake in Robert Altman’s film version of “MASH,” has died. He was 63.

Bowen died of a heart attack Feb. 16 while vacationing in Florida. He died a day after the heart attack death of McLean Stevenson, who played Blake in the television series spawned by the 1970 movie.

Bowen had regular roles on several television series, including employer Hamilton Majors Jr. on “Arnie” in 1971-72, allergist Dr. Austin Chaffee on “The Brian Keith Show” in 1973-74, Col. Clapp on “At Ease” in 1983 and Donny Bauer in “Suzanne Pleshette Is Maggie Briggs” in 1984.

Bowen was the author of 11 novels, including “Inga,” “The Silent 50s” and “Just Like a Movie.”