Timothy Brown,( Spearchucker Jones ) ‘M*A*S*H’ Actor and NFL Player, Dies at 82

Commander Wallace · 04-10-20, 06:30 PM

Timothy Brown, who appeared in the first season of M*A*S*H has passed away at 82 from complications of dementia. Timothy Brown was also in the original movie along with ( Radar ) Gary Burghoff. Tim Brown also played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Colts.

Interestingly enough, After retiring from acting, he had another career as a correctional officer in Los Angeles. He was living in Palm Springs at the time of his death. Brown ended his NFL career with the 1968 NFL champion Baltimore Colts

Timothy Brown's character was written out after the first season. I think that was a mistake as Tim Brown's character had enormous potential for growth and development within the series. Tim had a sense of humor and was " one of the boys."

This is another actor from the series who is no longer with us.

Goodbye Timothy and thanks for the laughs.

August · 04-10-20, 09:17 PM

Maybe the characters nick name was just too racist for a weekly TV series. Maybe if he was called "Too Tall Jones" or something more generic they would have kept him on because you're right he did have potential.

Commander Wallace · 04-10-20, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Maybe the characters nick name was just too racist for a weekly TV series. Maybe if he was called "Too Tall Jones" or something more generic they would have kept him on because you're right he did have potential.

I'm sure you are probably right August, regarding the name. That's a shame as there is a multitude of name they could have given Tim. On the other hand, people like Jack Soo, had recurring roles with different names in the MASH series.

Jack Soo, as most remember, also played a detective in the Barney Miller series. They could just have easily reinvented another Physician / Surgeon role for Tim Brown as well with a different name.

I wasn't aware of this but Kellye Nakahara who played Nurse Kellye in MASH also passed away on February 16, 2020, almost 2 months ago. Rest in Peace.

MASH had some really great actors.

August · 04-10-20, 11:01 PM

Ever read the original book by Richard Hooker? Better than the movie or the series imo. He wrote a bunch of sequels of which the first one is the best, "Mash Goes to Maine", the rest were meh but still enjoyable reads.

ET2SN · 04-11-20, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by August

Ever read the original book by Richard Hooker? Better than the movie or the series imo. He wrote a bunch of sequels of which the first one is the best, "Mash Goes to Maine", the rest were meh but still enjoyable reads.

I went to college with his adopted son.

Jimbuna · 04-11-20, 04:56 AM

Being a Brit I only remember him from MASH but remember him I do and will.

RIP Sir

vienna · 04-12-20, 03:48 AM

I bet you thought MASH was a show about banger side dishes...

<O>

Platapus · 04-12-20, 06:32 AM

To be honest, I thought the first season of MASH wasn't all that good. It took a few seasons to really take off. That first season they were still trying to figure out the differences between the movie and what would work in a TV Sitcom.

They figured it out pretty well.

Commander Wallace · 04-12-20, 07:04 AM

^ I liked it all but to be sure, characters underwent changes during the series.

Larry Linville who played Maj. Frank Burns was in reality a generous, nice and humorous guy. It takes real acting to create and play a mean and contemptible guy.

Loretta Swit who played Maj. Margaret Houlihan, along with Frank Burns, were the main antagonists in the first few seasons but became a major ally of Hawkeye Pierce and B.J Hunnicutt, in later seasons.

It was a great series.

vienna · 04-12-20, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

To be honest, I thought the first season of MASH wasn't all that good. It took a few seasons to really take off. That first season they were still trying to figure out the differences between the movie and what would work in a TV Sitcom.

They figured it out pretty well.

Consider when it debuted; it was 1972, the Vietnam War was still going strong, the nation was divided over our involvement, there was a whole 'hard hat vs. counterculture' antagonism being egged on by the Nixon White House and the FBI; there's an old Irish saying "You don't speak of rope when there's been a hanging in the family" and MASH was talking and commenting about the 'hanging' going on in Vietnam with their story lines; sentiment regarding the War was still very polarized and Nixon had yet to be brought to answer for his crimes; in a climate of "Love it or leave it", MASH was more espousing of "Change it or lose it"; by the time Nixon resigned in Aug 1974, sentiment has changed significantly and viewers who might have been put off by the series's story lines were now more embracing of the series; MASH was just about to start its third season when Nixon resigned; odd thing: when Nixon quit, among those on his infamous "Enemies List" was the TV series MASH and, while Nixon is becoming more of an unpleasant fading memory, MASH is still revered as a milestone in TV and social histories and still airs on TV some 37 years after it went of the air in its original run in 1983...

<O>

mapuc · 04-12-20, 12:03 PM

I have the complete series on DVD incl. the Movie.

Got it from my little sister as a Christmas gift.

Markus

Commander Wallace · 04-12-20, 01:32 PM

^ Good deal, Markus. That is next on my list.

04-10-20, 06:30 PM	#1
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,294 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	*Timothy Brown,( Spearchucker Jones ) ‘MASH’ Actor and NFL Player, Dies at 82** Timothy Brown, who appeared in the first season of MAS*H has passed away at 82 from complications of dementia. Timothy Brown was also in the original movie along with ( Radar ) Gary Burghoff. Tim Brown also played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Colts. Interestingly enough, After retiring from acting, he had another career as a correctional officer in Los Angeles. He was living in Palm Springs at the time of his death. Brown ended his NFL career with the 1968 NFL champion Baltimore Colts Timothy Brown's character was written out after the first season. I think that was a mistake as Tim Brown's character had enormous potential for growth and development within the series. Tim had a sense of humor and was " one of the boys." This is another actor from the series who is no longer with us. Goodbye Timothy and thanks for the laughs.

04-11-20, 04:56 AM	#6
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,461 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Being a Brit I only remember him from MASH but remember him I do and will. RIP Sir __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

04-12-20, 03:48 AM	#7
vienna Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anywhere but the here & now... Posts: 7,711 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I bet you thought MASH was a show about banger side dishes... <O> __________________ __________________________________________________ __

04-12-20, 06:32 AM	#8
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	To be honest, I thought the first season of MASH wasn't all that good. It took a few seasons to really take off. That first season they were still trying to figure out the differences between the movie and what would work in a TV Sitcom. They figured it out pretty well. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

04-12-20, 07:04 AM	#9
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,294 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	^ I liked it all but to be sure, characters underwent changes during the series. Larry Linville who played Maj. Frank Burns was in reality a generous, nice and humorous guy. It takes real acting to create and play a mean and contemptible guy. Loretta Swit who played Maj. Margaret Houlihan, along with Frank Burns, were the main antagonists in the first few seasons but became a major ally of Hawkeye Pierce and B.J Hunnicutt, in later seasons. It was a great series. Last edited by Commander Wallace; 04-12-20 at 01:29 PM.

04-10-20, 09:17 PM	#2
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Maybe the characters nick name was just too racist for a weekly TV series. Maybe if he was called "Too Tall Jones" or something more generic they would have kept him on because you're right he did have potential.

04-10-20, 11:01 PM	#4
August Wayfaring Stranger Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 23,197 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ever read the original book by Richard Hooker? Better than the movie or the series imo. He wrote a bunch of sequels of which the first one is the best, "Mash Goes to Maine", the rest were meh but still enjoyable reads.

04-12-20, 12:03 PM	#11
mapuc CINC Pacific Fleet Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denmark Posts: 20,535 Downloads: 37 Uploads: 0	I have the complete series on DVD incl. the Movie. Got it from my little sister as a Christmas gift. Markus

04-12-20, 01:32 PM	#12
Commander Wallace Navy Seal Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Under the sea in an Octupus garden in the shade Posts: 5,294 Downloads: 366 Uploads: 0	^ Good deal, Markus. That is next on my list.