‘70s Icon Reveals Why He Turned Down Leading Role in ‘M*A*S*H’

He was one of the biggest stars in the world, a ’70s and ’80s heartthrob known for his charismatic smile, devil-may-care attitude and luscious mustache. However, before he became a household name, he made a choice that could have altered his career path forever.

Recently resurfaced interviews reveal that legendary leading man Burt Reynolds, who died in September 2018 of a heart attack at the age of 82, was offered a starring role in M*A*S*H, the 1970 film that would become a cultural phenomenon, spawning one of the most successful TV shows in history. His decision to pass and the critical flop he starred in instead became a valuable, albeit painful, learning experience he later regretted.

Reynolds, whose star was rapidly rising in Hollywood in the ‘70s, was the top choice for the part of the rebellious, wisecracking chest surgeon Trapper John McIntyre. Instead, Reynolds chose to star in a different film: an adventure movie called Skullduggery. The decision would prove to be a massive miscalculation.

At the time, Skullduggery may have seemed like a more conventional star vehicle. A genre mash-up of a classic adventure film with courtroom drama undertones, it followed Reynolds’ character on an expedition in New Guinea in which he comes across a tribe that holds the key to understanding the connection between apes and humans.

However, while M*A*S*H went on to become the third-highest-grossing film of its year, according to CheatSheet and a massive critical success, Skullduggery was a notorious critical and financial failure.

Reynolds was quick to admit he had made a mistake, saying in a 1976 interview with Gene Siskel, which SlashFilm recently resurfaced, that while he originally liked the script, his chosen film turned out to be “Badly directed” and “kind of sloughed off.”

He did not stop there, adding, “Susan Clark was good; she’s a good actress. But nobody knew how to sell the picture. Any time you have Pat Suzuki dressed as a small ape, I think you’re in trouble.”

By contrast, it is nearly impossible to overstate just how big M*A*S*H was. Directed by Robert Altman, the film was a brilliant, cynical and deeply satirical piece of art set during the Korean War, which audiences at the time understood as a clear commentary on the ongoing war in Vietnam. It was a massive hit that perfectly captured the counter-culture zeitgeist.

The role of Trapper John, which eventually went to Elliott Gould in the film and Wayne Rogers in the TV show, was a key part of the story’s beloved ensemble alongside Donald Sutherland’s Hawkeye Pierce, a role later popularized by Alan Alda in the TV version. The movie’s success led to the iconic long-running television series that made the character a household name for decades to come.

Passing on M*A*S*H was just one of several massive roles Reynolds famously turned down, a fact he spoke about repeatedly in interviews with his signature humor and honesty.

“Yeah, I would do some things different. But you can’t.” Reynolds reflected in a 2018 interview with USA Today, before quipping, “You can only lie and say that you wouldn’t do things differently.”

Among the other legendary roles he passed on were Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Han Solo in the Star Wars films and John McClane in Die Hard. He even turned down the chance to play James Bond, believing the public would not want an American in the role, which he told USA Todayin 2015, “was a stupid thing to say.” He continued confidently, “I could’ve done it and I could’ve done it well.”

He also passed on the Oscar-winning role of Garrett Breedlove in 1983’s Terms of Endearment, which went to Jack Nicholson.

“I was a fool,” he bluntly told People in 2015, reflecting on that choice.

Despite his regrets, Reynolds’ career was nothing short of iconic. He ultimately found the role that cemented his superstardom just two years after M*A*S*H in 1972’s grueling thriller Deliverance.

From there, he dominated the ’70s and ’80s with a string of massive box-office hits including Smokey and the Bandit, The Longest Yard and Hooper.

While he may have regretted turning down M*A*S*H, among other career “what ifs,” Reynolds was able to keep the loss in perspective.

“I’ve been very, very lucky through ups and downs,” he told USA Today in March 2018, just six months before his death. “When you crash and burn, you have to pick yourself up and go on… And I’ve had a good time through it all.”

Related: ‘70s Music Icon Who Sang ‘M*A*S*H’ Theme Dies at 93

This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.