'MASH' Star William Christopher Dead at 84 
 
 "Mash" star William Christopher dead at 84 
 
 Breaking News 
 
 "MASH" star William Christopher -- who played Father John Mulcahy on the iconic show -- is the latest celebrity to die in 2016. 
 
 Christopher was part of one of the most spectacular ensembles ever on TV ... a cast which included Alan Alda, Jamie Farr, Mike Farrell, Loretta Swit and Harry Morgan. 
 
 Christopher, who played a Catholic priest but was actually Methodist in real life, auditioned for the role but went off script with a rambling ad lib. Producers loved it and hired him on one condition ... that he stay on script for the series. 
 
 He also had roles on "Gomer Pyle," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Hogan's Heroes." 
 
 Christopher died at his Pasadena home from non-lung, small cell carcinoma. He leaves behind a wife and 2 kids. 
 
 He was 84. RIP. 
 
 2016 ... almost over. 

 "He would have been known to the other MASH cast with going around with a copy of 'The Iliad' and working on that," his son said. 

 William Christopher, who rose to fame playing Father John Mulcahy on M*A*S*H, has died, his rep confirmed to PEOPLE. He was 84. 
 
 According to his rep, Christopher died at 5:10 a.m. PT on Saturday morning with his wife nearby. Christopher’s son, John Christopher, told ABC that the actor died from a non-small cell lung carcinoma at his home in Pasadena, California, on Saturday. 
 
 According to his rep, Christopher was diagnosed with cancer a year and a half ago. He had begun a new treatment about a month ago but his health deteriorated “about a week ago.” He entered hospice care on Monday, Dec. 26. 
 
 “[He was] not in pain he went peacefully,” his rep said. 
 
 Christopher, had a long list of TV credits, including appearances on Hogan’s Heroes, Gomer Pyle: USMC and The Love Boat. He also did voice-over work for the 1980s hit Smurfs. He most recently portayed Father Tobais in a 11-episode guest stint on Days of Our Lives in 2012. 
 
 Christopher, who was a real-life Methodist priest according to TMZ, often played men of God in his frequent TV appearances. 
 
 The actor, who was born in Evanston, Illinois, is survived but his wife Barbara, and their two sons, John and Ned. 

 From left to right: Loretta Swit, Mike Farrell, Jamie Farr, Harry Morgan, Alan Alda and William Christopher during the taping of the final episode of "*M*A*S*H" in January 1983. 
 
 From left to right: William Christopher, Harry Morgan, Mike Farrell, Alan Alda, and Jamie Farr, take a break on the set of "M*A*S*H" in Los Angeles on Sept. 15, 1982. 
 
 "Our dear Bill and his goodness are a great argument for there being a heaven. I never heard him complain or lose his temper. Everyone adored him. A great sense of humor and a great humanitarian. He became TV's quintessential padre as Father Mulcahy on 'M*A*S*H.' It was the most perfect casting ever known. He was probably responsible for more people coming back to the church. If God is nigh, then surely he or she will welcome Bill with open arms." 
 
 William Christopher, the actor best known for his role as Father John Mulcahy on the hit TV show "M*A*S*H," died on Saturday, his family confirmed to Eyewitness News.His son, John Christopher, said the actor died from non-small cell lung cancer at his home in Pasadena.He was 84.The actor played the role of Father John Mulcahy on "M*A*S*H" from 1972 to 1983 and in the follow-up series "After M*A*S*H*" from 1983 to 1985.He also had parts in the movies "The Fortune Cookie" and "With Six You Get Eggroll," and the TV shows "Hogan's Heroes" and "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."His agent, Robert Malcom, told the Associated Press that William Christopher was diagnosed with cancer more than a year ago and had been in hospice since the beginning of the week."M*A*S*H" co-star Loretta Swit released the following statement to Eyewitness News:William Christopher leaves behind his wife Barbara and his sons John and Ned.
– William Christopher, the actor best known for his role as the gentle "Father Mulcahy" in MASH, has died at the age of 84, his rep confirms to People. Christopher's son, John Christopher, tells KABC that his father died at his home in Pasadena, Calif., after a battle with non-small cell lung cancer. "[He was] not in pain, he went peacefully," the rep tells People, noting that Christopher had been diagnosed about a year and a half ago and that his health had declined "about a week ago," sending the actor into hospice care the day after Christmas. Christopher's most famous character was a Roman Catholic priest, though the actor was Methodist in real life, per TMZ, which adds he got the gig on MASH after an audition that floored producers with a "rambling ad lib." The Los Angeles Times notes he played Father Mulcahy from 1972 to 1983, then again from 1983 to 1985 in the spinoff After MASH. John Christopher says his dad was somewhat like Father Mulcahy, telling the Times "he was a very sensitive man. He was a very thoughtful person." Christopher also had roles on such shows as Hogan's Heroes, Gomer Pyle, USMC, and The Love Boat, and he supplied voice-overs for the cartoon The Smurfs. Christopher is survived by his wife, Barbara, and his two sons, John and Ned.