Trivia

The unexpected death of Stevenson's "Henry Blake" character from M*A*S*H (1972) at the end of the third (1975) season (plane crash on the way back to the States) caused such a strong fan backlash, with countless letters of hate mail being received over the character's death, that the show's writers and producers all agreed that in the future, should one of their actors wish to leave, they would never give that actor's character a tragic send-off.

To research for his role as an army surgeon on M*A*S*H (1972), McLean Stevenson thoroughly studied a book on the history of medicine loaned from Alan Alda. Months later, that knowledge proved extremely useful when he came upon a person who was critically wounded in a car accident. Drawing on his research, he was able to keep the person alive until help arrived.

Was still in the hospital recovering from surgery when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest and died.

Originally auditioned for the role of "Hawkeye Pierce" on M*A*S*H (1972) before being convinced to take the role of "Henry Blake".

After the news of Col. Blake's death on M*A*S*H (1972) (He left at the end of the third season) shocked the world, the very next night on The Carol Burnett Show (1967), the opening shot was of Henry Blake in a smoking raft, waving his arms, hollering, "I'm OK! I'm OK!".

Stevenson died one day before Roger Bowen. Bowen played the role of "Col. Henry Blake" in the movie, M*A*S*H (1970); Stevenson played the role on TV's M*A*S*H (1972).

In the season finale of the first season of M*A*S*H (1972), the name of his character's (Henry Blake) wife is Mildred. In the second season, her name was changed to Lorraine. When he was replaced by Harry Morgan, Morgan's character, Colonel Potter, had a wife named Mildred.

Was friends in real life with Larry Linville, who played Maj. Frank Burns on M*A*S*H. Linville said in a Howard Stern interview that Stevenson admitted to Linville that he left the show too early.

Briefly worked as an assistant Athletic Director for Notre Dame.

Was press secretary for his cousin Adlai Stevenson during the latter's two presidential campaigns.

Cousin of Democratic presidential candidate (1952 and 1956) Adlai Stevenson.

Good friend of Harry Morgan from 1974-96.

One legacy of Stevenson is a word coined from his first name. "McLeaning" is a term used in media, especially television, to refer to cases when a character is killed off because the actor who played him decided to leave the show, as happened to "Henry Blake", when McLean Stevenson left M*A*S*H (1972).

Interred at Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills), Hollywood, California, USA, in the Columbarium of Valor.

Served in the Navy.

Great-grandson of William Stevenson whose brother was Vice-President Adlai E. Stevenson, who served under President Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897.

He appeared with Harry Morgan ((Col. Sherman Potter, his successor on M*A*S*H (1972)) in the 1978 film The Cat from Outer Space (1978).

McLean's father was Edgar McLean Stevenson, whose mother was named Lottie Bell McLean. He was born and raised in McLean County, Illinois.

Was friends with Alan Alda and Gene Rayburn.

Spoke often at youth groups and organizations promoting the acting field.

Father of son Jeff MacGregor and daughters Lindsey Stevenson and Jennifer Stevenson.

Brother of Ann Whitney.

Was a contestant on the CBS game show Password in the 1960s. Was mentioned during McLean's appearance on Password Plus in 1980.