William Christopher

If one were to hear the phrase "boxing priest," only one actor would come to mind - William Christopher - who had the heaven-sent fortune of playing Father Francis Mulcahy on the groundbreaking comedy, "M*A*S*H" (CBS, 1972-1983) for eleven seasons. Christopher's grandmother prayed he'd become a real priest like his grandfather (who was a founder of the First Methodist Church of Chicago) but from the time the youngster first found himself enraptured watching a school play, he knew he wanted to take to the stage. After nearly four decades in entertainment and credits ranging from Neil Simon plays to voiceovers for Saturday morning kiddie shows, it was his performance on "M*A*S*H" as the quirky, dry-witted priest who often surprised himself with his own strength. A similar process of self-discovery played out off screen as well, as he and his wife Barbara struggled with the challenges of raising an autistic son. As a result, Christopher's acting appearances grew further apart in the years after "M*A*S*H" wrapped, with him becoming increasingly active in education and autism fundraising - including co-authoring a book with his wife on their experiences with the puzzling emotional and developmental disease. The one-time TV Father's kind face and gentle demeanor continued to offer hope in unexpected places. William Christopher's death on December 31, 2016 at the age of 84 was met with sorrow from fans and peers from across his varied and compelling life.