8 Actors Who Regretted Quitting Popular TV Shows
3. McLean Stevenson - M*A*S*H
With a show as popular as M*A*S*H in the 70s and Emmy nominations under your belt, the desire to leave to pursue bigger options in Hollywood is tempting.
McLean Stevenson left the hit show and the character of Henry Blake after only two seasons, believing that his stardom would carry him through bigger and better career options. The show's writer confirmed that Stevenson's departure was because he wanted to be "number one" rather than part of an ensemble.
Unfortunately, his next few shows - including a self-titled sitcom - bombed hard, and he lamented in 1991 that he "made the mistake of believing that people were enamoured of McLean Stevenson when the person they were enamoured of was Henry Blake.”
He went on to say that he had "never been able to work with a group that’s as talented or scripts that are as good" since leaving, showing that ambition for greater things doesn't always pay off.