When David Ogden Stiers first stepped onto the set of MASH* in 1977, he didn't just bring a refined Boston accent. He brought a literal shadow. At 6 feet 4 inches (193 cm), Stiers was a massive physical presence in the 4077th. Most people remember the voice—that deep, honeyed baritone that later gave life to Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast—but his height was a huge part of how he built his characters.
Think about it.
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The man was a giant.
In the cramped quarters of a mobile army hospital, David Ogden Stiers' height made him look like a misplaced statue from a Boston museum. It wasn't just about being tall; it was about the way he used those inches to convey the elitism of Major Charles Emerson Winchester III.
The Physicality of Major Winchester
If you’ve ever watched the show, you've probably noticed how Winchester towers over Radar O'Reilly. Gary Burghoff, who played Radar, stood at about 5'6". That’s nearly a foot of difference. When they shared a frame, it looked like a comedy sketch.
But it worked.
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The height gap emphasized the class divide. Winchester was "above" the others in his mind, and Stiers made sure he was "above" them in the lens too. He carried himself with a rigid, almost military posture that made him seem even taller than his 6'4" frame. Honestly, it’s one of the reasons he was such a perfect replacement for Larry Linville’s Frank Burns. Burns was a sniveling, wiry antagonist. Winchester, thanks to Stiers, was a formidable, physically imposing intellectual.
Why David Ogden Stiers Height Mattered in Hollywood
In Hollywood, 6'4" is "leading man" height, but Stiers was rarely the traditional romantic lead. Instead, he used his stature to play figures of authority or immense wisdom.
Take his voice acting work.
You might think height doesn't matter in a recording booth, but voice directors like Don Hahn and Gary Trousdale (who worked on Beauty and the Beast) often talk about how an actor’s physical "instrument" affects the sound. A man with a 6'4" frame has a larger chest cavity. That translates to resonance. It’s why his voice sounded like it was coming from a deep canyon.
- He played Governor Ratcliffe in Pocahontas.
- He was Jumba Jookiba in Lilo & Stitch.
- He narrated American Experience for years.
Basically, his height helped build the "bigness" of his vocal performances. You can hear the weight of his physical size in every syllable.
Comparing Stiers to the Rest of the MAS*H Cast
It’s fun to look at the "height chart" of the 4077th. While Stiers was the tallest, he wasn't the only big guy on set.
- Alan Alda (Hawkeye Pierce): 6'2"
- Mike Farrell (B.J. Hunnicutt): 6'3"
- Wayne Rogers (Trapper John): 6'3"
- Harry Morgan (Colonel Potter): 5'6"
See the pattern? The "surgeons" were almost all tall men. But Stiers still edged them out. When Winchester, Hawkeye, and B.J. stood together, they were a trio of giants. Yet, Stiers always felt like the biggest person in the room because of his energy. He didn't slouch.
The Mystery of the "6'6" Rumor
Kinda funny thing happens with tall actors: people tend to exaggerate. For years, fan forums and early internet trivia sites claimed David Ogden Stiers' height was 6'6".
It wasn't.
That likely came from fans seeing him next to shorter guest stars or perhaps just the "larger than life" aura he projected. Official biographies and talent agency records consistently pegged him at 6'4". Honestly, once you pass 6'2", people just start guessing based on how much they have to crane their necks.
Beyond the Inches: The Man Himself
Stiers was a complex guy. Beyond being a tall actor, he was a deeply talented conductor. He guest-conducted over 70 orchestras. If you see photos of him on a podium, his height is even more striking. He looks like he’s looming over the woodwinds.
He was also a very private person. It wasn't until 2009 that he publicly came out as gay, noting that he had stayed in the closet for years fearing it would affect his career in an era that wasn't as accepting as today. He spent his later years in Newport, Oregon, a place he loved for its quiet beauty.
When he passed away in 2018 from bladder cancer, the world lost more than just a "tall actor." We lost a man who understood that presence isn't just about how many inches you are from the ground; it's about what you do with the space you occupy.
What You Should Do Now
If you’re a fan of David’s work or just curious about the history of MASH*, here are a few ways to appreciate his legacy beyond his physical stats:
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- Watch "The General Flipped at Dawn": Before he was cast as Winchester, Stiers appeared in an earlier episode as a different character. It’s a great way to see his range before he became a series regular.
- Listen to the Beauty and the Beast Soundtrack: Seriously. Listen to the prologue. That’s him narrating. The richness of his voice—bolstered by that 6'4" frame—sets the entire mood for the film.
- Visit the Newport Symphony Orchestra website: He was a huge part of their history. Supporting local classical music is a great way to honor his memory.
- Pay attention to the framing: Next time you watch a Winchester scene, look at how the directors used his height to make him feel isolated from the "common" soldiers. It was a brilliant, subtle piece of character work.
David Ogden Stiers was a big man with an even bigger heart and a talent that couldn't be measured in feet and inches. Whether he was towering over a patient in a fictional Korea or leading a symphony in Oregon, he always stood tall.
Key Takeaways for Fans
- Exact Height: David Ogden Stiers was 6'4" (1.93 meters).
- Presence: He used his height to emphasize the aristocratic nature of Charles Emerson Winchester III.
- Voice: His large physical stature contributed to the deep resonance of his iconic voice acting.
- Legacy: He was a conductor, a Juilliard graduate, and a beloved member of the MASH* family.
To truly understand his impact, go back and watch his final scene in the MASH* finale, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen." Notice how he seems to shrink emotionally while remaining physically imposing. That was the magic of Stiers: he could be a giant and a heartbroken man all at once.
Check out some of his later work in The Dead Zone or his voice work in Regular Show to see how he aged into his "stately" years. His height remained a hallmark of his characters until the very end.