Burt Metcalfe (born Burton Metcalfe on March 19, 1935 in Saskatchewan, Canada) is a Canadian American television and film producer, director, and writer. Burt is married to actress Jan Jorden, who appeared in nine episodes as Nurse Baker on the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H, where he first began working as a line producer before taking over the reins as the new series executive producer from Gene Reynolds in Season 6, one season after Reynolds assumed the role after series co-creator Larry Gelbart departed the series in Season 5.
Biography[]
In 1956-1957, Metcalfe was drafted as an enlisted man into the United States Navy, serving two years. He was stationed at Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach (now Ream Field), San Ysidro, San Diego, California, where he held a public relations position. During this period, Metcalfe acting as the lead, working closely with some of his fellow enlisted comrades created the "Miss Angel" beauty contest. An "Angel" in Navy terms meaning a helicopter that would swoop in saving downed pilots who ditched their aircraft in the sea and in some cases on land. Ream Field at that time was virtually the "helicopter capitol of the world".
In 1960-1961, Metcalfe landed an acting role as Joe Brigham in the NBC-TV sitcom Happy, starring Ronnie Burns as the manager of a Palm Springs, California, hotel and the father of a talking baby nicknamed "Happy". His most notable work was as a writer for the hit CBS-TV series, M*A*S*H, and he was the only producer to stay with the TV series during its entire run from 1972-1983. Originally the series' associate producer, Metcalfe was promoted to line producer in 1976 when Larry Gelbart left the series and then to executive producer in 1977, when Gene Reynolds moved on to become executive producer for the CBS-TV series Lou Grant.
Career achievements[]
Metcalfe has been nominated 13 times for Primetime Emmy Awards his work as a sketch writer for his work on the series M*A*S*H, from 1975 through 1983.
Metcalfe also served as the executive producer for the M*A*S*H 30th Anniversary Reunion Special which aired on FOX-TV in September 2002.
Personal life[]
Metcalfe is married to actress Jan Jorden, who appeared as Nurse Baker in 9 episodes of M*A*S*H from 1978-1983.