William Christopher, known as both Days of our Lives' Father Tobias and M.A.S.H.'s Father John Mulcahy, died Saturday, December 31 from a non-small cell lung carcinoma. He was 84.
According to the Illinois native's rep, the actor was diagnosed with cancer 18 months ago and had been undergoing treatment. His health began declining last week, but the rep says he was "not in pain and went peacefully."
Christopher's most recent acting job was that of DAYS' Tobias, a role he played on a recurring basis back in 2012. But he has a lengthy resume that includes roles on shows like The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan's Heroes, Gomer Pyle: USMC, Nichols, and M.A.S.H.. He also voiced the character of Angel Smurf on the classic 1980s cartoon The Smurfs.
Says his former M.A.S.H. co-star Loretta Swift (Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan), "Everyone adored him. [He had] a great sense of humor and [was] a great humanitarian. He became TV's quintessential padre."