RIP Kellye Nakahara

MASH really was a family. Everyone on the set was treated equally. There was no hierarchy between the cast and the extras, and the crew for that matter. No diva treatment. No shunning day players or cable pullers. Many days we all had lunch at the Mess Tent. A table could contain Alan Alda, an extra, the showrunner, the make up person, a day player, and a Teamster driver.  In other words, not like any High School you ever attended. 

As a result, we all got to know the extras and whenever we could, we gave them lines (which meant considerably more income for them). Jeff Maxwell (Igor) and Kellye Nakahara (Nurse Kellye) were two who over their years of service emerged and were in so many scenes they almost were members of the cast – credits-wise. But to us they were always members of the cast – as was Roy Goldman, Nurse Sherry, Nurse Gwen, and a rotating group that included Judy Farrell, Bobbi Mitchell, and Enid Kent.

So when I heard the news that Kellye Nakahara passed away at the age of 72 yesterday, I was heartbroken. She wasn’t just a co-worker from long ago. She was such a lovely person, had such a wonderful spirit, and brightened everyone’s day. And she was a terrific actress. Every line we gave her she delivered with honesty and warmth. We even gave her jokes. To me Kellye Nakahara was as much a part of MASH as the names you see in big block yellow stencil letters in the opening credits.

Longtime fans of the show began to recognize her. And because MASH has been so successful in syndication, her episodes and memory will live on. She was a dear heart. I will miss her.  We lost a member of the family.  Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen.

from By Ken Levine