Longtime portrayer of TV’s Captain Pierce - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

This clue is a classic piece of television trivia that will be instantly recognizable to many solvers, especially those familiar with 20th-century American pop culture. It asks for the last name of the actor who played a beloved character on a landmark TV show.

Clue Analysis

The clue "Longtime portrayer of TV's Captain Pierce" can be broken down into two key parts:

"Longtime portrayer": This signals we are looking for an actor's name.
"TV's Captain Pierce": This identifies the specific role. The character is Captain Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce, the witty, cynical, and compassionate chief surgeon in the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital.

The show in question is, of course, MASH*. Crosswords often use surnames for famous individuals, so we're looking for the last name of the actor who famously brought Hawkeye to life.

Thinking Approaches

Direct Recall: For many, the name of the actor who played Hawkeye Pierce is as well-known as the character himself. If you watched MASH* or are familiar with its cast, the answer will likely come to you immediately. This is the most direct path.
Contextual Association: If the name isn't on the tip of your tongue, think about the show MASH*. What do you know about it? It was set during the Korean War, it was a comedy-drama, and it had a huge ensemble cast. Who was the main star? Visualizing the character or the show's promotional materials might help jog your memory.
Using Crossings: This is a four-letter answer. If you're stuck, getting even one or two crossing letters can be a massive help. For instance, if you have A _ _ A, the answer becomes much easier to guess. If you have _ L D _, the possibilities narrow significantly. This is a fundamental crossword-solving strategy when direct knowledge fails.

Background Context

The actor in question is Alan Alda. He portrayed Captain "Hawkeye" Pierce for the entire 11-season run of the CBS television series MASH* (1972-1983). The role earned him five Emmy Awards and made him a household name.

MASH* is considered one of the greatest television shows of all time. Its final episode, "Goodbye, Farewell and Amen," remains one of the most-watched television broadcasts in American history.

Beyond MASH*, Alda has had a distinguished career in film, television, and theater. He is also a passionate advocate for science communication, having hosted the PBS series Scientific American Frontiers and founded the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science. His name is a crossword staple due to his fame and the friendly combination of common letters in his surname.

Conclusion

This clue is a perfect example of a straightforward trivia question that rewards a solver's knowledge of television history. The fame of both the actor and the show makes it a fair and common entry in crossword puzzles. For newer solvers, it's a great piece of pop culture to add to your crossword vocabulary.

Hints

Hint 1: The clue refers to the lead actor of a highly acclaimed TV series set during the Korean War.
Hint 2: The show was a "dramedy" known for its ensemble cast, and the character's nickname was "Hawkeye".
Hint 3: The actor in question also hosted the PBS series Scientific American Frontiers for many years.
Hint 4: His first name is Alan.