David Allen Ogden Stiers was born on October 31, 1942, in Peoria, Illinois, to Kenneth Truman Stiers and Margaret Elizabeth Stiers (née Ogden). His father worked as an accountant and lumber salesman.
As a teenager, Stiers moved with his family to Eugene, Oregon. He graduated from North Eugene High School and briefly attended the University of Oregon. In 1969, he moved to New York City to study drama and music at the Juilliard School, completing his training in 1972.
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | David Allen Ogden Stiers |
| Birthday | October 31, 1942 |
| Birthplace | Peoria, Illinois, United States |
| Parents | Kenneth Truman Stiers and Margaret Elizabeth Stiers |
| Education | Studied drama and music at the Juilliard School |
| Broadway Debut | The Three Sisters in 1973 |
| Breakthrough Role | Feldman in The Magic Show |
| Famous TV Role | Major Charles Emerson Winchester III in MASH* |
| Years on MASH* | 1977–1983 |
| Emmy Nominations | Three supporting-actor nominations |
| Famous Disney Voice | Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast |
| Other Voice Work | Pocahontas and the Lilo & Stitch films |
| Theater Role | General Henry Waverly in White Christmas |
| Conducting Career | Guest-conducted more than 30 American orchestras |
| Net Worth | Not officially confirmed at the time of his death |
Breaking into Broadway with The Magic Show
After graduating from Juilliard in 1972, Stiers began his stage career in New York. He made his Broadway debut in 1973 as Kulygin in The Three Sisters and appeared that year in revivals of The Beggar’s Opera, Measure for Measure, and Scapin. His breakthrough came in 1974 when he originated the role of Feldman in Bob Randall and Stephen Schwartz’s musical The Magic Show. He played Feldman throughout the production’s original four-year run, establishing himself as a versatile Broadway character actor.
Establishing a Television Legacy Through M*A*S*H
In 1977, Stiers joined the CBS television series M*A*S*H as Major Charles Emerson Winchester III and remained in the role through the final episode in 1983. His portrayal of the patrician, snobbish surgeon earned him widespread recognition and two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor. Major Winchester became one of the show’s most memorable characters, and Stiers’s nuanced performance contributed to its critical and popular success during its final years.
Expanding into Film with Memorable Character Roles
Stiers also built a steady film career, often appearing in supporting roles that suited his urbane presence. From the late 1970s onward, he appeared in a range of feature films, including the comedy Oh, God! (1977), in which he played a New York produce manager, and the drama The Accidental Tourist (1988), in which he portrayed a careful professional. In 1995, he appeared in Woody Allen’s Mighty Aphrodite, alongside other character roles. These performances demonstrated both his dramatic skill and comic timing.
He also received another Emmy nomination for a supporting role in the 1984 HBO miniseries The First Olympics: Athens 1896.
Becoming a Leading Voice Actor in Animation
Beginning in the early 1990s, Stiers became a prolific voice actor in animated films, particularly for Disney. He was best known for voicing Cogsworth the clock in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991), bringing his warm, distinctive voice to a new audience. He later voiced characters in other animated features, including Pocahontas and the Lilo & Stitch films. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he appeared in dozens of animated projects and became one of Disney’s most frequently heard character voices.
Returning to the Stage in Later Theater Productions
Stiers continued working in theater alongside his screen career. In 1994, he returned to Broadway as the prologue narrator in the stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.
In the mid-2000s, he starred as General Henry Waverly in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Over several years, he led touring productions of the musical in Los Angeles, St. Paul, and Detroit before bringing the role to Broadway in 2009. These engagements kept him connected with live theater audiences well into the later years of his career.
Pursuing a Parallel Career as an Orchestral Conductor
Stiers also maintained a lifelong passion for classical music. He made his conducting debut unexpectedly in 1980 after a casual remark to a reporter led to an invitation to conduct the Portland (Maine) Symphony in a benefit concert. He later joked that he had effectively “conned” his way into the opportunity.
He became a sought-after guest conductor, leading more than thirty American orchestras in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Honolulu, Chicago, and San Diego. In 1993, he co-founded the Newport Symphony Orchestra in Oregon and served as its Associate, and later Resident, Conductor until 2018. In that role, he programmed and conducted full symphony performances.
Balancing Acting and Classical Music Throughout His Career
Stiers balanced acting with his work in music throughout his life. He continued taking screen and voice roles while accepting conducting engagements whenever possible. Even during his years on M*A*S*H, he made time to conduct. After the series ended, he often alternated between film and television work and concert appearances.
Colleagues and critics frequently described him as a “renaissance man” of the arts because he remained active in “acting, conducting symphony orchestras, doing voiceovers and animation work” at the same time. His work across stage, screen, voice acting, and orchestral music remained a defining part of his professional life and legacy.
David Ogden Stiers Net Worth
At the time of his death, David Ogden Stiers’ net worth had not been officially confirmed. He earned income from acting in film, television, and theater, voice acting in animated productions, and conducting orchestras. Specific earnings figures from these sources were not publicly disclosed.
FAQs
What other major television role did David Ogden Stiers have after M*A*S*H?
He played Reverend Gene Purdy in the television series The Dead Zone, a recurring role that continued into the 2000s.
Which characters did David Ogden Stiers voice in Pocahontas?
He voiced Governor Ratcliffe and Wiggins in Disney’s Pocahontas (1995).
Who did David Ogden Stiers voice in the Lilo & Stitch franchise?
He voiced Dr. Jumba Jookiba, the scientist who created Stitch, and reprised the role in sequels and related television productions.
Did David Ogden Stiers work on Japanese animated films?
Yes. He voiced Kamaji in the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.
Did David Ogden Stiers appear in the Star Trek franchise?
Yes. He played Dr. Timicin in the 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode “Half a Life.”
Was David Ogden Stiers primarily known for leading roles?
No. Much of his career consisted of supporting and character roles in television, film, theater, and animation.
