Linda Meiklejohn was an American actress who played the recurring role of Lieutenant Leslie Scorch on the CBS-TV series MAS*H in eight episodes in Seasons 1 and 2. She also appeared in other popular TV shows and movies in the 1960s and 1970s. She was born on August 9, 1943 in Los Angeles, California, as Linda Lee Meiklejohn. Her father, William Meiklejohn, was a casting director who is credited with bringing Ronald Reagan to the attention of executives at Warner Brothers studio.
Early Career and MAS*H
Linda Meiklejohn began her acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in several films such as My Blood Runs Cold (1966) and The Ballad of Josie (1967). She also guest-starred on various TV shows such as That Girl, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Courtship of Eddie’s Father, and The Mod Squad. She played the recurring role of Hilda in four episodes of Mayberry R.F.D., a spin-off of The Andy Griffith Show.
Her most notable role was that of Lieutenant Leslie Scorch, a nurse who frequented Henry Blake’s company in the first season of MASH. She appeared as early as the very first episode, “MASH the Pilot”, and continued to appear sporadically until the second season. She was one of the few female characters who had a speaking role on the show, and often served as a comic relief or a romantic interest for the male characters.
Later Years and Death
Linda Meiklejohn’s acting career slowed down after her stint on MAS*H. She appeared in only a few more TV shows and movies, such as Love, American Style, A Reason to Live (1985), and The Return of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer (1986). She also worked as a voice actress for animated shows such as The Smurfs and The Flintstone Kids.
She died on July 3, 2017 at the age of 73. According to IMDb, she passed away from natural causes. She was survived by her husband, Robert E. Lee Jr., whom she married in 1971, and her two children, Robert E. Lee III and Jennifer Lee.
Linda Meiklejohn was a talented actress who brought joy and laughter to many viewers with her performances. She will always be remembered for her role as Lieutenant Leslie Scorch on MAS*H, one of the most beloved TV shows of all time.
