The entertainment world lost a talented performer this week as Patrick Adiarte, best known for his role in the first season of MAS*H, passed away at 82. The Filipino-American actor, whose career spanned musical theater, film, and television, died from pneumonia in a Los Angeles hospital according to his niece Stephanie Hogan.
Adiarte’s most recognizable role came as Ho-Jon, the camp houseboy in the groundbreaking war comedy MAS*H during its debut 1972-1973 season. Though his character disappeared after season one (explained as leaving for American education), the performance remained memorable in the show’s legacy. But Adiarte’s talents extended far beyond this single role.
A gifted dancer since childhood, Adiarte first gained attention as one of the royal children in the 1956 film adaptation of “The King and I.” His early life read like a movie script – born in Manila in 1943, he survived World War II imprisonment before immigrating to America where he and his dancer mother performed in the Broadway production of the same musical. With help from then-Senator John F. Kennedy, the family finally secured U.S. citizenship in 1956.
Adiarte’s career flourished through the 1960s with roles in “Flower Drum Song” (both stage and screen versions) and appearances alongside legends like Gene Kelly, who once praised him as potentially “the next Fred Astaire.” His television work included guest spots on classic shows from “Hawaii Five-O” to “The Brady Bunch,” showcasing his versatility as both actor and dancer. Even in later years, he shared his passion by teaching dance at Santa Monica College.
