Eileen Saki Rosie on ‘M*A*S*H,’ dies at 79

On Monday in Los Angeles, Eileen Saki, who played Rosie the pub owner on ‘M*A*S*H’, passed away after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. They put her age at 79. Her representative told Variety of Saki’s passing. The TV show “M*A*S*H,” which was based on a real hospital that treated Korean War casualties, featured the actor in nine episodes. It was on television from 1972 till 1983.

Saki portrayed the bar’s proprietor, Rosie, in the part of “Rosie’s Bar.” She stepped into the role longer than any other performer had before or after. Her acting career progressed, and she went on to appear in films and television shows including “Splash” (1984) starring Tom Hanks, “CHiPs,” and “The History of the World, Part I.” Saki told her “M*A*S*H” co-star Jeff Maxwell on the “M*A*S*H Matters” podcast that she was the daughter of a gardener and was born in Japan. “I was raised in Japan, came here, English is my second language, but I knew at the age of four that I was going to be a performer,” Saki remarked. “We were dirt poor, and I think deep down inside I always yearned to be somebody else. I want my life to be more positive and exciting.

She eventually got cast as Rosie in “M*A*S*H” after sneaking into the Fox lot and seeing casting director Burt Metcalf. Saki joined the cast of “History of the World, Part I” after leaving “M*A*S*H” because she asked Metcalf if he had any other work for her. In 2004, Saki beat lung cancer and went back to doing what she loves: performing. Recently, she appeared in an advertisement for Uber Eats set to air in 2022.

Eileen Saki Cause of Death

Tragically, Eileen Saki, who played Rosie, the boss of the famous drinking place frequented by Hawkeye Pierce, Hot Lips Houlihan, and other members of the 4077th, has passed away. They put her age at 79.

Camilla Fluxman Pines, Saki’s representative, informed The Hollywood Reporter that her client passed away in Los Angeles on Monday following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

From 1976 until the end of the CBS series in 1981, the hilarious Saki featured as the proprietor of Rose’s Bar, which truly existed in Seoul during the Korean War. (Shizuko Hoshi and Frances Fong portrayed previous incarnations of Rosie.)

Who Was Eileen Saki?

Born in Japan on November 18, 1943, Japanese-American actress Eileen Saki portrayed the part of “Rosie” for eight episodes over M*A*S*H’s final two seasons. The show ran for a total of 11 seasons, from 1972 to 1983. In season 5 of the show, she played the head Madam of a timid group of prostitutes; she is rumored to have gotten the part of ‘Rosie’ because, in real life, a pub called Rosie’s existed during the Korean War, and its ownership was passed down from mother to daughter.

Source: Cnn

In the early 1980s, the real Rosie Jr. wrote to Alan Alda about the incident, and a copy of the letter is included in the book “The Last Days of M*A*S*H” written by Alan and Arlene Alda. Alan Alda was Eileen Saki’s co-star. After that, she continued to act on television in shows like “CHiPs,” “Good Times,” “Gimme a Break!” and “Without a Trace,” as well as in films like “History of the World” (1981) and “Part I with Mel Brooks” (1982), and “Splash” (1984) with Tom Hanks. Before Eileen Saki passed away, she appeared in a commercial for Uber Eats with Los Angeles Rams player Aaron Donald.

What Is The Name Of Eileen Saki’s Husband?

It is unknown when the pair were married or whether they had any children, however, according to the Eileen Saki wiki, Bob Borgen is the name of Eileen Saki’s spouse and the two were together from 1988 until Eileen Saki’s death. Bob Borgen, Eileen Saki’s husband, is an American freelance writer, producer, and consultant for the NHL Network and the NHL History & Trivia Projects. He formerly worked as a producer for Fox Sports and FSN West.

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