David Allen Ogden Stiers, born on October 31, 1942, in Peoria, Illinois, was a distinguished American actor and conductor whose multifaceted career spanned stage, television, and film. He is best remembered for his iconic portrayal of the pompous yet brilliant Major Charles Emerson Winchester III, MD, on the landmark television series MASH, a role he inhabited from 1977 until the show's conclusion in 1983. This performance earned Stiers two Emmy Award nominations and cemented his place in television history. Before his breakthrough on MASH, Stiers honed his craft on the Broadway stage, originating the role of Feldman in the 1974 musical The Magic Show, demonstrating a versatility that would define his long career.

Stiers' deep, resonant voice became his signature, leading to an extensive and beloved career in voice acting. He lent his distinctive vocal talents to numerous Disney animated classics, most memorably as the fussy, British-accented Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast in 1991, and as the villainous Governor Ratcliffe and his sycophantic aide Wiggins in Pocahontas in 1995. He also brought to life the eccentric alien scientist Dr. Jumba Jookiba in the Lilo & Stitch franchise. Beyond Disney, his voice graced the English-language dub of Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece Spirited Away as the spirit Kamaji, and he narrated M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water in 2006.

In addition to his voice work, Stiers maintained a steady presence on live-action television throughout the 1980s and beyond. He was a prominent fixture in the Perry Mason television film series, playing District Attorney Michael Reston. Later in his career, he took on the recurring role of Reverend Gene Purdy on the supernatural drama The Dead Zone from 2002 to 2007, and joined the cast of Stargate: Atlantis in its third season as the cold and calculating Oberoth, leader of the human-form replicators. He continued to contribute voice work in his later years, including a recurring role on the animated series Regular Show.

Stiers' artistic passions extended far beyond acting. He was an accomplished conductor who spent his later years as the music director and conductor of the Newport Symphony Orchestra in Oregon. He also conducted for numerous other orchestras across the United States and Canada, bringing classical music to new audiences. David Ogden Stiers passed away on March 3, 2018, at the age of 75, leaving behind a rich and diverse legacy as a consummate performer whose work on both screen and stage continues to be celebrated.