Arbus played that character to perfection.
You've seen Guy Standeven in something because the man was in everything.

I never did like the first few seasons of MASH since it made war look comedic not to mention Hawkeye and Trapper John bullying Frank Burns. Yeah, Major Burns was an idiot but that is no excuse him being a punching bag for Hawkeye's jokes and pranks. When
I started liking the show when Colonel Potter and Major Winchester came aboard, they started treating the war more seriously and I did like it when Winchester threw Hawkeye's jokes and pranks right back at him and Potter cracking on Hawkeye when Hawkeye step out of line. I also like it when Winchester did not take garbarge from Major Houglian. I did like Sidney Freedman especially when one espisode he came to MASH to get away from his place of work because business as he stated was getting too good.

So very sad to hear that he has passed away. RIP Alan, I hope that you had a wonderful life. You were one of my very favourite MASH characters of all.
"Ladies and gentlemen, take my advice: Pull down your pants and slide on the ice."
Classic
If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning

loved allan arbus as sidney freedman! of all the semi-regulars, his character, sidney freedman, was the sanest!

Once Wayne Rogers left MASH, I didn't watch it again. Never did like Alan Alda and Mike Farrell is terrible at comedy. The episodes that got me back over the next several years were those with Sidney. I love him. I now have a DVR and have taped all the episodes Allan Arbus was in (11 and will tape the finale whenever they show it again) just so I can see him whenever I want. He is truly a treasure.
"I'm a paranoid schizophrenic. I AM my own entourage!"

He had a great line on MAS*H, "Take my advice, pull down your pants, and slide on the ice"
Paul Calderon

My very favorite is "Dear Sigmund" when he's writing letters to Freud.he has this wonderful scene where he tells about a patient who committed suicide :and then this sweet wonderful kidlistened to the voices" breaks my heart every time i see it
I also like the episode with the soldier who thinks he's Jesus Christ and episode where the whole camp builds a bonfire as therapy.
Mind you I like them all but those are favorites
It is not our abilities that make us who we areit is our choices

"Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advice: pull down your pants and slide on the ice." Best Sidney Freedman line.
Picture your grandmother in Hell, baking pies without an oven.

He and Edward Winter as Colonel Flagg stole the show every time they were on. Freedman and Flagg were two of the best characters ever.

Im sure Alan Alda is devastated. Surprised he hasnt made a public announcement about his "friend". Dont know if they were still close after the show was over, but crucial scenes on the last MAS*H episode in 1983

He played that part so well I could have really opened up to him and not held anything back. He probably could have faked his way through life as a psychologist. What a great actor. Much better than Alda or Farrell who were the worst part of MAS*H.

He was just perfect in that part, wasn't he?? I loved the episode best where he happened to be visiting and there was a flap on, and they were so desperate and short handed they made him put on a gown and mask and do surgery, which he hadn't done., apparently, since medical school, and he was scared stiff. Priceless!

A classic character in a series that had many classic characters.
Sidney Freedman was awesome!

Gosh I can't believe that! 88! Geez!
This sounds odd, but does anyone agree that he had a really kind voice?

I know ,I just spit coke all over my moniter when I read hes 88 years old..I mean I thught he was the same age as Alda and Hotlips ect.jeeeezus man that guy aged pretty d a mned well.

I just looked his entry up, and I can't believe he's 88 years old! I watched the MASH finale last night on DVD and he didn't look 65 in that episode
I wouldn't be so paranoid if everyone wasn't out to get me

• Frank Burns

He was so great on MAS*H I wish he was in more episodes.
99% of the time a hero is someone who is too cold, tired & hungry to give a damn.

Yeah! He was definitly a great character in Mash.
I also saw he's old now.. just like Harry Morgan (Col. Potter)
it's kinda tough, seeing all those great Mash people getting so old

I definitely loved the episodes he was in. I wish he was in more episodes..
www.beatmydrum.com/
. check it out
www.myspace.com/lastshotmusic

I agree. I loved Sidney! Ya know, he played it so well, he's even been mistaken for a psychiatrist in real life. I remember him saying on the 30 year reunion show that he was in the hospital visiting his daughter who was recovering from surgery, and the doctor came up to him and starting explaining everything in medical terms and he had no idea what he was talking about!
Just goes to show how great he was in that role.