Sad ... I'm a huge fan of M*A*S*H ... the cast and creators are slowing leaving us ...

CNN) -- Writer and producer Larry Gelbart, known for his work on the hit television series "M*A*S*H," died Friday in his Beverly Hills, California, home, his wife said.

Gelbart died of cancer, Pat Gelbart said. He was 81.

According to the Internet Movie Database, Gelbart directed 6 episodes of "M*A*S*H," the satirical comedy about Army doctors at a field hospital in the Korean War. The series ran from 1972 to 1983 and was based on a popular movie and book of the same name.

"M*A*S*H" was so popular it lasted much longer than the Korean War itself, and was seen as a commentary on American involvement in the Vietnam War. Gelbart also was involved in the short-lived sequel, "After MASH."

Gelbart also wrote for films, with his credits including the 1982 hit "Tootsie" and "Oh, God!" in 1977.

In more recent years, Gelbart was a writer of the 1993 TV movie "Barbarians at the Gate," which won an Emmy and two Golden Globes.

In 2000, he was involved in the remake of the film "Bedazzled" and at the time of his death was working on a project called "City of Angels," according to IMDB.