Michael Joseph Farrell Jr.(born February 6, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his role asCaptain B.J. Hunnicutton the television seriesM*A*S*H(1975–83). In addition, Farrell was a producer ofPatch Adams(1998) starringRobin Williams,and he starred in the television seriesProvidence(1999–2002).
Mike Farrell | |
|---|---|
 Farrell in 2016 | |
| Born | Michael Joseph Farrell Jr. February 6, 1939 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1957–1959 |
| Rank | Private First Class |
| Unit | 3rd Marine Division |
Farrell is also an activist and public speaker for various political causes. He has been the President ofDeath Penalty Focussince 1994.[1]He is a long-time opponent of the death penalty.[2]In 2001, Farrell said of the work: “I’ve wept many times. But I keep finding people who inspire me—some of them on death row, and more of them in the trenches, in the courts, in religious circles, fighting against the death penalty.”[2]Farrell has helped raise defense funds for inmates he believes are innocent.[1]
Early life
editFarrell, one of four children, was born inSouth St. Paul, Minnesota,the son of Agnes Sarah Cosgrove and Michael Joseph Farrell.[3]
When he was two years old, his family moved from South St. Paul to Hollywood, California, where his father worked as a carpenter on film sets. Farrell attended West Hollywood Grammar School in the same class as fellow actorNatalie Wood,and graduated fromHollywood High School.He served in theUnited States Marine Corpsfrom 1957 to 1959. After being discharged, he worked at various jobs before becoming an actor.[4]
Acting career
editEarly career
edit
During the 1960s, Farrell guest-starred in a few series. Notable roles included playing a young US Forest Service ranger in theLassieepisode "Never Look Back" (February 1967); Federal Agent Modell in the episode "Monkee Chow Mein"onThe Monkeesin 1967; as a bellhop (uncredited) inThe Graduatein 1967; astronaut Arland in the episode "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?"onI Dream of Jeannie;an Army doctor in the episode "The Bankroll" ofCombat!;and an ex-high school friend turned famous actor of Chet Kincaid inThe Bill Cosby Show.
In 1968, he originated the continuing role of Scott Banning in theNBCsoap operaDays of Our Lives.In 1970, he starred as one of the young doctors in theCBSprime-time seriesThe Interns,in a cast led byBroderick Crawford.In 1971, he played the assistant toAnthony QuinninABC'sThe Man and the City.In 1973, while under contract toUniversal Studios,Farrell starred withRobert FoxworthinThe Questor Tapes.During the years under contract, he guest-starred in a number of shows, includingBanacek;Mannix;Marcus Welby, M.D.;The Six Million Dollar Man;andThe New Land;and starred in a television pilot withJane Wyman,which did not sell.
In the early 1970s, Farrell guest-starred in the televisionWesterndramaBonanza[5][6]and did a number of commercials as a spokesman forMaytagdryers andPlymouth automobiles,among other products.[citation needed]
M*A*S*H(1975–83) and later roles
editFarrell's big break came in 1975 whenWayne RogersdepartedM*A*S*Hbetween the third and fourth season. Farrell was recruited for the newly created role of B.J. Hunnicutt, along with series leadHarry Morgan,who was already signed to replaceMcLean Stevensonfor the fourth season. Farrell stayed with the series for its remaining eight years on the air. During that time, he wrote five episodes and directed four.
SinceM*A*S*H,Farrell has guest-starred inMurder, She Wrote;Justice League;Desperate Housewives;and many others. Farrell voicedJonathan KentinSuperman: The Animated Series(1996) with wifeShelley Fabaresvoicing Martha Kent.[7][8]
Farrell hosted severalNational GeographicPresentsspecials and starred in a number of television films, including 1983'sMemorial Day,which he co-produced.[9]He did two one-man shows:JFK, a One Man ShowforPBSand, on stage, a national tour of David W. Rintels' playClarence Darrow.
In 1985, Farrell partnered with film and television producerMarvin Minoffto create Farrell/Minoff Productions, a production company.[10]Together, Farrell and Minoff produced numerous television films.[11]In 1986, the company had signed a deal withThe Walt Disney Studioswherein the Farrell/Minoff company would develop motion pictures and television properties.[12]
Farrell and Minoff executive-producedDominick and Eugene,a 1988Orion Picturesfilm that earned actorTom HulceaGolden Globenomination for best actor.[10]The pair also produced 1998'sPatch Adams,starringRobin Williams.[11]Farrell and Minoff's partnership lasted more than 25 years until Minoff's death in November 2009.[10][11]
Providence(1999–2002)
editIn 1999, Farrell was cast as veterinarian Jim Hansen, the father of the lead character Dr. Sydney Hansen, portrayed byMelina Kanakaredes,on the NBC-TV melodrama seriesProvidence.In his portrayal of Sydney's father, Farrell played oppositeConcetta Tomei,who portrayed his wife, Lynda Hansen. Tomei's character died during the first episode of the series, but continued to appear as a ghost/memory in vignettes of later episodes. Farrell appeared in 64 of the show's 96 episodes.
Farrell appeared as Milton Lang, the father ofVictor Lang(John Slattery), husband ofGabrielle Solis(Eva Longoria), onDesperate Housewivesduring the 2007–08 season.
Farrell was seen in the season 10 episode "Persona" ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.He appeared as the character Fred Jones in the season 8 episode "Hunteri Heroici" ofSupernatural.In 2014 he was a supporting cast member on the Sundance TV Network criminal drama seriesThe Red Road.He portrayedLee Miglin,a real estate baron who fell victim to serial killerAndrew Cunanan,in FX's anthology seriesAmerican Crime Story:The Assassination of Gianni Versace.Most recently, he appeared inNCIS,playing the role of Judge Miles Deakin in the episode "Judge, Jury..."and"...and Executioner."
Activism
edit
Even before he was well-known, Farrell was an activist for many political and social causes. He was co-chair of the CaliforniaHuman Rights Watchfor ten years, was on the Board of Advisors of the originalCult Awareness Network,and has been president ofDeath Penalty Focusfor more than 10 years,[13]being the first person to be awarded its Human Rights Award, subsequently named after him in 2006. He receivedPETA's Humanitarian Award in 2001 and narrated a public service campaign for them aboutanimal abuse.[14]
In 1985, Farrell was in Central America, helping refugees from the civil war inEl Salvador.A guerrilla commander,Nidia Diaz,had been taken prisoner. She needed surgery, but no Salvadoran doctor would help her, so Medical Aid for El Salvador recruited a foreign doctor. Farrell was present as an observer forAmnesty Internationalbut was, in his words, "shanghaied into assisting with the surgery" when the doctor said his help was needed.[15]The in-prison surgery was successful, and Diaz went on to be one of the signatories of theChapultepec Peace Accords,the peace treaty ending the war.
Farrell has been active in theScreen Actors Guild.In 2002 he was elected first vice president of the Guild in Los Angeles and served in the post for three years.[16]
In 2006, Farrell appeared withJello BiafraandKeith Gordonin the documentaryWhose War?,examining the U.S. role in theIraq War.He also served on the advisory board of theMilitary Religious Freedom Foundation.[17]
In 2014, Farrell workshopped a play by George Shea that broughtCharles David Keelingand his scientific work on atmospheric CO2emissions to life.[18]
In 2016, after the US presidential election ofDonald Trump,Farrell appeared in a commercial to urge Republican electors to block Trump from becoming president by having 37 electors vote forJohn Kasichinstead.[19]
Publications
editFarrell wrote an autobiography,Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist(Akashic Books,ISBN1-9333-5408-9), published in 2007. The book covers his working-class childhood in West Hollywood, his break into show business, his personal life, and his increasing involvement in politics and the human rights movement in the United States, Cambodia, and Latin America. His second book,Of Mule and Man(2009, Akashic Books,ISBN1-9333-5475-5), is a journal of his five-week, 9,000-mile drive around the U.S. to promote the paperback edition of his first book.
Personal life
editIn 1963, Farrell married actressJudy Hayden,who was working as a high school English and drama teacher inLaguna Beach, California.[20]They separated in 1980 and divorced in 1983. They have two children, Michael and Erin. OnM*A*S*H,Hunnicutt's daughter also was named Erin. Also onM*A*S*H,in the episode "The Colonel's Horse" (season 5, episode 12), a phone call is placed to Hunnicutt's father-in-law, Floyd Hayden, Hayden being the maiden name of Judy, Farrell's wife. He lives in Quapaw, Oklahoma, Judy's birthplace. Judy Farrell also acted onM*A*S*Hfrom 1976 to 1983 as Nurse Able.
Since 1984, he has been married to actressShelley Fabares.[21]
At the start ofM*A*S*H's seventh season, Farrell grew aWalrus moustachefor the B.J. Hunnicutt character, even though such amoustachebelow the upper lip was then, as now, a clear violation ofArmy uniform guidelines,especially when left untrimmed. The normally clean-shaven Farrell grew it out for the character, as fashion trends at the time made the moustache in general popular for the first time since the beginning of the 20th century, due in part to fellow actors such asBurt ReynoldsandTom Selleck,as well asThe Mustache Gangof theOakland AthleticsofMajor League Baseball.While Farrell retained the moustache for the B.J. character for the rest of the series and saw a rise in acting jobs because of it, Farrell himself quickly grew tired of it and did not want to betypecastwith "B.J.-like roles" for the rest of his career.
Selected filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Captain Newman, M.D. | Patient | Uncredited |
| 1966 | The Year of 53 Weeks (USAF Training Film) |
Captain Ralph Kendall,T-38Instructor Pilot | Uncredited |
| 1967 | Countdown | Houston Engineer | Uncredited |
| 1967 | The Graduate | Bellhop in Hotel Lobby | Uncredited |
| 1968 | Panic in the City | Dick Blaine | Credited as Michael Farrell |
| 1968 | Targets | Man in Phonebooth | |
| 1968 | Dayton's Devils | Voucher Captain | |
| 1969 | Worthy to Stand | Fred Washburn | Short film |
| 1976 | Doomsday Machine | 1st Reporter | |
| 1981 | El Salvador: Another Vietnam | Narrator | |
| 1983 | Citizen: The Political Life of Allard K. Lowenstein | — | Executive producer |
| 1988 | Dominick and Eugene | — | Producer |
| 1990 | Lockdown | Prentis | |
| 1995 | The Killers Within | Congressman Clayton | |
| 1996 | Hanged on a Twisted Cross | Dietrich Bonhoeffer | |
| 1998 | Patch Adams | — | Producer |
| 2006 | Superman: Brainiac Attacks | Jonathan Kent (voice) | Direct-to-video[22] |
| 2007 | Out at the Wedding | Father of the Bride |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | The Dick Powell Theatre | Young Couple Boy | Credited as Michael Farrell |
| 1963 | McHale's Navy | The Gunner | Episode: "Washing Machine Charlie" |
| 1963 | Ensign O'Toole | Ferguson | Episode: "Operation: Physical" |
| 1966 | Combat! | Doctor | Episode: "The Bankroll" |
| 1967 | The Monkees | Agent Modell | Episode: "Monkee Chow Mein" |
| 1967 | Iron Horse | Debuy | Episode: "The Return of Hode Avery"; uncredited |
| 1967 | Custer | First Trooper | Episode: "Desperate Mission" |
| 1967 | Garrison's Gorillas | The Captain | Episode: "Black Market" |
| 1967–1969 | Lassie | Ranger / Joe | 3 episodes |
| 1967–1974 | Ironside | Len Parsons / Bellhop | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | I Dream of Jeannie | Astronaut Arland | Episode: "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie: Part 3" |
| 1968 | Daniel Boone | Johnson | Episode: "The Spanish Fort" |
| 1968 | Judd for the Defense | Police Lieutenant / Employment Clerk | 2 episodes |
| 1968 | This Is the Life | unknown role | Episode: "Happiness is Dirty Hands" |
| 1968–1970 | Days of Our Lives | Scott Banning | Series regular (157 episodes) |
| 1969 | The Name of the Game | Reporter | Episode: "The Inquiry"; uncredited |
| 1969 | The Bill Cosby Show | Al Socconis | Episode: "A Word from Our Sponsor" |
| 1970 | Mannix | Clay Riegles | Episode: "Blind Mirror" |
| 1970–1971 | The Interns | Dr. Sam Marsh | Series regular (24 episodes) |
| 1971 | Sarge | Steve Wainwright | Episode: "A Terminal Case of Vengeance" |
| 1971–1972 | The Man and the City | Andy Hays | Series regular (15 episodes) |
| 1971–1973 | Love, American Style | The Young Man / Jack | 2 episodes |
| 1972 | The Bold Ones: The New Doctors | Dr. Vic Wheelwright | Episode: "Discovery at Fourteen" |
| 1972 | The Sixth Sense | Dr. Gil Clarke | Episode: "Witch, Witch, Burning Bright" |
| 1972 | The Longest Night | Willis | Television film |
| 1972 | Jigsaw | unknown role | Episode: "The Men" |
| 1972 | Cannon | Ron Cota | Episode: "Stakeout" |
| 1972 | Bonanza | Dr. James Willis | Episode: "The Hidden Enemy" |
| 1972 | Circle of Fear | Frank Simmons | Episode: "Elegy for a Vampire" |
| 1972 | Banacek | Jason Trotter | Episode: "The Greatest Collection of Them All" |
| 1972 | The Rookies | Frank Essex | Episode: "The Wheel of Death" |
| 1972 | The Wide World of Mystery | Steven | Episode: "Nightmare Step" |
| 1972–1973 | Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law | Brad Newman / Blair Cameron | 2 episodes |
| 1972–1974 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Frank Ferra / Clifford Lorimer | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | She Cried Murder | Walter Stepanic | Television film |
| 1974 | The Questor Tapes | Jerry Robinson | Television film |
| 1974 | Live Again, Die Again | James Carmichael | Television film |
| 1974 | The New Land | unknown role | Episode: "The World Is: Persistence" |
| 1974 | The Six Million Dollar Man | David Tate | Episode: "The Pioneers" |
| 1974 | Harry O | Cole Harris | Episode: "Material Witness" |
| 1975 | Ladies of the Corridor | Paul Osgood | Television film |
| 1975–1980 | Dinah! | Himself (Guest) | 5 episodes |
| 1976–1977 | The Hollywood Squares | Himself (Panelist) | 3 episodes |
| 1976–1979 | The $25,000 Pyramid | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | 5 episodes |
| 1977–1977 | Tattletales | Himself (Panelist) | 6 episodes |
| 1975–1983 | M*A*S*H | Captain B.J. Hunnicutt | Series regular (179 episodes) Writer (8 episodes) |
| 1976 | McNaughton's Daughter | Colin Pierce | Miniseries |
| 1976–1984 | The $10,000 Pyramid | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | 49 episodes |
| 1978 | Battered | Michael Hawks | Television film |
| 1979 | Sex and the Single Parent | George | Television film |
| 1979 | Letters from Frank | Richard Miller | Television film |
| 1979 | Ebony, Ivory and Jade | — | Television film; writer |
| 1979–1980 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself (Guest) | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Father Damien: The Leper Priest | Robertson | Television film |
| 1982 | Prime Suspect | Frank Staplin | Television film |
| 1982 | The Merv Griffin Show | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "01.22.1982" |
| 1982 | The Regis Philbin Show | Himself (Guest) | Episode: "#1.81" |
| 1983 | Memorial Day | Matt Walker | Television film; also executive producer |
| 1983 | Choices of the Heart | Ambassador Robert E. White | Television film |
| 1984 | J.F.K.: A One-Man Show | John Fitzgerald Kennedy | Television film |
| 1984 | The $25,000 Pyramid | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | 5 episodes |
| 1985 | Private Sessions | Dr. Joe Braden | Television film |
| 1986 | Vanishing Act | Harry Kenyon | Television film |
| 1989 | A Deadly Silence | Attorney Gianelli | Television film |
| 1989 | Incident at Dark River | Tim McFall | Television film Also executive producer and writer |
| 1990 | Coach | Jeffrey | Episode: "A Jerk at the Opera" |
| 1990 | Murder, She Wrote | Drew Borden | Episode: "The Family Jewels" |
| 1990 | Frederick Forsyth Presents | Joe Roth | Episode: "The Price of the Bride" |
| 1991 | The Whereabouts of Jenny | Van Zandy | Television film |
| 1991 | Matlock | Judge David Bennett | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Silent Motive | Detective Paul Trella | Television film; also producer |
| 1991 | Memories of M*A*S*H | Himself | Television special |
| 1994 | Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die | Frank Crane | Television film |
| 1994 | An Evening at the Improv | Himself (Host) | Episode: "Mike Farrell/John Pinette/Bruce Gold, and more! " |
| 1995 | The Monroes | Tustin | 3 episodes |
| 1996 | Vows of Deception | Clay Spencer | Television film |
| 1996–1999 | Superman: The Animated Series | Jonathan Kent (voice) | 9 episodes[22] |
| 1997 | Sins of the Mind | William (voice) | Television film; also executive producer |
| 1997–2003 | Biography | Himself (Interviewee) | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Jeopardy! | Himself (Celebrity Contestant) | "S15 EP #184" |
| 1999 | The Vatican Revealed | Narrator | Television film |
| 1999–2002 | Providence | Dr. James Hansen | Series regular (96 episodes) |
| 2000 | The 70s: The Decade That Changed Television | Himself (Host) | Television film |
| 2002 | M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion | Himself | Television special; also executive producer |
| 2003 | The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron | Kenneth Lay | Television film |
| 2003 | Justice League | Jonathan Kent (voice) | Episode: "Comfort and Joy"[22] |
| 2004 | The Clinic | Dr. Cyrus Gachet | Television film |
| 2004 | Justice League Unlimited | Jonathan Kent,BrainiacDrone (voice) | Episode: "For the Man Who Has Everything" |
| 2005 | Locusts | Lyle Rierden | Television film |
| 2005 | Larry King Live | Himself (Guest) | 1 episode |
| 2006 | E! True Hollywood Story | Himself (Interviewee) | Episode: "Michael J. Fox" |
| 2007 | Smith | Dr. Breen | unknown episode |
| 2007–2008 | Desperate Housewives | Milton Lang | 3 episodes |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Jonah Malcolm | Episode: "Persona" |
| 2009 | Without a Trace | Ross Baldwin | Episode: "Hard Landing" |
| 2009 | Ghost Whisperer | Bill Jett | Episode: "Do Over" |
| 2010 | Miami Medical | Dr. Carl Willis | Episode: "Golden Hour" |
| 2012 | Supernatural | Fred Jones | Episode: "Hunteri Heroici" |
| 2014–2015 | The Red Road | David Rogers | 7 episodes |
| 2018 | American Crime Story | Lee Miglin | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | NCIS | Judge Miles Deakin | 2 episodes |
Accolades
editReferences
edit- ^ab"How 'MASH' actor Mike Farrell became a leading voice against the death penalty in California".Los Angeles Times.October 11, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
- ^abO’neill, Ann (April 1, 2001)."The Actor Standing in Front of Death's Door".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 27,2024.
- ^"Today's Underrated Stars! – Meet Mike Farrell".Todaysunderratedstars.20m. November 18, 1999.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2011.RetrievedMay 17,2011.
- ^"Together We Served - PFC Michael Farrell".TogetherWeServed.RetrievedMay 4,2020.
- ^"21 TV stars who appeared as guests on 'Bonanza'".Me-TV Network.Archivedfrom the original on September 13, 2018.RetrievedSeptember 13,2018.
- ^"Bonanza" The Hidden Enemy (TV Episode 1972),archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2016,retrievedSeptember 13,2018
- ^Perlmutter, David (May 4, 2018).The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows.Rowman & Littlefield.ISBN9781538103746.
- ^Hartman, Matthew (August 11, 2021)."Superman: The Complete Animated SeriesSaves Blu-ray October 12th ".High-Def Digest.RetrievedOctober 10,2024.
- ^O'Connor, John J. (November 7, 1983)."TV VIEW; SOME MADE-FOR-TV FILMS ARE MORE THAN FLUFF".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on May 24, 2015.RetrievedOctober 17,2018.
- ^abc"Producer Marvin Minoff dies at 78 – Worked on Frost-Nixon TV interview specials".Variety.November 13, 2009.RetrievedDecember 2,2009.
- ^abcBarnes, Mike (November 13, 2009)."'Nixon Interviews' producer Marvin Minoff dies ".The Hollywood Reporter.Archived fromthe originalon October 24, 2012.RetrievedDecember 2,2009.
- ^"Farrell & Minkoff Ink A Disney Pact".Variety.April 9, 1986. p. 22.
- ^"Mike Farrell Online".Mikefarrell.org. March 1, 2004. Archived fromthe originalon May 14, 2011.RetrievedMay 17,2011.
- ^"Mike Farrell – Great Human Rights Activists".RetrievedNovember 24,2020.
- ^MILLER, MARJORIE (August 11, 1985)."TV Doctor From 'MASH' Scrubs Up For Salvador Surgery".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedNovember 30,2021.
- ^"Biography".Mike Farrell Online. Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2007.RetrievedAugust 30,2007.
- ^"Foundation voices".Military Religious Freedom Foundation.Archivedfrom the original on December 15, 2014.RetrievedDecember 18,2014.
- ^Biggs, Julia (February 5, 2019)."'Dr. Keeling's Curve' starring TV star Farrell takes the stage at SIUE ".Alton Telegraph.RetrievedAugust 12,2021.
- ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:Andrews, Jason (December 16, 2016)."Tucker Carlson vs. actor Mike Farrell on 'unqualified' Trump".Youtube.
- ^Farrell, Mike (2007).Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist.Akashic Books/RDV Books. pp.61–68.ISBN9781933354484.
- ^Metz, Vicki (November 8, 1987)."'Lights, Camera, Action! — on L.I. "The New York Times.p. Long Island 11.RetrievedAugust 18,2023.
- ^abc"Mike Farrell (visual voices guide)".Behind The Voice Actors.RetrievedOctober 10,2024.A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
External links
edit- Official website(archived 2016)
- Mike FarrellatIMDb
- Death Penalty Focus
- Audio interview of Mike FarrellbyStephanie Millerabout the Guantanamo Bay play onThe Stephanie Miller Show
- Recording of Mike Farrell talking about his book and activitiesfrom Sacramento, CA on September 28, 2008
