Mike Farrell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mike Farrell
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Farrell in 2016
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| Born |
Michael Joseph Farrell Jr.
February 6, 1939 |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1963–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| 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 |
Michael Joseph Farrell Jr. (born February 6, 1939) is an American actor. He is most famous for playing Captain B.J. Hunnicutt in the TV show M*A*S*H from 1975 to 1983. Farrell also helped produce the movie Patch Adams (1998) with Robin Williams. He also starred in the TV series Providence from 1999 to 2002.
Besides acting, Farrell is known for being an activist and public speaker. He has been the President of Death Penalty Focus since 1994. This group works against the death penalty. Farrell has often spoken about how important this work is to him. He has also helped raise money to defend people he believes are innocent.
Contents
Early Life and Military Service
Mike Farrell was born in South St. Paul, Minnesota. He was one of four children in his family. When he was two years old, his family moved to Hollywood, California. His father worked there as a carpenter on movie sets.
Farrell went to West Hollywood Grammar School. He was in the same class as actress Natalie Wood. He later graduated from Hollywood High School. After school, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He served from 1957 to 1959. After leaving the Marines, he worked different jobs before becoming an actor.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting Out in Acting
In the 1960s, Mike Farrell appeared in many TV shows. He played a young park ranger in an episode of Lassie in 1967. He was also in an episode of The Monkees that same year. You might have even spotted him as a bellhop in the movie The Graduate (1967).
In 1968, he got a regular role as Scott Banning on the soap opera Days of Our Lives. In 1970, he starred in the CBS show The Interns. He also appeared in TV Westerns like Bonanza. Farrell was also in commercials for products like Maytag dryers.
Becoming Famous with M*A*S*H
Farrell's biggest role came in 1975. He joined the popular TV show M*A*S*H as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt. He stayed on the show for eight years until it ended. During his time on M*A*S*H, he also wrote five episodes and directed four. His wife at the time, Judy Farrell, appeared in the show as Nurse Able.
After M*A*S*H, Farrell continued to act in many TV shows. He was in Murder, She Wrote and Desperate Housewives. He also voiced Jonathan Kent in Superman: The Animated Series. His wife, Shelley Fabares, voiced Martha Kent in the same show.
Farrell also hosted specials for National Geographic. He starred in and produced several TV movies. In 1985, he started his own production company, Farrell/Minoff Productions. They produced movies like Dominick and Eugene (1988) and Patch Adams (1998).
Providence and Other Roles
In 1999, Farrell played Dr. Jim Hansen in the TV series Providence. He played the father of the main character, Dr. Sydney Hansen. He appeared in 64 episodes of the show.
Later, Farrell had roles in other popular TV shows. He was Milton Lang on Desperate Housewives in 2007-2008. He also appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Supernatural. In 2018, he played Lee Miglin in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. More recently, he appeared in NCIS in 2019.
Activism and Social Causes
Mike Farrell has been an activist for many years, even before he became famous. He worked with Human Rights Watch for ten years. He has also been the president of Death Penalty Focus for over 10 years. This group works to end the death penalty. In 2006, they even named their Human Rights Award after him.
In 2001, he received an award from PETA. He also narrated a public service announcement for them about preventing animal abuse.
In 1985, Farrell traveled to Central America. He helped refugees from the civil war in El Salvador. He was there as an observer for Amnesty International. He even helped with a surgery for a captured guerrilla leader. This leader later signed a peace treaty to end the war.
Farrell has also been active in the Screen Actors Guild. This is a union for actors. He was elected first vice president of the Guild in Los Angeles in 2002. He served in that role for three years. In 2006, he appeared in a documentary called Whose War?, which looked at the U.S. role in the Iraq War.
Personal Life
In 1963, Mike Farrell married actress Judy Hayden. They had two children, Michael and Erin. They divorced in 1983. Interestingly, his character on M*A*S*H, B.J. Hunnicutt, also had a daughter named Erin. Judy Farrell also acted on M*A*S*H as Nurse Able.
Since 1984, Mike Farrell has been married to actress Shelley Fabares.
During his time on M*A*S*H, Farrell grew a mustache for his character, B.J. Hunnicutt. While the mustache became popular, Farrell himself grew tired of it. He did not want to be known only for "B.J.-like roles" after the show ended.
Selected Filmography
Film Roles
- 1963: Captain Newman, M.D. (Patient)
- 1967: The Graduate (Bellhop)
- 1968: Targets (Man in Phonebooth)
- 1981: El Salvador: Another Vietnam (Narrator)
- 1988: Dominick and Eugene (Producer)
- 1998: Patch Adams (Producer)
- 2006: Superman: Brainiac Attacks (Jonathan Kent - voice)
Television Roles
- 1967: The Monkees (Agent Modell)
- 1968: I Dream of Jeannie (Astronaut Arland)
- 1968–1970: Days of Our Lives (Scott Banning)
- 1970–1971: The Interns (Dr. Sam Marsh)
- 1975–1983: M*A*S*H (Captain B.J. Hunnicutt) - also writer and director
- 1990: Murder, She Wrote (Drew Borden)
- 1996–1999: Superman: The Animated Series (Jonathan Kent - voice)
- 1999–2002: Providence (Dr. James Hansen)
- 2007–2008: Desperate Housewives (Milton Lang)
- 2008: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Jonah Malcolm)
- 2012: Supernatural (Fred Jones)
- 2018: American Crime Story (Lee Miglin)
- 2019: NCIS (Judge Miles Deakin)
Awards and Recognition
Mike Farrell has been recognized for his acting and his humanitarian work.
- In 1980 and 1981, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his role and writing on M*A*S*H.
- In 1993, he received the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award for Humanitarian Award. This award honors people who have made a positive impact on society.
- In 2009, he received a TV Land Award for the impact of M*A*S*H, shared with other cast members.
Images for kids
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Farrell in 2016
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Farrell and Judy Farrell at Knott's Berry Farm in 1966
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Farrell on Stumpers! in 1976
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Farrell and Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2002.
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Farrell has worked on many activist campaigns.
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See also
In Spanish: Mike Farrell para niños
