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Mike Farrell | |
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Mike Farrell, who co-starred as "B.J." on Twentieth Television’s hit comedy M*A*S*H, has become one of Hollywood’s most outspoken social activists speaking out on environmental and human rights issues all over the U.S. He has narrated a documentary for the United Farm Workers about the dangers of pesticides and the Academy Award-nominated documentary "El Salvador: Another Vietnam," He co-hosted the show "Saving The Wildlife," with fellow M*A*S*H alum Loretta Swit, and hosted "The Best of the National Geographic Specials." He is the American spokesperson for CONCERN, which dispatches teens to assist in refugee emergencies throughout the world. Farrell received the Valentine Davies Award presented by the Writers Guild of America for his contribution to the entertainment industry and the community at large and, in 1998, he was appointed to the Commission on Judicial Performance.. He was elected First Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild in Los Angeles in 2002 and is also the president of Family Motion Pictures. Farrell was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, one of four children who were brought to Los Angeles at an early age when his father started working at the studios. Although he literally grew up around motion picture studios, where his late father worked as a carpenter, Farrell’s own career in entertainment did not start until after high school. It was only after a two-year hitch in the Marine Corps that Farrell began to study dramatic arts seriously, attending classes at Los Angeles City College and UCLA. Farrell appeared in the Los Angeles stage production of "Rain" at the Civic Playhouse. He starred with the Laguna Beach Playhouse in "A Thousand Clowns," "Mary, Mary," "Under the Yum-Yum Tree" and "The Skin of Our Teeth." Before M*A*S*H, Farrell had roles in two previous series, "The Interns" with Broderick Crawford, and "The Man And The City," with Anthony Quinn. He also guest starred on "Mannix," "The Bold Ones," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Owen Marshall" and "Harry O." Farrell has a long list of telefilms to his credit. He has starred in "Sex and the Single Parent," with Susan St. James, "Prime Suspect," "Memorial Day," which he co-produced, "Choices of the Heart," "Private Sessions," "A Deadly Silence," "Vanishing Act," with Margot Kidder and Elliott Gould, and "Views of Deception." He also co-wrote and starred in "Incident at Dark River" and produced "Silent Motive" in which he played the supporting role of the detective. One of his favorite projects was "JFK - A One Man Show," produced for PBS. He also directed "Run Till You Fall" for CBS. Later, he was the voice of Jonathan Kent in the TV series "Superman" and "Superman: The Last Son of Krypton." More recently, Farrell hosted "The 70s: The Decade that Changed Television," which featured Peter Falk, Hugh Downs and the Smothers Brothers, among others. Since 1999, he has been starring opposite Melina Kanakaredes in the successful TV series "Providence" in the role of veterinarian Dr. James Hansen. In May, 2002, he appeared in the two-hour Fox TV special "M*A*S*H: 30th Aniversary Reunion,"of which he was one of the executive producers. Cast members and producers were reunited and Farrell conducted the set tour opening the show. On film, he has appeared in "The Graduate," "The Americanization of Emily" and "Targets." He produced "Dominick and Eugene" in 1987 under the Farrell/Minoff Productions banner followed by "Patch Adams" starring Robin Williams. Farrell, who is married to actress Shelley Fabares, has two children from a previous marriage, and enjoys cross-country biking. |
