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Michael Joseph Farrell Jr. (born February 6, 1939) is an American actor, best known for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H (1975–83). In addition, Farrell was a producer of Patch Adams (1998) starring Robin Williams, and he starred in the television series Providence (1999–2002).
Farrell is also an activist and public speaker for various political causes. He has been the President of Death Penalty Focus since 1994. He is a long-time opponent of the death penalty. 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.” Farrell has helped raise defense funds for inmates he believes are innocent.
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 actor Natalie Wood, and graduated from Hollywood High School. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959. After being discharged, he worked at various jobs before becoming an actor.
In 1968, he originated the continuing role of Scott Banning in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives. In 1970, he starred as one of the young doctors in the CBS prime-time series The Interns, in a cast led by Broderick Crawford. In 1971, he played the assistant to Anthony Quinn in ABC's The Man and the City. In 1973, while under contract to Universal Studios, Farrell starred with Robert Foxworth in The Questor Tapes. During the years under contract, he guest-starred in a number of shows, including Banacek; Mannix; Marcus Welby, M.D.; The Six Million Dollar Man; and The New Land; and starred in a television pilot with Jane Wyman, which did not sell.
In the early 1970s, Farrell guest-starred in the television Western drama Bonanza and did a number of commercials as a spokesman for Standard Oil of Indiana (later Amoco), Maytag dryers, Butter-Nut coffee, and Plymouth automobiles, among other products.
Since M*A*S*H, Farrell has guest-starred in Murder, She Wrote; Justice League; Desperate Housewives; and many others. Farrell voiced Jonathan Kent in (1996) with wife Shelley Fabares voicing Martha Kent.
Farrell hosted several National Geographic Presents specials and starred in a number of television films, including 1983's Memorial Day, which he co-produced. He did two one-man shows: JFK, a One Man Show for PBS and, on stage, a national tour of David W. Rintels' play Clarence Darrow.
In 1985, Farrell partnered with film and television producer Marvin Minoff to create Farrell/Minoff Productions, a production company. Together, Farrell and Minoff produced numerous television films. In 1986, the company had signed a deal with The Walt Disney Studios wherein the Farrell/Minoff company would develop motion pictures and television properties.
Farrell and Minoff executive-produced Dominick and Eugene, a 1988 Orion Pictures film that earned actor Tom Hulce a Golden Globe nomination for best actor. The pair also produced 1998's Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams. Farrell and Minoff's partnership lasted more than 25 years until Minoff's death in November 2009.
Farrell appeared as Milton Lang, the father of Victor Lang (John Slattery), husband of Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria), on Desperate Housewives during the 2007–08 season.
Farrell was seen in the season 10 episode "Persona" of . He appeared as the character Fred Jones in the season 8 episode "Hunteri Heroici" of Supernatural. In 2014 he was a supporting cast member on the Sundance TV Network criminal drama series The Red Road. He portrayed Lee Miglin, a real estate baron who fell victim to serial killer Andrew Cunanan, in FX's anthology series American Crime Story: . Most recently, he appeared in NCIS, playing the role of Judge Miles Deakin in the episode "Judge, Jury..." and "...and Executioner."
In 1985, Farrell was in Central America, helping refugees from the civil war in El 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 for Amnesty International but was, in his words, "shanghaied into assisting with the surgery" when the doctor said his help was needed. The in-prison surgery was successful, and Diaz went on to be one of the signatories of the Chapultepec Peace Accords, the peace treaty ending the war.
Farrell has been active in the Screen Actors Guild. In 2002 he was elected first vice president of the Guild in Los Angeles and served in the post for three years.
In 2006, Farrell appeared with Jello Biafra and Keith Gordon in the documentary Whose War?, examining the U.S. role in the Iraq War. He also served on the advisory board of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
In 2014, Farrell workshopped a play by George Shea that brought Charles David Keeling and his scientific work on atmospheric emissions to life.
In 2016, after the US presidential election of Donald Trump, Farrell appeared in a commercial to urge Republican electors to block Trump from becoming president by having 37 electors vote for John Kasich instead.Archived at Ghostarchive and the
Since 1984, he has been married to actress Shelley Fabares.
At the start of M*A*S*H's seventh season, Farrell grew a Walrus moustache for the B.J. Hunnicutt character, even though such a moustache below the upper lip was then, as now, a clear violation of Army 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 as Burt Reynolds and Tom Selleck, as well as The Mustache Gang of the Oakland Athletics of Major 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 be typecast with "B.J.-like roles" for the rest of his career.
Providence (1999–2002)
In 1999, Farrell was cast as veterinarian Jim Hansen, the father of the lead character Dr. Sydney Hansen, portrayed by Melina Kanakaredes, on the NBC-TV melodrama series Providence. In his portrayal of Sydney's father, Farrell played opposite Concetta 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.
Activism
Even before he was well-known, Farrell was an activist for many political and social causes. He was co-chair of the California Human Rights Watch for ten years, was on the Board of Advisors of the original Cult Awareness Network, and has been president of Death Penalty Focus for more than 10 years, being the first person to be awarded its Human Rights Award, subsequently named after him in 2006. He received PETA's Humanitarian Award in 2001 and narrated a public service campaign for them about animal abuse.
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Publications
Farrell wrote an autobiography, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist (Akashic Books, ), 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, ), 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
In 1963, Farrell married actress Judy Farrell, who was working as a high school English and drama teacher in Laguna Beach, California. They separated in 1980 and divorced in 1983. They have two children, Michael and Erin. On M*A*S*H, Hunnicutt's daughter was also named Erin. Also on M*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 on M*A*S*H from 1976 to 1983 as Nurse Able.
Selected filmography
Film
1963 Captain Newman, M.D. Patient Uncredited 1966 The Year of 53 Weeks
(USAF Training Film)Captain Ralph Kendall, T-38 Instructor 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 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 Jonathan Kent (voice) Direct-to-video 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. 2007 Out at the Wedding Father of the Bride
Television
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 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 writer1990 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 Frank Crane Television film 1994 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 Jonathan Kent (voice) 9 episodes 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 Kenneth Lay Television film 2003 Justice League Jonathan Kent (voice) Episode: "Comfort and Joy" 2004 The Clinic Dr. Cyrus Gachet Television film 2004 Justice League Unlimited Jonathan Kent, Brainiac Drone (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 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 Lee Miglin 2 episodes 2019 NCIS Judge Miles Deakin 2 episodes
Accolades
1980 M*A*S*H* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series (for playing B.J. Hunnicutt) [3] 1982 M*A*S*H* Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series (for episode "Death Takes a Holiday") 1981 M*A*S*H* Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (for episode "Death Takes a Holiday") [4] 1982 The Body Human: Becoming a Man Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming 1993 Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award for Humanitarian Award 2009 M*A*S*H* TV Land Award for Impact Award (shared with Alan Alda, Allan Arbus, William Christopher, Larry Gelbart, Jeff Maxwell, Burt Metcalfe, Gene Reynolds, David Odgen Stiers, Loretta Swit, Kellye Nakahara) 2018 Gold Derby Award for Ensemble of the Year (shared with Joanna Adler, Annaleigh Ashford, Jon Jon Briones, Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz, Jay R. Ferguson, Cody Fern, Max Greenfield, Judith Light, Ricky Martin, Dascha Polanco, Edgar Ramirez, Finn Wittrock)
External links
Categories: 1939 Births, Living People, American Anti–death Penalty Activists, Film Producers From California, American Male Television Actors, American Male Voice Actors, Hollywood High School Alumni, Male Actors From Hollywood, Los Angeles, Male Actors From Saint Paul, Minnesota, Military Personnel From Minnesota, United States Marines, Activists From California, Film Producers From Minnesota
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