Farrell, Mike 1939–

views updated

FARRELL, Mike 1939–

(Michael Farrell)

PERSONAL

Full name, Michael Joseph Farrell; born February 6, 1939, in St. Paul, MN; son of Joe (some sources say Michael; a carpenter) and Agnes Farrell; married Judy Hayden (an actress), 1963 (divorced, 1983); married Shelley Fabares (an actress), December 1984; children: (first marriage) Michael Joshua, Erin. Education: Attended the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College, and Orange Coast College; studied drama at the Jeff Corey Workshop and with David Alexander. Avocational Interests: Playing chess, reading (politics and psychology), motorcycling, social and political causes.

Addresses: Office—Screen Actors Guild, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036–3600; Farrell/Minoff Productions, 14011 Ventura Blvd., Suite 401, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423.

Career: Actor, producer, director, and writer. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, goodwill ambassador. Military service: U.S. Marine Corps.

Member: American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild (vice president and member of national board of directors, 2001—), Human Rights Watch (chair with others), CONCERN/America (spokesperson), California State Commission on Judicial Performance, Death Penalty Focus (president).

Awards, Honors: Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actor in a comedy, variety, or music series, 1980, for M*A*S*H; Emmy Award nomination (with others), outstanding writing for a single episode of a comedy series, 1981, for "Death Takes a Holiday," M*A*S*H; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding individual achievement as a performer in children's programming, 1982, for The Body Human: Becoming a Man; Humanitarian Award, Women in Film Crystal Awards, 1993; Valentine Davies Award, Writers Guild of America, 1996.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Second Scott Banning, Days of Our Lives (also known as Days and DOOL), NBC, 1968–1970.

Dr. Sam Marsh, The Interns, CBS, 1970–1971.

Andy Hayes, The Man and the City, ABC, 1971–1972.

Captain B. J. Hunnicutt, M*A*S*H, CBS, 1975–1983.

Voice of Jonathan Kent, Superman (animated; also known as Superman: The Animated Series), The WB, 1996–1999.

Dr. James Hansen, Providence, NBC, 1999—.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Wills, The Longest Night, ABC, 1972.

Detective Walter Stepanic, She Cried Murder, CBS, 1973.

Jerry Robinson, The Questor Tapes, NBC, 1973.

James Carmichael, Live Again, Die Again, ABC, 1974.

Colin Pierce, McNaughton's Daughter (also known as Try to Catch a Saint), 1976.

Michael Hawks, Battered, NBC, 1978.

George, Sex and the Single Parent, CBS, 1979.

Richard Miller, Letters from Frank, CBS, 1979.

William Robertson, Damien: The Leper Priest (also known as Father Damien: The Leper Priest), 1980.

Frank Staplin, Prime Suspect (also known as City of Innocence), CBS, 1982.

Ambassador White, Choices of the Heart (also known as In December the Roses Will Bloom Again), NBC, 1983.

Matt Walker, Memorial Day, CBS, 1983.

Dr. Joe Braden, Private Sessions, NBC, 1985.

Harry Kenyon, Vanishing Act, CBS, 1986.

Paul Gianelli, A Deadly Silence, ABC, 1989.

Tim McFall, Incident at Dark River (also known as Dark River—A Father's Revenge), TNT, 1989.

Joe Roth, The Price of the Bride, London Weekend Television, 1990.

Robert Van Zandt, The Whereabouts of Jenny, ABC, 1991.

Detective Paul Trella, Silent Motive, Lifetime, 1991.

Frank Crane, "Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die" (also known as "Hart to Hart: Hart Attack"), NBC Friday Night Mystery, NBC, 1994.

Clay Spencer, Vows of Deception (also known as Deadly Seduction and Tangled Web), CBS, 1996.

Voice of Jonathan Kent, Superman: The Last Son of Krypton (animated), 1996.

William Widener, Sins of the Mind, USA Network, 1997.

Kenneth Lay, Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth about Enron, CBS, 2003.

Dr. Holdorman, Miracle Dogs, 2003.

Dr. Cyrus Gachet, The Clinic, Animal Planet, 2004.

Television Appearances; Specials:

Himself (CBS team), Battle of the Network Stars II, ABC, 1977.

Host, The Body Human: Becoming a Man, CBS, 1981.

Himself, Good Evening, Captain, CBS, 1981.

Captain B. J. Hunnicut, M*A*S*H: Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen, CBS, 1983.

Child Sexual Abuse, PBS, 1984.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, JFK: A One–Man Show, 1984.

Host, Saving the Wildlife (documentary), PBS, 1986.

Narrator, To Live for Ireland (documentary), PBS, 1987.

Host, Of Thee We Sing (documentary), PBS, 1987.

Narrator, Antarctica: The Greenpeace Quest (documentary), TBS, 1988.

Host, UFO Cover–Up? ... Live (documentary), syndicated, 1988.

Stand–Up Comics Take a Stand!, The Family Channel, 1989.

Host, La Lucha (documentary), ABC, 1989.

Host, Nobel Prize Ceremonies, TBS, 1990.

Himself and Captain B. J. Hunnicutt, Memories of M*A*S*H, CBS, 1991.

Narrator, Vanishing Dawn Chorus (documentary), PBS, 1992.

Host, Cathedrals in the Sea (documentary), TBS, 1993.

Host, On a Collision Course with Earth (documentary), Sci–Fi Channel, 1995.

Alan Alda: More Than Mr. Nice Guy (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 1997.

Host, Behind the Laughs (also known as Behind the Laughs: The Untold Stories of Television's Favorite Comedies), Fox, 1998.

Narrator, The Vatican Revealed (documentary), Arts and Entertainment, 1999.

Host, The '70s: The Decade That Changed Television (documentary), ABC, 2000.

TV Guide's Truth behind the Sitcoms 3 (documentary), Fox, 2000.

Himself, M*A*S*H: TV Tales, 2002.

Himself and Captain B.J. Hunnicutt, M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion, Fox, 2002.

Himself, CBS at 75, CBS, 2003.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Dr. Vic Wheelwright, Amanda Fallon, NBC, 1972.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Gunner, "Washing Machine Charlie," McHale's Navy, 1963.

Ferguson, "Operation Physical," Ensign O'Toole, 1963.

Doctor, "The Bankroll," Combat!, 1966.

Ranger, "Never Look Back," Lassie, 1967.

Agent Modell, "Monkees Chow Mein," The Monkees, NBC, 1967.

The captain, "Black Market," Garrison's Gorillas, ABC, 1967.

Astronaut Arland, "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?," I Dream of Jeannie, NBC, 1968.

American officer #1, "Fort New Madrid" (also known as "The Spanish Fort"), Daniel Boone, 1968.

Joe, "What Price Valor: Parts 1 & 2," Lassie, 1969.

Clay Riegles, "Blind Mirror," Mannix, CBS, 1970.

Dr. Vic Wheelwright, "Discovery at Fourteen," The Bold Ones: The New Doctors, NBC, 1972.

"Love Is When They Say They Need You," Marcus Welby, M.D., 1972.

Dr. Will Agar, "The Hidden Enemy," Bonanza, NBC, 1972.

Ron, "Stakeout," Cannon, CBS, 1972.

Frank Simmons, "Elegy for a Vampire," Ghost Story, NBC, 1972.

Jason Trotter, "The Greatest Collection of Them All," Banacek, NBC, 1973.

"Love and the Hot Spell," Love, American Style, ABC, 1973.

Frank Essex, "The Wheel of Fortune" (also known as "The Wheel of Death"), The Rookies, 1973.

"The Word Is: Persistence," The New Land, 1974.

David Tate, "The Pioneers," The Six Million Dollar Man, ABC, 1974.

Cole Harris, "Material Witness," Harry O, ABC, 1974.

Len Parsons, "Cross Doublecross," Ironside, 1974.

Mr. Ferra, "Hell Is Upstairs," Marcus Welby, M.D., ABC, 1974.

"The Ladies of the Corridor," Hollywood Television Theatre, PBS, 1975.

Himself, The $20,000 Pyramid, 1976.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1979, 1980.

Jeffrey, "A Jerk at the Opera," Coach, ABC, 1990.

Drew Borden, "The Family Jewels," Murder, She Wrote, CBS, 1990.

Judge David Bennett, "The Trial: Parts 1 & 2," Matlock, NBC, 1991.

Himself, The Howard Stern Radio Show, syndicated, 1999.

Voice of Pa Kent, "Comfort and Joy," Justice League (animated), Cartoon Network, 2003.

Also appeared as Steve Tustin, The Monroes, ABC; in Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law, ABC.

Television Work; Movies:

(With others) Producer, Memorial Day, CBS, 1983.

Director, Run Till You Fall, CBS, 1988.

Producer, Incident at Dark River (also known as Dark River—A Father's Revenge), TNT, 1989.

Producer, Silent Motive, Lifetime, 1991.

Executive producer, Sins of the Mind, USA Network, 1997.

Television Work; Specials:

Producer, What're My True Colors?, ABC, 1987.

Executive producer, M*A*S*H: 30th Anniversary Reunion, Fox, 2002.

Television Director; Episodic:

"Ain't Love Grand," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1979.

"The Yalu Brick Road," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1979.

"War Co–Respondent," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980.

"Heal Thyself," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980.

"Death Takes a Holiday," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980.

Film Appearances:

Captain Newman, M.D., Universal, 1964.

The Americanization of Emily, Metro–Goldwyn–Mayer, 1964.

(Uncredited) Bellhop in hotel lobby, The Graduate, Embassy, 1967.

Man in phone booth, Targets (also known as Before I Die), Paramount, 1968.

(Uncredited) Houston engineer, Countdown, Warner Bros., 1968.

(As Michael Farrell) Dick Blaine, Panic in the City, Commonwealth, 1968.

Fred Washburn, Worthy to Stand, 1969.

Reporter, The Doomsday Machine (also known as Armageddon 1975, Doomsday, and Escape from Planet Earth), 1972.

Narrator, El Salvador: Another Vietnam, Icarus Films, 1981.

Congressman Clayton, The Killers Within, 1995.

Voice, 187: Documented (documentary), Emerging Nation Productions, 1997.

Film Producer:

(With Marvin Minoff) Dominick and Eugene (also known as Nicky and Gino), Orion, 1988.

(With Charles Newirth, Minoff, and Barry Kemp) Patch Adams, Universal, 1998.

Stage Appearances:

Rain, Los Angeles Civic Stage, Los Angeles, 1961.

Also appeared in Mary, Mary, The Skin of Our Teeth, A Thousand Clowns, and Under the Yum–Yum Tree, all at the Laguna Beach Playhouse, Laguna Beach, CA.

WRITINGS

Television Episodes:

"The Yalu Brick Road," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1979.

"War Co–Respondent," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980.

"Death Takes a Holiday," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1980.

(With David Pollock and Elias Davis) "Run for the Money," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1982.

"Strange Bedfellows," M*A*S*H, CBS, 1983.

Television Stories; Movies:

Incident at Dark River (also known as Dark River—A Father's Revenge), TNT, 1989.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

People Weekly, November 29, 1999, p. 159.

About this article

Farrell, Mike 1939–

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article