Tag: Guess

Fans of the 70s sitcom M*A*S*H were in for a treat recently when one of the show’s most cherished stars was spotted out and about in Los Angeles.

At 85, the actor — who portrayed army doctor B.J. Hunnicutt on the iconic series — was seen in high spirits, tackling some yard work and rolling out the trash cans with surprising energy. 

It was a far cry from his days on the beloved sitcom, where he navigated the chaos of a mobile hospital during the Korean War alongside such stars as Alan Alda and Loretta Swit. 

Dressed in a simple black long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and a black baseball cap emblazoned with the slogan ‘Make America Normal Again’—a cheeky nod to the MAGA movement—his modern-day look couldn’t have been further from the 1950s military garb he once wore.  

But it did remind fans of his later, more laid-back guest appearances on shows like Murder, She Wrote and Desperate Housewives.

Can you guess who this actor is?

If you guessed Mike Farrell, you’re spot on! 

The Saint Paul, Minnesota native has enjoyed a long and varied career in Hollywood. 

He joined the M*A*S*H in its fourth season, replacing Wayne Rogers, and became a fan favorite for his warm, witty portrayal of the compassionate army doctor. 

The show itself remains one of the most iconic and influential shows in television history.

It premiered in 1972 and ran for 11 seasons before its record-shattering finale was watched by over 105 million people worldwide.

The cast included Alda as Hawkeye Pierce, Wayne Rogers as Trapper John, Swit as Margaret ‘Hot Lips’ Houlihan, McLean Stevenson as Colonel Henry Blake, Gary Burghoff as Radar O’Reilly, Harry Morgan as Colonel Sherman T. Potter, David Ogden Stiers as Major Charles Winchester, Jamie Farr as Klinger, and William Christopher as Father Mulcahy.

After MASH* wrapped in 1983, Farrell went on to appear in a wide range of projects, including guest spots on Justice League.

Farrell’s talents also extended behind the camera; he produced the critically acclaimed 1998 film Patch Adams, starring Robin Williams, which focused on the healing power of humor in medicine. 

A passionate activist, he’s been outspoken on various social and political issues, particularly human rights and animal welfare. 

Farrell’s post-M*A*S*H* career also includes a notable role in the legal drama Providence.

He also became the Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild for a time. 

In his personal life, Farrell married Judy Hayden in 1963, when she was a high school English and drama teacher in Laguna Beach, California. 

The couple had two children, Michael and Erin, but their marriage ended in separation in 1980 and divorce in 1983. 

Farrell found love again in 1984 when he married actress Shelley Fabares, best known for her roles on The Donna Reed Show and Coach. 

The two have remained happily married ever since. 

Speaking to Today Extra about the impact M*A*S*H had on his life, he explained, ‘I knew I would never have another working experience as important to me as that one was.’

‘There will never be another M*A*S*H,’ he continued. ‘There will not be another kind of extraordinary moment just as that one was. 

The combination of talent and the writers were just sensational. The production staff was perfect.”

“The entire thing just couldn’t have been, I can’t think of a way it could have been better. We just cherished the moment,” he said.