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Mike Farrell

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Michael Joseph Farrell Jr. is a prominent American actor and social activist. He is most widely recognized for his role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series M*A*S*H. This series ran from 1975 to 1983. Farrell played the character for eight years. During his time on the show, he also expanded his creative work. He wrote five episodes and directed four episodes of the series.

Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976
Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976

Farrell's early life was shaped by his move to Hollywood, California. He was born in South St. Paul, Minnesota, to Agnes Sarah Cosgrove and Michael Joseph Farrell. When he was only two years old, his family moved to California. His father worked as a carpenter on various film sets. Farrell attended Hollywood High School and later served in the United States Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959. After his military service, he worked several different jobs before entering the acting profession.

Before his major success, Farrell appeared in many different television roles. In the 1960s, he guest-starred in shows like The Monkees and I Dream of Jeannie. He also played roles in the soap opera Days of Our Lives starting in 1968. During the early 1970s, he appeared in Western dramas like Bonanza. He also worked as a spokesman for several companies, including Maytag and Plymouth. These early experiences helped him build a diverse career in the entertainment industry.

MikeJudyFarrellKBF1966
MikeJudyFarrellKBF1966

As his career progressed, Farrell moved into producing and more complex acting roles. He partnered with producer Marvin Minoff to form Farrell/Minoff Productions in 1985. This company developed various television films and motion pictures. They notably produced the 1998 film Patch Adams, which starred Robin Williams. Farrell also starred in the medical drama Providence from 1999 to 2002. In that series, he played a veterinarian named Jim Hansen. He appeared in 64 of the show's 96 episodes.

Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976
Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976

Beyond acting, Farrell is a dedicated activist for human rights and political causes. He has served as the President of Death Penalty Focus since 1994. He is a long-time opponent of the death penalty and uses his platform to support this cause. He has helped raise defense funds for inmates he believes are innocent. In 2001, he noted that people fighting in courts and religious circles inspired him. He was the first person to receive the Human Rights Award from this organization.

Farrell's activism has also reached international levels. In 1985, he traveled to Central America to assist refugees during the civil war in El Salvador. While there as an observer for Amnesty International, he helped assist with a surgery for a prisoner named Nidia Diaz. The surgery was successful. This event eventually led to Diaz becoming a signatory of the Chapultepec Peace Accords, which ended the war. He has also been active in the Screen Actors Guild, serving as its first vice president in Los Angeles starting in 2002.

Stabenow 060402farrell
Stabenow 060402farrell

Farrell has also shared his experiences through literature. In 2007, he published his autobiography, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist. This book details his working-class upbringing and his involvement in human rights movements. In 2009, he released a second book titled Of Mule and Man. This book serves as a journal of a 9,000-mile drive across the United States. He undertook this massive trip to promote his first book. His life reflects a continuous connection between the arts and social advocacy.

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MikeJudyFarrellKBF1966.jpg
File:Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976.jpg
Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976.jpg
File:Stabenow 060402farrell.jpg
Stabenow 060402farrell.jpg
File:Farrell, Mike (2007 protest).jpg
Farrell, Mike (2007 protest).jpg
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