:Mike Farrell

{{Short description|American actor (born 1939)}}

{{Other people|Michael Farrell}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Mike Farrell

| image = Mike Farrell 2016.jpg

| caption = Farrell in 2016

| birth_name = Michael Joseph Farrell Jr.

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1939|2|6}}

| birth_place = South St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S.

| spouse = {{plainlist|

}}

| children = 2

| module = {{Infobox military person

| embed = yes

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Marine Corps

| serviceyears = 1957–1959

| rank = Private First Class

| unit = 3rd Marine Division}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director|producer|screenwriter|activist|public speaker}}

| years_active = 1963–present

}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2016-10-11 |title=How 'MASH' actor Mike Farrell became a leading voice against the death penalty in California |url=https://www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-ca-mike-farrell-death-penalty-20161011-snap-htmlstory.html |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} 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.”{{Cite web |last=O’neill |first=Ann |date=2001-04-01 |title=The Actor Standing in Front of Death's Door |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-apr-01-cl-45223-story.html |access-date=2024-02-27 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Farrell has helped raise defense funds for inmates he believes are innocent.

Early life

Farrell, one of four children, was born in South St. Paul, Minnesota, the son of Agnes Sarah Cosgrove and Michael Joseph Farrell.{{cite web|url=http://todaysunderratedstars.20m.com/MF/MF.html|title=Today's Underrated Stars! – Meet Mike Farrell|publisher=Todaysunderratedstars.20m.com|date=November 18, 1999|access-date=May 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508113341/http://todaysunderratedstars.20m.com/MF/MF.html|archive-date=May 8, 2011|url-status=live}}

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.{{Cite web |url=https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=358077 |title=Together We Served - PFC Michael Farrell|publisher=TogetherWeServed.com |access-date=May 4, 2020 }}

Acting career

=Early career=

File:MikeJudyFarrellKBF1966.jpg at Knott's Berry Farm in 1966]]

During the 1960s, Farrell guest-starred in a few series. Notable roles included playing a young US Forest Service ranger in the Lassie episode "Never Look Back" (February 1967); Federal Agent Modell in the episode "Monkee Chow Mein" on The Monkees in 1967; as a bellhop (uncredited) in The Graduate in 1967; astronaut Arland in the episode "Genie, Genie, Who's Got the Genie?" on I Dream of Jeannie; an Army doctor in the episode "The Bankroll" of Combat!; and an ex-high school friend turned famous actor of Chet Kincaid in The Bill Cosby Show. Farrell also played a service station dealer in a series of television commercials for the then-American Oil Company, later Amoco.

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{{Cite web|url=https://www.metv.com/lists/21-tv-stars-who-appeared-as-guests-on-bonanza|title=21 TV stars who appeared as guests on 'Bonanza'|website=Me-TV Network|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913223606/https://www.metv.com/lists/21-tv-stars-who-appeared-as-guests-on-bonanza|archive-date=September 13, 2018|url-status=live}}{{Citation|title="Bonanza" The Hidden Enemy (TV Episode 1972)|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0529736/fullcredits|access-date=September 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110041636/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0529736/fullcredits|archive-date=November 10, 2016|url-status=live}} and did a number of commercials as a spokesman for Maytag dryers and Plymouth automobiles, among other products.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

File:Mike Farrell Stumpers 1976.jpg in 1976]]

=''M*A*S*H'' (1975–83) and later roles=

Farrell's big break came in 1975 when Wayne Rogers departed M*A*S*H between the third and fourth season. Farrell was recruited for the newly created role of B.J. Hunnicutt, along with series lead Harry Morgan, who was already signed to replace McLean Stevenson for the fourth season. Farrell won the part of B.J. over two other finalists for the role, Alan Fudge and James Cromwell (both of whom guest-starred in the series subsequently). Farrell stayed with M*A*S*H for its remaining eight years on the air. During that time, he wrote five episodes and directed four. Farrell's then-wife, actress Judy Farrell, appeared eight times in the series as Nurse Able.

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 Superman: The Animated Series (1996) with wife Shelley Fabares voicing Martha Kent.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FMFTDwAAQBAJ&q=Farrell+voiced+Jonathan+Kent+in+the+Superman+%281996%29+animated+series%2C+with+wife+Shelley+Fabares+voicing+Martha+Kent&pg=PA613|title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows|last=Perlmutter|first=David|date=May 4, 2018|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781538103746|language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hartman |first=Matthew |date=August 11, 2021 |title=Superman: The Complete Animated Series Saves Blu-ray October 12th |url=https://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/superman-the-complete-animated-series-saves-bluray-october-12th/46046 |access-date=2024-10-10 |website=High-Def Digest}}

Farrell hosted several National Geographic Presents specials and starred in a number of television films, including 1983's Memorial Day, which he co-produced.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/27/arts/tv-view-some-made-for-tv-films-are-more-than-fluff.html|title=TV VIEW; SOME MADE-FOR-TV FILMS ARE MORE THAN FLUFF|last=O'Connor|first=John J.|work=The New York Times |date=November 7, 1983|access-date=October 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524143218/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/11/27/arts/tv-view-some-made-for-tv-films-are-more-than-fluff.html|archive-date=May 24, 2015|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite news|title=Producer Marvin Minoff dies at 78 – Worked on Frost-Nixon TV interview specials|url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/news/producer-marvin-minoff-dies-at-78-1118011298/|work=Variety|date=November 13, 2009|access-date=December 2, 2009}} Together, Farrell and Minoff produced numerous television films.{{cite news|first=Mike|last=Barnes|title='Nixon Interviews' producer Marvin Minoff dies |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i8f2c0287dc37ec6b8e1fe1642ba3b00f|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=November 13, 2009|access-date=December 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024051904/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i8f2c0287dc37ec6b8e1fe1642ba3b00f|archive-date=October 24, 2012}} 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.{{Cite news|date=April 9, 1986|title=Farrell & Minkoff Ink A Disney Pact|page=22|work=Variety}}

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.

=''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.

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 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. 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: The Assassination of Gianni Versace. Most recently, he appeared in NCIS, playing the role of Judge Miles Deakin in the episode "Judge, Jury..." and "...and Executioner."

Activism

File:Stabenow 060402farrell.jpg in 2002.]]

File:Farrell, Mike (2007 protest).jpg

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,{{cite web|url=http://www.mikefarrell.org/activist/humanrights.html|title=Mike Farrell Online|publisher=Mikefarrell.org|date=March 1, 2004|access-date=May 17, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514142243/http://www.mikefarrell.org/activist/humanrights.html|archive-date=May 14, 2011}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Mike Farrell – Great Human Rights Activists|url=http://greathumanrightsactivists.com/mike-farrell/|access-date=November 24, 2020|language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite web|last=MILLER|first=MARJORIE|date=August 11, 1985|title=TV Doctor From 'MASH' Scrubs Up For Salvador Surgery|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-08-11-mn-2820-story.html|access-date=November 30, 2021|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} 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.{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.mikefarrell.org/bio.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811105753/http://www.mikefarrell.org/bio.html|archive-date=August 11, 2007|access-date=August 30, 2007|publisher=Mike Farrell Online}}

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.{{cite web | url=http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/about/foundation-voices/ | title=Foundation voices | publisher=Military Religious Freedom Foundation | access-date=December 18, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215102505/http://www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org/about/foundation-voices/ | archive-date=December 15, 2014 | url-status=live | df=mdy-all }}

In 2014, Farrell workshopped a play by George Shea that brought Charles David Keeling and his scientific work on atmospheric {{CO2}} emissions to life.{{cite web | last=Biggs | first=Julia | title='Dr. Keeling's Curve' starring TV star Farrell takes the stage at SIUE | website=Alton Telegraph | date=February 5, 2019 | url=https://www.thetelegraph.com/news/article/8216-Dr-Keeling-8217-s-Curve-8217-starring-13591091.php | access-date=August 12, 2021}}

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 [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/ZUmlQcw9UKo Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20161217023844/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUmlQcw9UKo Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|last=Andrews|first=Jason|date=December 16, 2016|title=Tucker Carlson vs. actor Mike Farrell on 'unqualified' Trump|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUmlQcw9UKo|website=Youtube}}{{cbignore}}

Publications

Farrell wrote an autobiography, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist (Akashic Books, {{ISBN|1-9333-5408-9}}), 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, {{ISBN|1-9333-5475-5}}), 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 Hayden, who was working as a high school English and drama teacher in Laguna Beach, California.{{cite book|last=Farrell|first=Mike|title=Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist|year=2007|publisher=Akashic Books/RDV Books|isbn=9781933354484|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781933354484/page/61 61–68]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781933354484/page/61}} 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.

Since 1984, he has been married to actress Shelley Fabares.{{Cite news|last=Metz|first=Vicki|date=November 8, 1987|title='Lights, Camera, Action! — on L.I.|work=The New York Times|page=Long Island 11|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/08/nyregion/lightscamera-action-on-li.html |access-date=2023-08-18}}

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.

Selected filmography

{{incomplete list|date=January 2023}}

= Film =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

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

|El Salvador: Another Vietnam

|Narrator

|

1983

|Citizen: The Political Life of Allard K. Lowenstein

|{{N/A}}

|Executive producer

1988

|Dominick and Eugene

|{{N/A}}

|Producer

1990

|Lockdown

|Prentis

|

1995

|The Killers Within

|Congressman Clayton

|

1996

|Hanged on a Twisted Cross

|Dietrich Bonhoeffer

|

1998

|Patch Adams

|{{N/A}}

|Producer

2006

|Superman: Brainiac Attacks

|Jonathan Kent (voice)

|Direct-to-video{{cite web |title=Mike Farrell (visual voices guide) |url=http://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/Mike-Farrell/ |access-date=October 10, 2024 |publisher=Behind The Voice Actors}} 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 =

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Role

!Notes

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

|The Bold Ones: The New Doctors

|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

|{{N/A}}

|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 writer

1990

|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

|Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die

|Frank Crane

|Television film

1994

|An Evening at 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

|Superman: The Animated Series

|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

|The Crooked E: The Unshredded Truth About Enron

|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

|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

|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

|American Crime Story

|Lee Miglin

|2 episodes

2019

|NCIS

|Judge Miles Deakin

|2 episodes

Accolades

class="wikitable"

!Year

!Title

!Accolade / Category

!Results

!Ref

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)

|{{Nominated}}

|[https://www.emmys.com/bios/mike-farrell]

1982

|M*A*S*H*

|Directors Guild Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Comedy Series (for episode "Death Takes a Holiday")

|{{Nominated}}

|

1981

|M*A*S*H*

|Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series (for episode "Death Takes a Holiday")

|{{Nominated}}

|[https://www.emmys.com/bios/mike-farrell]

1982

|The Body Human: Becoming a Man

|Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming

|{{Nominated}}

|

1993

|{{N/A}}

|Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Award for Humanitarian Award

|{{Won}}

|

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)

|{{Won}}

|

2018

|American Crime Story

|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)

|{{Nominated}}

|

References

{{Reflist|30em}}