The Late Great Howard Hesseman

Among my absolute favourite TV shows of all time is WKRP in Cincinnati, and my favourite character on the show was Dr. Johnny Fever. He was wonderfully realized by Howard Hesseman, who brought his real life experience as a DJ to the character. I wasn't the only one who loved Johnny, as he seemed to be the most popular character on the show. Of course, Howard Heseman played other roles as well. He was teacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class and he played Sam Royer in One Day at a Time. He also appeared in such movies as Shampoo (1975) and Heat (1986).  Sadly, Howard Hesseman died on January 29 2022 at the age of 81. The cause complications of colon surgery.

Howard Hesseman was born on February 27 1940 in Lebanon, Oregon. His parents divorced when he was five years old. His mother later remarried. He graduated from Silverton High School in 1958, then attended the University of Oregon for a time. He left college for San Francisco where he found a job as a DJ at radio station KMPX. Along with David Ogden Stiers (later of M*A*S*H), he was a founding member of the improvisational comedy group The Committee. It was while he was with The Committee that he took the stage name "Don Sturdy."

It was under that name that he made his television debut as a guest star on The Andy Griffith Show in 1968. That same year he guest starred on Dragnet 1968. He appeared on The Smother Brothers Comedy Hour as part of The Committee. He made his movie debut in Petulia in 1968 and appeared as part of The Committee in the movie Where It's At (1969). He also appeared in the movie Some Kind of a Nut (1969).

In the Seventies Howard Hesseman played Dr. Robert Williams on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Craig Plager on The Bob Newhart Show, and Mr. Franklin on Soap. It was in 1978 that he began a four year run as Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati. He was twice nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series for the role. He also guest starred on the shows Firehouse; Rhoda; Mannix; Sanford and Son; The Blue Knight; Harry-O, Family; ;Switch; Baretta; Laverne & Shirley; Delvecchio; Westside Medical; Blansky's Beauties; Quincy M.E.; The Rockford Files; and Husbands, Wives, & Lovers. He appeared in the movies Billy Jack (1971) and Cisco Pike (1971) using the stage name Don Sturdy. He also appeared in the movies The Christian Licorice Store (1971), Steelyard Blues (1973), Jory (1973), Kid Blue (1973), Shampoo (1975), Whiffs (1975), The Sunshine Boys (1975), Tunnel Vision (1976), Jackson County Jail (1976), Silent Movie (1976), The Big Bus (1976), The Other Side of Midnight (1977), Loose Shoes (1977), Americathon (1979), and The Jerk (1979).

It was in 1982 that he began playing Sam Royer, the architect who eventually married lead character Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin) on One Day at a Time. In 1986 he began a four year run as teacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class. He guest starred on the shows 9 to 5; Love, Sidney; Murder, She Wrote; George Burns Comedy Week; and Faerie Tale Theatre. He appeared in the movies Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), Doctor Detroit (1983), This is Spinal Tap (1984), Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment, Clue (1985), My Chauffeur (1986), Flight of the Navigator (1986), Inside Out (1986), Heat (1986), and Amazon Women on the Moon (1987).

In the Nineties Mr. Hesseman had a recurring role as Dr. Johnny Fever on The New WKRP in Cincinnati. He guest starred on the shows The Ray Bradbury Theatre; Burke's Law; The Outer Limits; Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place; The Practice; Tracy Takes On...; Family Law; The Pretender; and Touched by an Angel. He appeared in the movies Rubin and Ed (1991), Little Miss Millions (1993), Out-of Sync (1995), Gridlock'd (1997), and The Sky is Falling (1999). He was the voice of Munchie in the movie Munchie Strikes Back (1994).  He appeared on Broadway in Laughter on 23rd Floor.

In the Naughts Howard Hesseman guest starred on the shows Level 9, Three Sisters, That '70s Show, Thieves, Crossing Jordan, Maybe It's Me, It's All Relative, Boomtown, Oliver Beane, House M.D., Boston Legal, Psych, John from Cincinnati, ER, and Lie to Me. He appeared in the movies Teddy Bears' Picnic (2001), The Mesmerist (2002), About Schmidt (2002), Man About Town (2006), Domestic Import (2006), Martian Child (2007), The Rocker (2008), Halloween II (2009), and All About Steve (2009).

In the Teens Mr. Hesseman appeared in the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Drop Dead Diva, Mike & Molly, Chicago Med, and Fresh Off the Boat.

I think it is safe to say that Howard Hesseman will always be best remembered as Dr. Johnny Fever, the DJ who only really comes alive when he is on the air. As identified as he always with be with Johnny, Mr. Hesseman played many great roles throughout his career. He shined as struggling screenwriter Craig Plager on The Bob Newhart Show. He was also impressive as Charlie Moore, the unconventional teacher on Head of the Class. He played the rather dodgy lawyer Pinchus Zion in the movie Heat and did a very good job at it. Although Howard Hesseman played several hippies in his career (which include Johnny Fever, who had been a hippie), he also played a wide range of other roles, including doctors, lawyers, and even military officers. Howard Hesseman was a singular talent who had a particular gift for comedy and a gift for creating fully realized characters. If Dr. Johnny Fever is such a beloved character, it is because of the sheer talent of Howard Hesseman.