NEW YORK — Howard Hesseman has died. He was the radio disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever from the sitcom “WKRP In Cincinnati” and the actor-turned history teacher Charlie Moore from “Head Of the Class.” He was 81.
Robbie Kass, Hesseman’s manager, announced Sunday that Hesseman passed away in Los Angeles from complications following colon surgery.
Hesseman was a radio DJ during the 1960s and received two Emmy nominations. He played Johnny Fever on CBS’ WKRP in Cincinnati, which ran for four seasons between 1978-1982. Hesseman was a counterculture icon in a time when few hippie characters were made it onto television networks.
The first episode features Dr. Johnny Fever announcing the station’s transition from elevator music to rock ‘n’ roll. He also makes a record scratch and proclamation.
“All right Cincinnati! It’s time for the town to get down!” Johnny Fever is here, and I’m burning up. Babies, we’re all in critical condition. But you can still tell me where it hurts, because I received the healing prescription from the huge KRP musical medicine cabinets. Your 50,000-watt intensive medical unit, babies!
Hesseman, who was preparing for his “Saturday Night Live” hosting gigs in 1979, told The New York Times that the character made executives nervous. Johnny Fever, who has been given alcohol, is subject to an on-air sobriety exam. His reaction time only improves.
Hesseman suggested that Johnny might smoke marijuana and drink beer, wine and hard liquor. He might also take what was for many years known as a diet pill on one of the hard mornings at work. He is an occasional user of marijuana and other soft drugs.
Hesseman was a hippie in “Dragnet” in 1967 and in “Petulia” 1968 Richard Lester films. Hesseman was born in Lebanon, Oregon. He told People magazine in 1983 that he had done “pharmaceutical research in recreational chemistry.” In 1963, Hesseman was sentenced to San Francisco for selling marijuana.
Hesseman began his career performing under Don Sturdy’s name. He was a member of The Committee in San Francisco, an improv group that performed regularly at antiwar and civil right protests.
He also worked as a disk jockey at KMPX, the San Francisco rock and roll station. Hesseman would often ad-lib his banter on the air later on WKRP in Cincinnati.
On Twitter, Michael McKean, actor and comedian, said that it was impossible to overstate Howard Hesseman’s influence on him and subsequent generations. Hesseman was first seen by McKean in 1971 at The Committee. “I saw that He was the real deal.
Hesseman was briefly, but memorable, with McKean in 1984’s rockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap”, as Terry Ladd (manager to rock star Duke Fame). He ends the conversation by saying, “We’d love for to stay and talk but we’re going in the lobby to wait for the limousine.”
Hesseman was a teacher in the ABC sitcom Head of the Class, which debuted in 1986. The dialogue in the classroom was often very progressive in the 1980s of Ronald Reagan. Hesseman expressed frustration with the show, which was co-created and written by Michael Elias, a political activist and writer. He felt it wasn’t as exciting as he had hoped. After four seasons, he left the show and was replaced by Billy Connolly for the fifth and final episode.
“Part of me asks, ‘Is this all there is? It’s not a television series. In a 1989 interview, Hesseman stated that he could be on stage or make my way into the films. But how many movies do you want to be part of? How many would you like to be a part of? I have a particular type of ‘for rent’ sign on the top of my forehead. I am an actor, and I enjoy working.”
Hesseman is a prolific actor of character roles. His credits include “The Andy Griffith Show,”” “One Day at a Time,” and “The Rockford Files.” He also appeared on “The Bob Newhart Show” and “Laverne & Shirley.” He made his debuts on “That 70’s Show,” Fresh Off the Boat, “House”, and “Boston Legal” in recent years. Films include “Police Academy 2; Their First Assignment,” and “About Schmidt.”
Hesseman’s wife Caroline Ducrocq is an actor and acting teacher.
