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Basketball Fan Franchise Player
Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 24744
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 12:00 pm Post subject: Actor Howard Hesseman dies at 81 |
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https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/howard-hesseman-wkrp-in-cincinnati-head-of-the-class-dead-obit-1292607/
Quote: | Howard Hesseman, ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ and ‘Head of the Class’ Star, Dead at 81
Actor and comedian also appeared in films like This Is Spinal Tap, Clue and Flight of the Navigator
LOS ANGELES - SEPTEMBER 18:
Howard Hesseman, the actor and comedian who starred as DJ Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati and Charlie Moore on Head of the Class, has died at the age of 81.
Hesseman’s wife Caroline Ducrocq confirmed his death to the Hollywood Reporter, adding he died Saturday at a Los Angeles hospital from complications from colon cancer.
A member of the legendary San Francisco improv group the Committee and a real-life disc jockey who hit airwaves under the name Don Sturdy, Hesseman broke into acting in 1968 with a bit part on Dragnet; after spending the first half of the decade with one-off appearances on dozens of TV shows and small roles in movies, Hesseman first landed a 13-episode part on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman before scoring his breakout role, the lewd, anti-disco DJ Dr. Johnny Fever on the Seventies sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, about a struggling Top 40 radio station.
The cult sitcom ran for four season from 1978 to 1982; soon after, Hesseman hopped onto another permanent gig, portraying out-of-work actor-turned-teacher on another beloved sitcom, Head of the Class, with Hesseman spending four seasons in that role.
On the big screen, Hesseman notably appeared in films like Flight of the Navigator, Clue, Police Academy 2, the Bill Murray comedy Loose Shoes and as the manager Terry Ladd in the mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap.
“Impossible to overstate Howard Hesseman’s influence on his and subsequent generations of improvisors. The first time I saw him on stage (Troubadour, ’71, with The Committee) I saw that he was the real deal. He was a friend for 50 years,” Michael McKean, who appeared alongside Hesseman in Clue and Spinal Tap, tweeted Saturday.
“Howard’s character in Spinal Tap didn’t even exist until 24 hours before the shoot: we’d discovered that the musician we’d hired to play Duke Fame couldn’t improvise, so Rob said let’s give him a manager. I’ll call Howard. He blitzed it, of course.”
In addition to his acting roles, Hesseman returned to his comedy roots by serving as host of Saturday Night Live on three occasions: |
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FernieBee Star Player
Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 8033 Location: 921SD
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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RIP _________________ Garvey, Lopes, Cey, Russell |
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venturalakersfan Retired Number
Joined: 14 Apr 2001 Posts: 144432 Location: The Gold Coast
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2022 12:22 pm Post subject: |
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RIP Dr. Johnny Fever _________________ RIP mom. 11-21-1933 to 6-14-2023. |
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ChefLinda Moderator
Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 24113 Location: Boston
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Heartburn Star Player
Joined: 04 Oct 2001 Posts: 6346 Location: The Titanic that is the USA
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 12:11 pm Post subject: |
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He was pretty good in that one show where he was a high school teacher. The one with Robin Givens. _________________ You are under no obligation to remain the same person you were a year ago, a month ago, or even a day ago. You are here to create yourself, continuously. - Richard Feynman |
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FernieBee Star Player
Joined: 17 Nov 2003 Posts: 8033 Location: 921SD
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Heartburn wrote: | He was pretty good in that one show where he was a high school teacher. The one with Robin Givens. |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_the_Class
_________________ Garvey, Lopes, Cey, Russell |
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Basketball Fan Franchise Player
Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 24744
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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Heartburn wrote: | He was pretty good in that one show where he was a high school teacher. The one with Robin Givens. |
That's what I remember him from never watched WKRP in Cincinnati.
The show was never the same after he left either. |
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