Howard Hesseman, who starred in WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class, is dead at 81
Howard Hesseman, who starred in WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class, is dead at 81
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Howard Hesseman, best known for his starring roles as Dr. Johnny Fever in WKRP in Cincinnati and Charlie Moore in Head of the Class, has passed away at the age of 81.
In a statement to Variety, Hesseman’s manager Robbie Kass confirmed that the actor had passed away on Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles due to complications from colon surgery.
‘Howard was a groundbreaking talent and lifelong friend whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his influence and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy throughout the world,’ Kass told Variety.
Sad: Howard Hesseman, best known for his starring roles as Dr. Johnny Fever in WKRP in Cincinnati and Charlie Moore in Head of the Class, has passed away at the age of 81; pictured in 2018
The comedian’s wife of 23 years, Caroline Ducrocq, also confirmed that he had passed away after suffering complications from a procedure that he underwent last summer, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Hesseman was born in Lebanon, Oregon in 1940 and launched his entertainment career in the 1960s when he joined the San Francisco-based improvisational comedy group The Committee.
He also performed as a DJ under the name Don Sturdy at an underground San Francisco radio station before landing the role of John ‘Dr. Johnny Fever’ Caravella on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati in 1978.
Remembering him: Hesseman’s manager Robbie Kass told Variety, ‘Howard was a groundbreaking talent and lifelong friend whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his influence and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy throughout the world’; seen in 1980 for WKRP in Cincinnati
Hesseman’s early work included appearances in Dragnet, The Bob Newhart Show, The Andy Griffith Show and Laverne & Shirley, in which he was sometimes credited under his Don Sturdy alias.
In 1980 and 1981, Hesseman was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Dr. Johnny Fever.
In a 1979 interview with the New York Times, Hesseman said that he had fought with CBS censors over the ‘countercultural aspects’ of his character, who the newspaper noted was ‘one of the first characters on commercial television to openly espouse a style of life alien to much of middle America.’
Art imitating life: He also performed as a DJ under the name Don Sturdy at an underground San Francisco radio station before landing the role of John ‘Dr. Johnny Fever’ Caravella on the sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati in 1978. Pictured in 1979
The actor told the NYT, ‘I think maybe Johnny smokes a little marijuana, drinks beer and wine, and maybe a little hard liquor.
‘And on one of those hard mornings at the station, he might take what for many years was referred to as a diet pill. But he is a moderate user of soft drugs, specifically marijuana.’
WKRP in Cincinnati aired 90 episodes over four seasons from 1978 to 1982. Hesseman went on to reprise his role in nine episodes of the reboot series The New WKRP in Cincinnati, which ran from 1991 to 1993.
Back then: Hesseman starred as aspiring actor and substitute teacher Charlie Moore on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class from 1986 to 1990. Seen in 1986
He also directed two episodes of the show in which he did not make an appearance.
Hesseman starred as aspiring actor and substitute teacher Charlie Moore on the ABC sitcom Head of the Class from 1986 to 1990.
He left the series after the end of its fourth season when his character Mr. Moore finally made it on Broadway.
Hesseman starred as architect Sam Royer on the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time from 1982 to 1984. His character eventually married the show’s lead Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin).
On screen romance: Hesseman starred as architect Sam Royer on the CBS sitcom One Day at a Time from 1982 to 1984. His character eventually married the show’s lead Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin)
In addition to his television work, Hesseman also appeared in feature films including Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), Flight of the Navigator (1986), Heat (1986), Gridlock’d (1997), The Sky is Falling (1999) About Schmidt (2002), The Rocker (2008), Halloween II (2009) and Silver Skies (2016).
The three-time Saturday Night Live host continued to enjoy a prolific television career with roles in That ’70s Show, The Practice, Boston Legal, House, ER, CSI, Chicago Med, Mike and Molly, and Fresh Off the Boat.
His last on-screen appearance was in Steven Esteb’s 2018 comedy Dirty Politics.
In addition to his wife, Hesseman is survived by his godchildren Grace, Hamish and Chet.
Feature work: In addition to his television work, Hesseman also appeared in feature films including Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)
Later work: Hesseman’s last on-screen appearance was in Steven Esteb’s 2018 comedy Dirty Politics. Seen in 2013
