Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman (February 27, 1940 – January 29, 2022) was an American actor known for his television roles as burned-out disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati (for which he earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series) and the lead role of history teacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class. He appeared regularly on television and in film from the 1970s to 2010s, with his other noteworthy roles including Sam Royer (the husband of lead character Ann Romano) in the last two seasons of One Day at a Time and a supporting role as Captain Pete Lassard in the film Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985).

Infobox

Born

(1940-02-27)February 27, 1940Lebanon, Oregon, U.S.

Died

January 29, 2022(2022-01-29) (aged 81)Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Education

University of Oregon

Occupation

Actor

Years active

1968–2018

Known for

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Spouses

mw- Cаtherine Mаison (m. 1965; div. 1974) Caroline Ducrocq (m. 1989)

Tables

· Filmography › Film

1968

Petulia

Role(s)

Hippie

1969

Some Kind of a Nut

Role(s)

The Bartender

Notes

Uncredited

1971

Billy Jack

Role(s)

Drama Teacher #2

Notes

As Don Sturdy

The Christian Licorice Store

Role(s)

Last Party Guest

1972

Cisco Pike

Role(s)

Recording Engineer

Notes

As Don Sturdy

1973

Steelyard Blues

Role(s)

Frank Veldini

Jory

Role(s)

Santa Rosa Bartender

Notes

Uncredited

Kid Blue

Role(s)

Confectionary Man

1975

Shampoo

Role(s)

Red Dog

Prisoners

Whiffs

Role(s)

Dr. Gopian

The Sunshine Boys

Role(s)

Mr. Walsh, Commercial Director

1976

Tunnel Vision

Role(s)

Senator McMannus

Jackson County Jail

Role(s)

David

Silent Movie

Role(s)

Executive

The Big Bus

Role(s)

Jack

1977

The Other Side of Midnight

Role(s)

O'Brien

Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo

Role(s)

Fred

1978

Loose Shoes

Role(s)

Ernie Piles

1979

Americathon

Role(s)

Kip Margolis

The Jerk

Role(s)

Carnival Worker

Notes

Uncredited

1981

Private Lessons

Role(s)

Lester

Honky Tonk Freeway

Role(s)

Snapper

1983

Doctor Detroit

Role(s)

"Smooth" Walker

Focus on Fishko

Role(s)

Notes

Short

1984

This Is Spinal Tap

Role(s)

Terry Ladd

1985

Clue

Role(s)

The Chief

Notes

Uncredited

Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment

Role(s)

Captain Pete Lassard

1986

My Chauffeur

Role(s)

McBride

Flight of the Navigator

Role(s)

Dr. Louis Faraday

Inside Out

Role(s)

Jack

Heat

Role(s)

Pinchus Zion

1987

Amazon Women on the Moon

Role(s)

Rupert King

Notes

Segment "Titan Man"

1991

Rubin and Ed

Role(s)

Ed Tuttle

1993

Little Miss Millions

Role(s)

Nick Frost

1994

Munchie Strikes Back

Role(s)

Munchie

Notes

Voice

1995

Out-of-Sync

Role(s)

Detective Caldwell

1996

Boys' Night Out

Role(s)

Sheba / Mr. Cabot

Notes

Short

1997

Gridlock'd

Role(s)

Blind Man

1998

The Way to Santiago

Role(s)

Johnson

Notes

Short

1999

The Sky Is Falling

Role(s)

Yogi Cook

2002

Teddy Bears' Picnic

Role(s)

Ted Frye

The Mesmerist

Role(s)

Mr. Valdemar

About Schmidt

Role(s)

Larry Hertzel

2006

Man About Town

Role(s)

Ben Giamoro

Domestic Import

Role(s)

Lou Kimmelman

2007

Martian Child

Role(s)

Dr. Berg

2008

The Rocker

Role(s)

"Gator"

2009

Halloween II

Role(s)

"Uncle Meat"

All About Steve

Role(s)

Mr. Horowitz

2012

Bigfoot

Role(s)

Mayor Tommy Gillis

A Helping Hand

Role(s)

Howard

Notes

Short

2016

Wild Oats

Role(s)

Vespucci

Silver Skies

Role(s)

Billy

Emmett in Peopleland

Role(s)

Howard Oozman

Notes

Short

2018

Dirty Politics

Role(s)

"Big Oil"

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1968	Petulia	Hippie
1969	Some Kind of a Nut	The Bartender	Uncredited
1971	Billy Jack	Drama Teacher	As Don Sturdy
1971	The Christian Licorice Store	Last Party Guest
1972	Cisco Pike	Recording Engineer	As Don Sturdy
1973	Steelyard Blues	Frank Veldini
	Jory	Santa Rosa Bartender	Uncredited
	Kid Blue	Confectionary Man
1975	Shampoo	Red Dog
	Prisoners
	Whiffs	Dr. Gopian
	The Sunshine Boys	Mr. Walsh, Commercial Director
1976	Tunnel Vision	Senator McMannus
	Jackson County Jail	David
	Silent Movie	Executive
	The Big Bus	Jack
1977	The Other Side of Midnight	O'Brien
1977	Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo	Fred
1978	Loose Shoes	Ernie Piles
1979	Americathon	Kip Margolis
1979	The Jerk	Carnival Worker	Uncredited
1981	Private Lessons	Lester
1981	Honky Tonk Freeway	Snapper
1983	Doctor Detroit	"Smooth" Walker
1983	Focus on Fishko	Sy	Short
1984	This Is Spinal Tap	Terry Ladd
1985	Clue	The Chief	Uncredited
1985	Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment	Captain Pete Lassard
1986	My Chauffeur	McBride
	Flight of the Navigator	Dr. Louis Faraday
	Inside Out	Jack
	Heat	Pinchus Zion
1987	Amazon Women on the Moon	Rupert King	Segment "Titan Man"
1991	Rubin and Ed	Ed Tuttle
1993	Little Miss Millions	Nick Frost
1994	Munchie Strikes Back	Munchie	Voice
1995	Out-of-Sync	Detective Caldwell
1996	Boys' Night Out	Sheba / Mr. Cabot	Short
1997	Gridlock'd	Blind Man
1998	The Way to Santiago	Johnson	Short
1999	The Sky Is Falling	Yogi Cook
2002	Teddy Bears' Picnic	Ted Frye
	The Mesmerist	Mr. Valdemar
	About Schmidt	Larry Hertzel
2006	Man About Town	Ben Giamoro
2006	Domestic Import	Lou Kimmelman
2007	Martian Child	Dr. Berg
2008	The Rocker	"Gator"
2009	Halloween II	"Uncle Meat"

· Filmography › Television

1968

The Andy Griffith Show

Role(s)

Hot Dog Vendor

Notes

Episode: "Goober Goes to an Auto Show"

Dragnet 1969

Role(s)

Jesse Chaplin (as Don Sturdy)

Notes

Episode: "Public Affairs: DR-07"

1971

The Feminist and the Fuzz

Role(s)

Hippie

Notes

TV movie (uncredited)

1973

The Blue Knight

Notes

TV movie

1974

Firehouse

Role(s)

Hanley

Notes

Episode: "The Hottest Place in Town"

Another April

Role(s)

Dennis Webber

Notes

TV movie

Rhoda

Role(s)

Kirk Stevens

Notes

Episode: "I'll Be Loving You, Sometimes"

1975

Mannix

Role(s)

Ray Bennett

Notes

Episode: "A Ransom for Yesterday"

Hustling

Role(s)

Detective

Notes

TV movie

Sanford and Son

Role(s)

Professor Stoneham

Notes

Episode: "The Family Man"

The Blue Knight

Role(s)

Resident

Notes

Episode: "Pilot"

Harry O

Role(s)

Senator Lawler

Notes

Episode: "Tender Killing Care"

1976

Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur

Role(s)

AP Man

Notes

TV movie

Family

Role(s)

Store Manager

Notes

Episode: "A Special Kind of Loving"

Switch

Role(s)

M.W.

Notes

Episode: "Pirates of Tin Pan Alley"

Baretta

Role(s)

Walker

Notes

Episode: "Street Edition"

Laverne & Shirley

Role(s)

Dr. Grayson

Notes

Episode: "Oh Hear the Angels' Voices"

1976–1977

Role(s)

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Notes

Dr. Robert Williams

1977

Delvecchio

Role(s)

"Goldie"

Notes

Episode: "Dying Can Be a Pleasure"

Tail Gunner Joe

Role(s)

Lieutenant Ted Cantwell

Notes

TV movie

Westside Medical

Role(s)

"Buzz" Canfield

Notes

Episode: "The Witch of Four West"

The Amazing Howard Hughes

Role(s)

Jenks

Notes

TV movie

The TVTV Show

Role(s)

Ralph Buckler

Notes

TV movie

Blansky's Beauties

Role(s)

Dr. Berg

Notes

Episode: "Nancy Breaks a Leg"

Quincy, M.E.

Role(s)

District Attorney Jerry Douglas

Notes

Episode: "A Dead Man's Truth"

Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo

Role(s)

Fred

Notes

TV movie

1974–1978

Role(s)

The Bob Newhart Show

Notes

Craig Plager / Augie

1978

The Ghost of Flight 401

Role(s)

Bert Stockwell

Notes

TV movie

The Rockford Files

Role(s)

Al Steever

Notes

Episode: "The House on Willis Avenue"

Husbands, Wives & Lovers

Role(s)

Dave

Notes

Episode: "Ron Moves in and Helene Steps Out"

Soap

Role(s)

Mr. Franklin

Notes

7 episodes

The Comedy Company

Role(s)

Roger Dustleman

Notes

TV movie

More Than Friends

Role(s)

Avery Salminella

Notes

TV movie

Outside Chance

Role(s)

David

Notes

TV movie

1978–1982

Role(s)

WKRP in Cincinnati

Notes

Dr. Johnny Fever

1979

You Can't Take It with You

Role(s)

Wilbur C. Henderson

Notes

TV movie

1980

Gridlock

Role(s)

Senor Smooth (voice)

Notes

TV movie

Skyward

Role(s)

Koup Trenton

Notes

TV movie

1982

Victims

Role(s)

Charles Galloway

Notes

TV movie

One Shoe Makes It Murder

Role(s)

Joe Hervey

Notes

TV movie

9 to 5

Notes

Episode: "Home Is Where the Hart Is"

1983

Love, Sidney

Role(s)

Earl Edwards

Notes

Episode: "The Shrink"

Likely Stories, Vol. 4

Role(s)

Seymour Z. Fishko

Notes

TV movie

1982–1984

Role(s)

One Day at a Time

Notes

Sam Royer

1984

Mister Roberts

Role(s)

Doc

Notes

TV movie

Best Kept Secrets

Role(s)

Jim Osborne

Notes

TV movie

Silence of the Heart

Role(s)

Carl Lewis

Notes

TV movie

1985

George Burns Comedy Week

Notes

Episode: "The Honeybunnies"

Murder, She Wrote

Role(s)

Sheldon Greenberg

Notes

Episode: "Widow, Weep for Me"

1986

Faerie Tale Theatre

Role(s)

King

Notes

Episode: "The Princess Who Had Never Laughed"

1987

Six Against the Rock

Role(s)

Joseph "Dutch" Cretzer

Notes

TV movie

1988

The Diamond Trap

Role(s)

Detective Rollings

Notes

TV movie

1986–1990

Role(s)

Head of the Class

Notes

Charlie Moore

1990

Call Me Anna

Role(s)

John Ross

Notes

TV movie

1991

Murder in New Hampshire: The Pamela Wojas Smart Story

Role(s)

Paul Maggioto

Notes

TV movie

1992

Black Death

Role(s)

Calvin Phillips

Notes

TV movie

The Ray Bradbury Theatre

Role(s)

Bayes

Notes

Episode: "Downwind from Gettysburg"

Hot Chocolate

Role(s)

Mr. Cassidy

Notes

TV movie

1991–1993

Role(s)

The New WKRP in Cincinnati

Notes

Dr. Johnny Fever

1993

Lethal Exposure

Role(s)

Taylor

Notes

TV movie

1995

Burke's Law

Role(s)

Chuck Mason

Notes

Episode: "Who Killed the Gadget Man?"

1996

Innocent Victims

Role(s)

Smithline

Notes

TV movie

1997

The Outer Limits

Role(s)

Dr. Emory Taylor

Notes

Episode: "Music of the Spheres"

High Stakes

Role(s)

Wayne Dreyer

Notes

TV movie

On the 2nd Day of Christmas

Role(s)

David

Notes

TV movie

1998

Two Guys and a Girl

Role(s)

Mr. Bergen

Notes

Episode: "Two Guys, a Girl and a Dad"

1999

The Practice

Role(s)

Judge C. Williams

Notes

Episode: "A Day in the Life"

Tracey Takes On...

Role(s)

Todd

Notes

Episode: "Drugs"

Family Law

Role(s)

Howard Thomas / Randall

Notes

Episode: "The Fourth Trimester"

The Pretender

Role(s)

Landlord

Notes

Episode: "Extreme"

2000

Touched by an Angel

Role(s)

Flynn Hodge

Notes

Episode: "Monica's Bad Day"

2001

Level 9

Role(s)

General Richard Scheffer

Notes

Episode: "Wetware"

Three Sisters

Role(s)

Jerry Keats

Notes

Episode: "The In-Laws"

That '70s Show

Role(s)

Max

Notes

3 episodes

Thieves

Role(s)

Hal Bloomberg

Notes

Episode: "Jack's Back"

Crossing Jordan

Role(s)

Barney Reynolds

Notes

Episode: "Sight Unseen"

2002

Maybe It's Me

Role(s)

Mr. Finn

Notes

Episode: "The Crazy-Girl Episode"

2003

It's All Relative

Role(s)

Monty

Notes

Episode: "Road Trippin'"

Boomtown

Role(s)

Mel Castle

Notes

Episode: "The Big Picture"

2004

Oliver Beene

Role(s)

Dr. Fenniger

Notes

Episode: "Superhero"

2005

Crazy for Christmas

Role(s)

Fred Nickells

Notes

TV movie

2006

House

Role(s)

Henry Errington

Notes

Episode: "Sex Kills"

2006–2007

Role(s)

Boston Legal

Notes

Judge Robert Thompson

2007

Psych

Role(s)

Barry Saunder

Notes

Episode: "And Down the Stretch Comes Murder"

John from Cincinnati

Role(s)

Erlemeyer

Notes

2 episodes

Role(s)

Dr. James Broderick

Notes

Episode: "The War Comes Home"

2010

Lie to Me

Role(s)

Sam Hendricks

Notes

Episode: "Beat the Devil"

2011

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Role(s)

Dr. Aden

Notes

Episode: "Turn On, Tune In, Drop Dead"

Drop Dead Diva

Role(s)

Cole Lamburt

Notes

Episode: "The Wedding"

2012

Mike & Molly

Role(s)

Otis

Notes

Episode: "Mike Likes Lasagna"

2013

HitStreak

2015

The Homeless Detective

Role(s)

Howard Oozman

Notes

TV movie

2016

Chicago Med

Role(s)

Clyde Glickman

Notes

Episode: "Withdrawal"

A Christmas in Vermont

Role(s)

Nick Harper

Notes

TV movie

2017

Fresh Off the Boat

Role(s)

Mr. Royce

Notes

2 episodes

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1968	The Andy Griffith Show	Hot Dog Vendor	Episode: "Goober Goes to an Auto Show"
1968	Dragnet 1969	Jesse Chaplin (as Don Sturdy)	Episode: "Public Affairs: DR-07"
1971	The Feminist and the Fuzz	Hippie	TV movie (uncredited)
1973	The Blue Knight		TV movie
1974	Firehouse	Hanley	Episode: "The Hottest Place in Town"
	Another April	Dennis Webber	TV movie
	Rhoda	Kirk Stevens	Episode: "I'll Be Loving You, Sometimes"
1975	Mannix	Ray Bennett	Episode: "A Ransom for Yesterday"
	Hustling	Detective	TV movie
	Sanford and Son	Professor Stoneham	Episode: "The Family Man"
	The Blue Knight	Resident	Episode: "Pilot"
	Harry O	Senator Lawler	Episode: "Tender Killing Care"
1976	Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur	AP Man	TV movie
	Family	Store Manager	Episode: "A Special Kind of Loving"
	Switch	M.W.	Episode: "Pirates of Tin Pan Alley"
	Baretta	Walker	Episode: "Street Edition"
	Laverne & Shirley	Dr. Grayson	Episode: "Oh Hear the Angels' Voices"
1976–1977	Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman	Dr. Robert Williams	13 episodes
1977	Delvecchio	"Goldie"	Episode: "Dying Can Be a Pleasure"
	Tail Gunner Joe	Lieutenant Ted Cantwell	TV movie
	Westside Medical	"Buzz" Canfield	Episode: "The Witch of Four West"
	The Amazing Howard Hughes	Jenks	TV movie
	The TVTV Show	Ralph Buckler	TV movie
	Blansky's Beauties	Dr. Berg	Episode: "Nancy Breaks a Leg"
	Quincy, M.E.	District Attorney Jerry Douglas	Episode: "A Dead Man's Truth"
	Tarantulas: The Deadly Cargo	Fred	TV movie
1974–1978	The Bob Newhart Show	Craig Plager / Augie	6 episodes
1978	The Ghost of Flight 401	Bert Stockwell	TV movie
	The Rockford Files	Al Steever	Episode: "The House on Willis Avenue"
	Husbands, Wives & Lovers	Dave	Episode: "Ron Moves in and Helene Steps Out"
	Soap	Mr. Franklin	7 episodes
	The Comedy Company	Roger Dustleman	TV movie
	More Than Friends	Avery Salminella	TV movie
	Outside Chance	David	TV movie
1978–1982	WKRP in Cincinnati	Dr. Johnny Fever	86 episodes
1979	You Can't Take It with You	Wilbur C. Henderson	TV movie
1980	Gridlock	Senor Smooth (voice)	TV movie
1980	Skyward	Koup Trenton	TV movie
1982	Victims	Charles Galloway	TV movie
	One Shoe Makes It Murder	Joe Hervey	TV movie
	9 to 5		Episode: "Home Is Where the Hart Is"
1983	Love, Sidney	Earl Edwards	Episode: "The Shrink"
1983	Likely Stories, Vol. 4	Seymour Z. Fishko	TV movie
1982–1984	One Day at a Time	Sam Royer	16 episodes
1984	Mister Roberts	Doc	TV movie
	Best Kept Secrets	Jim Osborne	TV movie
	Silence of the Heart	Carl Lewis	TV movie
1985	George Burns Comedy Week		Episode: "The Honeybunnies"
1985	Murder, She Wrote	Sheldon Greenberg	Episode: "Widow, Weep for Me"

References

The Oregonian
http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/index.ssf/2014/04/17_actors_you_maybe_didn.html
People
https://people.com/archive/cover-story-wkrp-on-tv-vol-12-no-20/
ABC News
https://archive.today/20220130215852/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/howard-hesseman-star-wkrp-cincinatti-dies-81-82566270
TVLine
https://tvline.com/2022/01/30/howard-hesseman-dead-wkrp-in-cincinnati-actor-dies-obituary/
"Caroline Ducrocq, Howard Hesseman's wife"
https://web.archive.org/web/20220131063759/https://technotrenz.com/entertainment/caroline-ducrocq-is-the-name-of-howard-hessemans-wife-1611463.html
The Hollywood Reporter
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/howard-hesseman-dead-wkrp-cincinnati-1235084085/