Howard Hesseman, who performed radio disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on “WKRP in Cincinnati,” died Saturday at age 81.
The actor handed away Saturday afternoon following issues from a colon surgical procedure in Los Angeles, his supervisor Robbie Kass, who confirmed his dying, informed CNN in an e mail.
“He was a groundbreaking expertise and lifelong pal and longtime consumer whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his affect and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy all through the world,” Kass mentioned.
Hesseman was finest identified for his starring function on the CBS sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” from 1978 to 1982. The present had modest rankings and solely lasted 4 seasons however grew to become beloved in its syndication. Hesseman earned two Emmy nominations for his DJ function — which he informed the New York Occasions in 1979 made community executives nervous.
“I feel perhaps Johnny smokes a bit of marijuana, drinks beer and wine, and perhaps a bit of laborious liquor,” Hesseman mentioned on the time. “And on a type of laborious mornings on the station, he may take what for a few years was known as a food regimen capsule. However he's a reasonable person of sentimental medication, particularly marijuana.”
Hesseman additionally had a starring function as a historical past instructor on ABC sitcom “Head of Class” which ran from 1986 to 1991 and hosted “Saturday Evening Stay” a number of occasions.
Born in Oregon, Hesseman grew to become concerned in a San Francisco-based improv group earlier than making it as an actor. He additionally did a stint as an actual radio DJ within the ’60s for San Francisco rock-and-roll station KMPX.
He's survived by his spouse, actress Caroline Ducrocq.
With Publish Wires
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