Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist

by Mike Farrell

Los Angeles Times A memoir by the M*A*S*H actor revealing his hardscrabble childhood, his life in Hollywood, and his passion for human rights. Best known for his eight years on M*A*S*H and his five seasons on Providence , Mike Farrell is also a writer, director, and producer—and a fiercely dedicated activist who has served on human rights and peace delegations to countries around the world as well as working tirelessly on the issue of the death penalty. In Just Call Me Mike , he not only tells his story but reveals the candidness and decency that has endeared him not only to his fans but to commentators across the political divide. “In this honest autobiography, Farrell, who played B.J. Hunnicutt in the TV series M*A*S*H , provides intimate accounts of growing up working-class in the shadows of wealthy Hollywood, overcoming personal demons as he starts his acting career and finding happiness in the popular sitcom and what he describes as a supportive and cohesive cast and crew. Throughout the series, Farrell also began to pursue an interest in politics and human rights that took him to Cambodia, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, and his passionate descriptions of the human rights abuses in those countries show why Farrell currently is considered one of Hollywood’s most prominent activists.” — Publishers Weekly “A stand-up guy . . . His book, Just Call Me Mike , will entertain and inform you far beyond most autobiographies. Farrell’s life is fascinating and his journey is well worth your time.” —Bill O’Reilly “He describes the fantastic, sometimes painful, and ultimately redeeming journey that his conscience has led him on . . . Disarmingly honest.” —Kamala Harris “Farrell doesn’t hesitate to put himself on the line, whether writing about his troubled past, the behind-the-scenes conflicts on the M*A*S*H set, or his human rights activism.” — The Sacramento Bee

Genres: Nonfiction, Autobiography, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir, Politics

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Mike Farrell is best known for his eight years on M*A*S*H and five seasons on Providence. He is also a writer, director, and producer. He serves as cochair emeritus of Human Rights Watch in Southern California, and cofounded Artists United to Win Without War. As president of Death Penalty Focus, he speaks, writes, and coordinates efforts to stop executions. He lives in Los Angeles. (from the publisher's website)"

Reviews

[Surreysmum · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I asked for this for Christmas, I wasn't expecting much more than a standard fluffy Hollywood autobiography. That'll serve me right for not realizing Mike Farrell is such a man of substance.

Of course in one way I was disappointed not to have more anecdotes from the set of MASH, but Farrell's life, and the causes he has been involved with, have been way more interesting than those of most actors. And since he's on the side of the angels politically (in my view, anyway), it was not just an informative, but an inspiring, read - good to see someone using that rather peculiar influence that mass media stars have to nudge the world (and particularly the US) into slightly better paths.

Hard to believe he's in his seventies. Good luck to him - he most certainly deserves it.

[Booknblues · Rating 4 out of 5]

My idea in choosing an autobiography by Mike Farrell is that I would be entertained and learn something about the cast and filming of M*A*S*H while giving a nod to expanding my horizons to South Korea.

I actively avoid celebrating memoirs and really am unfamiliar with the latest celebrities, be they musicians, comedians, actors or new (to my mind why are they even famous) as the Kardasians. But I love M*A*S*H and continue to watch reruns of it today, so I thought that Mike Farrell's autobiography might be fun.

Farrell or should I say Mike barely touches on M*A*S*H although he does say, "M*A*S*H demonstrated that you could work within the sitcom framework and still be about something—in this case, something wonderful and real, human and touching—rather than superimposing a false reality on a fake premise." He also talks about the warmth and camaraderie of the crew and explains what he likes about each one of them.

What Mike does talk about is his journey as an activist. I found that he is very involved and very sincere about social justice and has a long career working in causes throughout the world and the United States. He is not only involved but he is knowledgeable and I was impressed with this. He has visited countries around the world in times of conflict on fact finding missions. Among those countries visited are Nicaragua, El Salvador, Bosnia, Somalia, Israel, Cambodia, Palestine, and Rwanda.

He is also very involved in the fight against the death penalty and other issues of social justice in this country. He has visited many prisons and had discussions with prisoners on death row.

He has been married to actress Shelly Fabares for over 30 years and is very commited to his family which he talks about in the book.

As would be expected it isn't great and exciting writing, but it isn't bad. He has been deeply involved with so many different causes all of which revolve around social justice that I am ashamed to say that I began to find it a bit tedious.

If you have a different political position from Mike, I expect that you wouldn't enjoy this book. I am glad I read it and have a new found respect for the man.

[Steven Batty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having only knowing Mike Farrell as B.J. in M*A*S*H, I knew nothing of his career afterwards or his activism.

The book mainly concentrates on his humanitarian causes and whether you agree with him or not, you've got to admire the guy for standing by his principles.

His career and personal life are dealt with as well, but don't expect a book full of on-set anecdotes.

An interesting book and one that I'm glad I got round to reading.

[Linnea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-4.5

I'll admit that my immense admiration for his mustachioed M*A*S*H character, BJ Hunnicutt, led me to reading Mike Farrell's memoir, but I'm very glad I did. A deeply thoughtful person, Farrell writes beautifully and passionately on a number of issues, most notably his staunch opposition to the death penalty. I knew he was an activist (and not only because it's in the subtitle of the book), but I had no idea just how present he has been over the years in so many different organizations and causes. Just Call Me Mike was published ten years ago, and, unfortunately, several of the politicians he takes issue with seem tame and civilized compared to what we as a country are currently grappling with. As a student of both politics and literature, this book gripped me and was hard to put down.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than just BJ Hunnicut

I know Mike Farrell from MASH like many of you. I had very little knowledge of his activism. This book focused mostly on that. These parts (vs. the entertainment sections) slowed the narrative down for me - not because they weren’t as interesting, but because they’re dense with names and histories that required more focus to retain - that’s a me problem; not the author’s. It remains interesting throughout. Mike is an empathic and learned storyteller. Even when he’s critical of someone, you can tell he’s done his due diligence and that person is worthy of the criticism. I listened to the audiobook and found it to be the best way to hear Mike’s story. He reads the book himself and he allows his narration to crack with laughter and tears when necessary. It’s good. Read it.

[Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been on a bit of a M*A*S*H kick lately for some reason so when I saw Mike Farrell (B.J.) had written a book I ordered it from Thrift Books. Turns out there's very little about the show but mostly about Mike's activism. He truly walks the walk but I wanted to read about M*A*S*H. That's why it's only two stars. Many of the stories about his activism are fascinating and heartbreaking. Maybe another time. I usually keep a few books that have really turned me on or are about a particular topic and I assumed I'd be keeping this one because of the M*A*S*H connection but had decided against it until I discovered it's actually signed by the author. Not to me obviously but who cares. I have a very small collection of signed books, this will fit in nicely. No recommendation.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like him as much as I thought.

[Mediaman · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you are an off-the-deep-end leftist activist that claims to be "tolerant," believe "love is love" for all, and wants everyone in the "community" represented but are really a hypocritical anti-conservative bigot, then this book is just for you!

Farrell glosses over a whole bunch of his private life and spends the bulk of the book thinking he needs to keep blowing hot political air over and over again in order to push his extremely liberal and unfair agenda. While it's good that he cares about some people in society, it's amazing that he can't see that his positions are often doing to others the very bigoted things he complains that his opponents are doing.

It's obvious from the early pages that he's not going to give the reader many specifics about how he became the man he is today despite the verbose 360 pages. He skips through a conservative and moral Catholic upbringing, time as a Marine, quick allusions to him mistreating minorities and effeminates, and even some come-ons by gay bigwigs in Hollywood. His Henry Willson story (the man who made Rock Hudson famous) is so vague and Farrell is so quick to distance himself from the gay guy who tried to help give him a start that you have to wonder why this bastion of wokeness is making himself look anti-homosexuality. He actually does it a number of times, going out of his way to talk negatively about guys that pick him up hitchhiking or people in the business trying to bed him.

What's odd is that he doesn't always condemn liberals in Hollywood who talk the talk but don't walk the walk. Most of Farrell's opinions are prejudicial, and the entire book is wrapped in a sense that he's filtering and spinning in order to make his life a propaganda piece for his causes. To me, he's just proof of what's the problem with most on the left--they say they are about fairness, tolerance, representation, equality, and love, but that's only for those they agree with or feel sorry for while ignoring those principles when it comes to traditionalists, conservatives, or Christians.

The guy admits early in the book to his insecurities and even enters a kind of rehab facility to deal with depression. He discovers there that he hungers for "love, attention, and respect."

He says he learned there that we are "all responsible for each other" and "are each our brother's keeper." Well, no Mike, we aren't. This is the flaw in liberalism, socialism, and big government--you are actually responsible for yourself first. And if you look up "brother's keeper" in the Bible you'll see that it was said by a hypocrite who just killed his sibling and was trying to get out of personal responsibility. We are all first responsible for our own actions and choices, and becoming your brother's keeper instead of holding him accountable for himself can actually sometimes do more harm than good.

I'd say that Farrell's philosophical choices are pretty shallow and self-centered, probably due to his father dying when Mike was young, and the solution is not always in expecting others to be responsible for you nor you for them. His topical summaries are typically lop-sided--for example, his take on the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention is that the mayor and police were thug abusers while he gives the thousands of criminal lawbreaking rioters a pass. I'd guess he then believes the George Floyd riots, with billions of dollars in damage and cities destroyed and public buildings burned to the ground and minority businesses harmed and dozens of people killed by protesters, would be totally blamed on one horribly wrong law enforcement act? That's unfair and ignorant.

Farrell's dedication to socialism and anarchy actually detracts from his claim that he shows others love and respect. I'd encourage him to use his passions to bring people together and help them become self-sufficient instead of "mashing" everything in life through a biased perspective.

[Roger L Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liberalism 101

This book is an in depth look into the liberal mind. There are a few pages about M*A*S*H, a few more about the movie business in general, but the other 98% of the book is how America is terrible and how everyone who disagrees is a pompous, war-mongering Neanderthal. Standard liberal stuff.

But for all that, it IS well written and most, not all, Mike's positions are well articulated. It really keeps you reading because the quality of the story telling makes you feel like in just another couple of pages you will finally understand the liberal mindset, like there will be some lightbulb moment when the emotional nonsense suddenly becomes logical. But alas, it never quite happens.

So, if you want to read about a beloved classic TV show, skip this book. If you want to learn about the life of a genuinely good guy, read on. But only if you can suspend disbelief long enough to suffer through the usual liberal narrative to pick out the truly interesting information.

[Roger Smitter · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the first third (or so) of the book comes out as the typical story of a TV star. Fortunately, he goes beyond the days when he was on MASH (a TV show I enjoyed every week). He's done with the story of his role in MASH by chapter 8 (of 29 chapters) and uses the rest of the book to He turned his stardom into a platform for making changing the world. He tells us a little about himself, giving him lots of pages to show an individual can do (especially if you have lots of money coming in from his TV show). Some of the chapters provide more details about his work with organizations around the world. Once in awhile we get more info about a country or a project than we need. But the theme of the book is inspiring and shows the model of what can be done to change the world.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle Deal | Interesting, but not personal enough and definitely repetitive. | Look, these are my politics, so if I got tired of reading about them I can't imagine how someone more conservative would feel. The book started great, talking about Farrell himself, but eventually devolved into a recitation of inmates on death row and whether or not they were executed. The personal aspects were mostly excised (single-paragraph references to his brother's earlier lung transplant and his late sister's entire life seemed like unimportant asides to him) in favor of a dry travelogue of atrocity visits. I like Farrell, always have, but this just doesn't get there.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another one of those books that sat on a bookshelf for years after I'd bought it at some used book sale. But I'm glad I finally read it. I expected it to be some fairly shallow recounting of a celebrity's life, but instead, I learned that Mike Farrell isn't just some dilettante. He has been a consistent advocate for the oppressed for decades. He has used his fame to bring important issues to light. This isn't just some "look at me" book (ok, maybe a bit), but it also discusses 20th-century American history & foreign policy from a perspective that's not typically given room to speak.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

60% DNF. If you're interested in the politics of his era, it is a fascinating read. I just couldn't get into it.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written. Nice to see a favorite actor do good for the world, too.

[Katherine Decker · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the likable BJ on MASH to an activist, Mike Farrell has quite the story to tell.

[tyRonE hArDing · Rating 1 out of 5]

skim read it. very little about MASH if that’s what you're looking for.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

He is a good man and stays true to what he believes. A good man to have in your corner.

[Hollie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mike Farrell is contractually obligated to describe how attractive everyone he meets is.

[Matthew McDonough · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Love, respect, and attention are necessary food for the human soul."

Indeed.

[Lawanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read by the author

[S Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I read this book, I learned so much! Not difficult reading, but a wealth of history from a time in my life when I was busy raising my family. Mike is a very interesting and thoughtful person, who I’ve come to admire greatly through his memoir. His manner and level of activism are such that we should all aspire to.

[Scott Holstad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mike Farrell is an interesting man. I bought this book (for fifty cents at a used bookstore) because of my love for his character in MASH. Truthfully, that's what I thought the book might be about, although it's subtitled "A Journey to Actor and Activist." I just had no idea what an activist Mike is! It's really overwhelming. I mean, if he's done half of what he claims to have done, he should be sainted. He traveled to numerous south and central American countries like El Salvador to document human rights abuses. He went to Rwanda to document the genocide there. He became an advocate for prisoner's rights and has fought hard to abolish the death penalty everywhere. Let me tell you, if you're a conservative, you won't like this book. I'm pretty liberal, and even I felt like I was being preached to too often at times! He's very anti-Bush, but doesn't hold back on Clinton either, as well as Reagan and Bush 1.

I was disappointed at how little a role MASH plays in this book. A little over a chapter is devoted to the show, with the only major story being about the final episode. I had hoped to read numerous behind the scenes stories about the show, and that was a big let down. At the same time, I didn't know how much other acting and producing Mike has done, so that was interesting. He got Patch Adams produced (starring Robin Williams), although he was deeply disappointed with the final product, which he thought the director and writer butchered.

Mike's devotion to his second wife and his kids is awesome. His wife had to go through so much, including a frightening liver transplant, but Mike stood with her the whole way. Mike never went to college, but his kids did, so he was proud of them.

At times, this book bored me, however. I wanted anecdotes, not proselytizing. I feel kind of ripped off by that, even though, again, the words on the book cover should have alerted me to the primary purpose of the book. I mean, most of the blurbs on the cover are from politicians. That should have been a big tip off. If you're a MASH fan, don't bother reading this book. You won't learn anything. If you're against the death penalty and other human rights abuses, this might prove an interesting read for you. If you're pro-death penalty, you'll just get a headache reading this book. I can't say I recommend it and I'm a little relieved to have finished it. Somewhat of a disappointment, no matter how noble Mike might be....

[Midoil1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I learned from Mike's story is that he is something much more than the guy who played B.J. Hunnicut on MASH. He is one of our staunchist fighters for the abolishment of the death penalty. He has been asked to go on human rights missions to many countries to report on what our socalled War On Communism has done to those regions. And, one major point he made that I have managed to grasp with both my brain cells is what he learned during therapy after his first marriage failed. He said that he learned that every one of God's children wanted and deserved attention. I have an autographed copy, courtesy of my big bro, but I believe books were not made to be kept in a trophy case and will loan it to whomever might care to read about one of our truly great, lowkeyed social activists.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a challenge for me in some parts. The horror that this man has seen is balanced with the methodical pure action he has taken every step of the way. Having started out with a very human need to be seen, he accomplishes that AND passes it along to all of the down-trodden, ill-informed, forgotten, and often terrified of living out loud (young and old) people he has encountered.
His second marriage to his hero (his words) Shelley Fabares was and still is a tribute to his commitment that all people need love, respect and a certain visibility by others. Read it. visit his web page (not current past 2008/9 which I am working on) www.mikefarrell.org and read his other writings and congressional testimony. Get inspired to change something. I did.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really liked it. I learned alot about the activist causes he was in and was reminded of how weird things were in the '80s and '90s. They are now too. And I was reminded how much I liked Providence the show and was happy to see what stuff he produced as films and programs, etc. He seems very human and cool and real. And I didn't know that he was a part of the Patch Adams and I didn't know how much of a shande it was in terms of creation. I'm sorry, I didn't know it when I saw it in the '90s or the '00s. Or whenever it was. And of course, I got the signed copy from Changing Hands where 80 percent of my books came from.

[Ryan Mishap · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea that the actor who played B.J. Hunnicut on MASH was a stand-up human rights activist. From delegations to Central America in the 1980’s, to anti-death penalty activism, Farrel tells us about his life fighting the progressive good fight. Interspersed with bits about his TV and film career, this is an engaging, sharp, funny, and worthwhile read. Weird, huh? Anecdotes like the time he assisted in the surgery on Salvadorian rebel Nadia Diaz’s hand while she was held prisoner showcase the surreal nature of celebrity and down-to-earth activism meeting.

[g-na · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before reading this I knew nothing of Mike Farrell so it was interesting to learn a bit about his youth and his life. It turns out he has been a life-long activist in support of human rights which of course is a nobel cause. To be honest, it wasn't until I finished the chapters talking about his involvement with M*A*S*H that I realized that was the reason I was reading the book; I wanted to hear more about the TV series. For that reason I did skim through the latter third of the book. Still, it was a good read, having been written straight from the heart.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, especially the conclusion. This is an important read. I found myself agreeing with him on a lot of things. Farrell makes many salient points and even if you don't agree with everything he says, he sparks your interest. He has a man who puts his money where his mouth is. He has been to the places he discusses. He has served on numerous committees. He knows of which he speaks and has the life experience to back it up. I will no doubt be researching a lot of events he discussed.

[Marc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea Mike Ferrell was involved in so many worthwhile humanitarian activities: international human rights, prisoner's rights, anti-death penalty...I also didn't know he was responsible for getting "Patch Adams, M.D." made. And his adventures on M.A.S.H. and his life story...all here. Fascinating reading.

[Jenny Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book - and so much more than I was expecting. I got this at the SPCA book sale one year just because I love M*A*S*H*. Honestly, there wasn't much about M*A*S*H*, but I learned so much more about his amazing life and all the good work he does. He is the poster child for liberal causes. I am very glad I read this book