Howard Hesseman, WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class Star, Dead at 81
Howard Hesseman, star of WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class, has died. The actor was 81.
Hesseman died Saturday in Los Angeles due to complications from a colon surgery, his longtime manager Robbie Kass confirmed.
“He was a groundbreaking talent and lifelong friend and client whose kindness and generosity was equaled by his influence and admiration to generations of actors and improvisational comedy throughout the world,” Kass wrote in a statement. “He will be sorely missed and always treasured!”
In 1980 and 1981, Hesseman received two Emmy nominations for his work on CBS’ WKRP in Cincinnati as John Caravella, aka DJ Dr. Johnny Fever. The series ran for four seasons between 1978-82, and made the actor a counterculture icon, thanks to the character’s signature sunglasses, physicality and speaking style.
He reprised his role for the revival series, The New WKRP in Cincinnati, in 1991, and served as director for a couple of episodes two years later.
Hesseman was also widely known for playing schoolteacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class, which ran for five seasons from 1986-1991. Hesseman left the ABC sitcom in 1990, ahead of the final season.
His other TV credits include guest-starring spots in Boston Legal, Fresh Off the Boat, Jon From Cincinnati, Psych and House. He even played another fictional radio station employee, a manager named Max, on three episodes of That ’70s Show.
On the film side of things, Hesseman’s credits include Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985), Heat (1986), Gridlock’d (1997), About Schmidt (2002), The Rocker (2008) and Halloween II (2009).
RIP. A joy to watch, an icon from my childhood, may his memory be a blessing to his family and friends.
Howard Hesseman you will be missed! I absolutely loved you on WKRP in Cincinnati. RIP! Condolences to your family and loved ones. You are an icon.
He was a fun actor to watch. RIP
I really like him on WKRP and on Head of the Class.
He was actually a regular on One Day at a Time the last couple seasons. He was married to the main character, Bonnie Franklin’s Ann Romano
Dr. Johnny Fever was one of the greatest sitcom characters.
RIP Howard…. Boooooggggerrrrrrrrr!
I was going to say Boooogerrrrrr!
He also had a small role in This is Spinal Tap.
His best line from WKRP: “BOOGER!!!”
He will be missed. RIP
I love to watch the tv Christmas movie On the 2nd Day of Christmas with Mary Stuart Masterson and Mark Ruffalo every year. He’s great in that.
RIP.
He made one for Lifetime, too. About an eccentric guy who runs around town on Christmas Eve spending money. Cute movie. Haven’t seen it air for the last year or so.
I liked the parts he played. May he RIP.
Was just watching him on Head of The Class reruns on Rewind. Will be sorely missed.
I remember watching Head of the Class for the first time as a teen around 2005. At the time, AOL was an early experimenter in virtual streaming of free episodes of classic shows from the 70s and 80s that predated my childhood. I always loved his character and charm on the show with his students. Now I’ve got to catch up on WKRP!
Will miss you Dr. Johnny Fever. RIP
Ditto
I am sooo sad. He was a absolute favorite.
A star in WKRP!!
Rip. You will be missed!!
WKRP was a very underappreciated show, IMO, canceled much too soon. Well written, timely, and with a great cast. Dr Johnny Fever was my favorite character. RIP
The WKRP in Cincinnati episode where Johnny got roped into buying the condo (Gone with the Winderrrrr) was always a favorite of mine. Fever and Venus were comedy GOLD.
WKRP was awesome, much because of Mr Hesseman. He livened up an aging One Day at a Time and led those young people on Head of the Class, also a great but underrated sitcom. RIP
I really enjoyed Howard Hesseman and he will be missed. 2022 is truly sucking so far.
Everyone remembers the turkey episode of WKRP (required Thanksgiving viewing; federal law) but my favorite episode was the bomb at the transmitter. The phone cops! The phone cops!
Just saw the comment reminding us of the phone cops and now I’m laughing, that’s one of the best Johnny Fever lines ever! I loved WKRP In Cincinnati, with a wonderful cast. My favorite scenes were and still are any of the scenes with Dr. Johnny Fever and/or Venus Flytrap, played by Tim Reid.
RIP Mr. Hesseman and thank you, my condolences to your family.
One of the retro TV stations aired WKRP several years ago. I have the turkey and bomb at the transmitter eps saved on the DVR.
Damn it, 2022 is being a beeyotch! I loved Howard Hesseman’s Dr. Johnny Fever. Nothing like taking his experience as a real DJ and making such an iconic character.
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RIP, Dr. Johnny Fever, a.k.a. Howard Hesseman. And BOOGER!!!
WKRP was (just) before my time, but I enjoyed him on Head of the Class. Rest in peace.
He was one of my favorites years ago. I used to love WKRP in Cincinnati and Head of the Class. Rest in peace.
First time I ever saw him perform was in San Francisco with the improv troupe The Committee. I’d never seen improv live before, and I became a huge fan. That troupe spawned a raft of 1970s-early ’80s sitcom stars. No matter how many times I saw him on TV, I still picture him onstage at a dingy little SF basement nightclub riffing off his castmates.
My favorite Hesseman WKRP episode was when Johnny Fever left for a bigger-market station but got fired. He then slunk back, metaphorical hat in hand, begging for his old job back; but the only slot open was the overnight shift–so he became “Heavy Early” and had to play absurd commercials. The one that will stick with me forever was for a bait company and had the jingle “Red Wigglers, we’re thee Cadillac of worms, we’re thee Cadillac of worms…”
My favorite Johnny Fever episode was the one where his reaction time speed up as he got drunker. Classic!!!