Mike Farrell, the 87-year-old actor known for his role as B.J. Hunnicutt on the television series MAS*H, was seen publicly on Tuesday in Los Angeles, making his first public appearance since the death of his wife, Shelley Fabares, last month.
Farrell was accompanied by a woman who appeared to be his daughter, Erin Farrell. He was dressed in a white T-shirt, acid wash jeans, and black trainers for the outing. The sighting occurred approximately two weeks after Fabares's death. The actress, known for her roles in films with Elvis Presley and television shows like "The Donna Reed Show" and "Coach," died on August 22 in Los Angeles at the age of 82. A representative for Farrell stated that her death was due to pneumonia.
Fabares's death certificate indicated that the immediate cause was acute respiratory distress. Pneumonia, diagnosed weeks prior, was listed as a contributing condition. No autopsy was performed prior to her cremation.
Farrell joined the cast of MASH in its fourth season in 1975, remaining with the show for its final eight seasons. The series finale in 1983 became the most-watched television program in the U.S. at the time. His career began after a stint in the U.S. Marine Corps, and he secured early television roles in the 1960s on shows such as "Lassie" and "The Monkees." He also appeared on "Days of Our Lives" before his breakthrough on MASH.
Farrell was married to actress Judy Farrell from 1963 to 1983, with whom he had two children. His first wife appeared in eight episodes of MAS*H as Nurse Able. He later married Shelley Fabares, and the couple collaborated on various projects, including "Coach" and "Superman: The Animated Series," where they voiced the adoptive parents of Clark Kent. Beyond acting, Farrell has been involved in activism, notably serving as president of Death Penalty Focus for over a decade and co-chairing California Human Rights Watch. He has also expressed political views, including his opposition to former President Donald Trump.