Early life
Hesseman was born in Lebanon, Oregon, on February 27, 1940. His parents divorced when he was five, and he was raised by his mother and stepfather, a police officer. He graduated from Silverton High School in 1958. Hesseman attended the University of Oregon, and was later a founding member of the San Francisco-based improvisational comedy troupe The Committee with fellow actor David Ogden Stiers. Early in his acting career, he used the alias Don Sturdy, the name he also used as a radio DJ on underground FM station KMPX in San Francisco in the late 1960s.Career
Under the alias of Don Sturdy, Hesseman made his first television appearances, including the episode "Public Affairs: DR-07" of the show '' Dragnet'' in 1968. He portrayed a hippie named Jesse Chaplin, the editor of an underground newspaper. In this ''Dragnet'' episode, his character was a panelist on a TV show opposite Sgt. Friday and Officer Gannon. He played a bit part in two final-season episodes of '' The Andy Griffith Show''. In the episode "Sam for Town Council", Hesseman played a character named Harry, who has an exchange with Emmett Clark ( Paul Hartman), who is running for town council against Sam Jones, played by Ken Berry. Harry complains to Emmett how poor the fishing has been at a nearby fishing spot. Emmett promises to stock the pond with big perch in exchange for Harry's vote. Harry agrees and wears a campaign button supporting Emmett in the race. In the episode "Goober Goes to an Auto Show", Hesseman, also credited as Don Sturdy, played the counter boy, serving hot dogs and root beers to Goober and his old trade-school rival Roy Swanson, played by Noam Pitlik. On July 18, 1969, he appeared with the improvisational comedy group The Committee in several sketches on '' The Dick Cavett Show'', including one with guest Janis Joplin. Hesseman also appeared in a number of skits as part of The Committee in the 1971 classic film '' Billy Jack''. Hesseman made several appearances as Mr. Plager, a member of the group therapy ensemble on '' The Bob Newhart Show''; Mr. Plager eventually came out as gay. Hesseman became a playwright in the sixth season of the show, writing a play about the characters in the group. In several other episodes of ''The Bob Newhart Show'', Hesseman's voice can be heard as a TV announcer. Hesseman is best known for his role as DJ John "Dr. Johnny Fever" Caravella on the television sitcom ''WKRP in Cincinnati'' from 1978 to 1982, a role Hesseman prepared for by working as a DJ in San Francisco at KMPX-FM for several months. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 1980 and 1981 for his portrayal of Fever. He reprised the role in nine episodes of '' The New WKRP in Cincinnati'', and also directed several episodes of the 1991-93 series revival. He portrayed Sam Royer, the man who married Ann Romano ( Bonnie Franklin) on the sitcom '' One Day at a Time'' from 1982 to 1984. In 1986, he appeared in the Disney film '' Flight of the Navigator'' as NASA research facility scientist Dr. Louis Faraday. Hesseman played teacher Charlie Moore on the ABC series ''Head of the Class'' for four seasons from 1986 to 1990. In 1994, Hesseman introduced lost footage of Janis Joplin in a documentary on Woodstock. He made three appearances on ''Personal life and death
Hesseman was married to Cаtherine Mаison from 1965 until 1974. He was later married for 33 years to actress Caroline Ducrocq. He died from complications of colorectal surgery in Los Angeles, California, on January 29, 2022, at age 81.Filmography
Film
Television
References
External links
* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hesseman, Howard 1940 births 2022 deaths 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors Male actors from Oregon People from Lebanon, Oregon University of Oregon alumni