Biography: Howard Hesseman has been a leading counter-culture figure for nearly twenty years. He was a member of the improv group, "the Committee", for ten years in the sixties and seventies. He has been a character actor for many years on different television shows since the 1960s, and took small parts in "Andy Griffith Show, The" (1960)", "Dragnet 1967" (1967)", "Soap" (1977)" and "Sanford and Son" (1972)" ... show all Howard Hesseman has been a leading counter-culture figure for nearly twenty years. He was a member of the improv group, "the Committee", for ten years in the sixties and seventies. He has been a character actor for many years on different television shows since the 1960s, and took small parts in "Andy Griffith Show, The" (1960)", "Dragnet 1967" (1967)", "Soap" (1977)" and "Sanford and Son" (1972)". The role that brought him to prominence was Howard Johnson in the cult classic "Billy Jack (1971)". He has been active in movies and TV since.
He was a frequent guest star on "The "Bob Newhart Show, The" (1972)", but the best was yet to come. He will perhaps be forever remembered on the classic series "WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978)", as anti-disco DJ Dr. Johnny Fever. Also in the seventies, Hesseman appeared in a small part in "Sunshine Boys (1975)", "The Tunnel Vision (1976)", "Silent Movie (1976)" and "Big Bus (1976)". After the cancellation of "WKRP in Cincinnati" (1978)", he went on to star as the husband of Ann Romano in "One Day at a Time" (1975)". After that series was cancelled, Hesseman starred in more cult classics, such as "This Is Spinal Tap (1984)", "Doctor Detroit (1983)", "Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985)", (a role which he refused to play again) "Clue (1985)" and "Flight of the Navigator (1986)".
He then got another part in television, this time as a teacher in the high school sitcom "Head of the Class" (1986)". As Mr. Moore, he was insightful, funny and a pleasure to watch. Hesseman left the show in 1990 and he subsequently has not been active in many films or TV shows since. In 1987, he was in the star-studded "Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)", and, in 1991, he starred in the very strange film "Rubin and Ed (1991)". Since then, he has been in a handful of other films, including "Gridlock'd (1997)" with Tupac Shakur. His work in recent years concentrates mostly on television, where he takes mostly small guest roles, in shows like "That '70s Show" (1998)", "Touched by an Angel" (1994)", "Practice, The" (1997)" and "Crossing Jordan" (2001)". Since his career began, Hesseman has gained a reputation as a quality and versatile character actor who is only more intelligent as his career moves along. His upcoming projects look promising, and his career looks like it will have no end. hide |
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