Howard Hesseman, Star of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ Dies at 81

banzaibid · 05 Aug 2007

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/howard ... 235167152/

RIP, Johnny Fever.

Marcus · 27 Nov 2004

Jilerb · 26 Jan 2009

R.I.P., Howard, and thanks for Johnny.

JohnG · 03 Aug 2006

I just happened to watch a Howard Hessman movie this morning, Private Lessons (1981) that also starred Sylvia Kristel, I actually saw this one at the movies back then.

Then I read later that he passed away.

RIP DJ Johnny Fever.

Beachy · 18 Sep 2005

Rest easily, Howard.

ericsen · **Joined:** 23 Jan 2007 **Posts:** 3863

R.I.P. Howard, May your memory be a blessing to family, friends and fans.

alantig · 20 Sep 2006

Damn - this one hurts. The Doctor is out, babies.

Booger, Dr. Fever. Booger.

RIP, sir.

Momo · 22 Jun 2007

Always my favorite from that great show. Rest in peace, Mr. Hesseman.

Linda · **Posted:** Sun Jan 30, 2022 10:38 pm

Stumpy Joe · **Joined:** 29 Apr 2014 **Posts:** 1543

Wow. I'm sad, but I'm laughing too, thinking about the time God spoke to Dr. Johnny Fever, and said he wanted Johnny to become a golf pro.

Oh, and of course I regularly quote his Spinal Tap cameo. RIP, Mr. Hesseman. I hope you've gone on to that big...Enormodome, or whatever, in the sky.

Beachy · 18 Sep 2005

Stumpy Joe wrote:

Wow. I'm sad, but I'm laughing too, thinking about the time God spoke to Dr. Johnny Fever, and said he wanted Johnny to become a golf pro.

Oh, and of course I regularly quote his Spinal Tap cameo. RIP, Mr. Hesseman. I hope you've gone on to that big...Enormodome, or whatever, in the sky.

Hmmm… I was completely blanking on his ever haven been in This is Spinal Tap.
But it's the line about waiting for the Limo, right?

Jason Gore · 22 Aug 2004

RIP Howard, thanks for the laughs. And for the thoughtfulness.

I'll just throw out there that I kind of enjoyed him on Head of the Class as well as on WKRP. While his role on WKRP was truly iconic, I did like the fact that he was able to carry another show for a few years.

Simon · **Joined:** 26 Oct 2006 **Posts:** 59451

R.I.P.

Stumpy Joe · **Joined:** 29 Apr 2014 **Posts:** 1543

Beachy wrote:

Stumpy Joe wrote:

Wow. I'm sad, but I'm laughing too, thinking about the time God spoke to Dr. Johnny Fever, and said he wanted Johnny to become a golf pro.

Oh, and of course I regularly quote his Spinal Tap cameo. RIP, Mr. Hesseman. I hope you've gone on to that big...Enormodome, or whatever, in the sky.

Hmmm… I was completely blanking on his ever haven been in This is Spinal Tap.
But it's the line about waiting for the Limo, right?

Yes! Hesseman played Terry Ladd, Duke Fame's manager.

As the story goes (McKean tweeted about it yesterday), the actor they hired to play Duke Fame was apparently incapable of acting or delivering dialogue, so an emergency call was placed to Hesseman, who showed up and saved the scene.

"Liam...Ian."

He had a slew of small parts in movies over the years--"Clue", "Doctor Detroit", and--how can I forget this?--as Patty Duke's abusive manager in the "Call Me Anna" TV movie based on her autobiography.

ted262 · 22 Aug 2004

Stumpy Joe wrote:

As the story goes (McKean tweeted about it yesterday), the actor they hired to play Duke Fame was apparently incapable of acting or delivering dialogue, so an emergency call was placed to Hesseman, who showed up and saved the scene.

That was no actor - that was Paul Shortino, singer of LA metal band Rough Cutt (and also Quiet Riot for a short time), so I’m not surprised he wasn’t up to snuff.

Howard Hesseman, Star of ‘WKRP in Cincinnati,’ Dies at 81

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