Howard Hesseman (Johnny Fever), 1940-2022

[The Bread Guy]

Literally, some "radio" chatter - R.I.P.

Howard Hesseman, who played the radio disc jockey Johnny Fever on the sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” and the actor-turned-history teacher Charlie Moore on “Head of the Class,” has died. He was 81.

Hesseman died Saturday in Los Angeles due to complications from colon surgery, his manager Robbie Kass said Sunday.

Hesseman, who had himself been a radio DJ in the ‘60s, earned two Emmy nominations for playing Johnny Fever on CBS’ “WKRP in Cincinnati,” which ran for four seasons from 1978-1982. The role made Hesseman a counterculture icon at a time when few hippie characters made it onto network television.

“I think maybe Johnny smokes a little marijuana, drinks beer and wine, and maybe a little hard liquor,” Hesseman told The New York Times in 1979 as he readied for one of three “Saturday Night Live” hosting gigs. “And on one of those hard mornings at the station, he might take what for many years was referred to as a diet pill. But be is a moderate user of soft drugs, specifically marijuana.” ...

 

[PMedMoe]

Dr. Johnny Fever has signed off.

 

[Kat Stevens]

Rock on Johnny, and, ohh.... BOOGERRRR!

 

[Remius]

One of my favourite shows. So underrated.

 

[PPCLI Guy]

I thought turkeys could fly!!!!!

 

[Blackadder1916]

And before WKRP, he seemed to stay within a certain character range.

 

[FJAG]

No! No! No!

This dying stuff has to stop.

Great show. Great actor.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

No! No! No!

This dying stuff has to stop.

Great show. Great actor.

Umm, you do know how this “life” thing works, right?

 

[FJAG]

Umm, you do know how this “life” thing works, right?

I thought so.

I always figured it was like this:

More recently it seems like it could be this:

 

[SeaKingTacco]

I thought so.

I always figured it was like this:

More recently it seems like it could be this:

Those are good. In your second Gif, “death” is the dog. Only the kid doesn’t get up….

 

[lenaitch]

For years, when I saw a death notice of a member, it started out as 'old guys' I might have heard of, worked under of or run across. Then it turned into into folks I worked with at some point, but still older. Now it's peers and classmates. I'm now in the target demographic.

 

[mariomike]

R.I.P. Howard Hesseman
It was a good show.
I recall one time they tossed turkeys out of a helicopter.

For years, when I saw a death notice of a member, it started out as 'old guys' I might have heard of, worked under of or run across. Then it turned into into folks I worked with at some point, but still older. Now it's peers and classmates. I'm now in the target demographic.

Get every dollar you can out of the pension!

I hired on with my department 50 years ago, come Sept. Because we "only" covered 240 square miles, everybody knew everybody.

At HQ, there is a memorial wall in the lobby. When you pass away, they put your mugshot, date appointed, date retired, and date of death on it.

That way, when we have our pensioner luncheons, we can remember them.

Toronto Paramedic Service Memorial Wall

We honour our paramedics who died in the line of duty. Wayne Dufty – Communications Officer/Paramedic – May 29, 2003 Peter Madill – Ambulance Officer – November 30, 1980

www.toronto.ca

 

[OldSolduer]

For years, when I saw a death notice of a member, it started out as 'old guys' I might have heard of, worked under of or run across. Then it turned into into folks I worked with at some point, but still older. Now it's peers and classmates. I'm now in the target demographic.

My first real experience with death was when my grandpa died. I was nine. I still grieve for the time lost and the anger and resentment I have towards hospitals and the rules as they were in 1966. No kids allowed to visit dying grandparents - we were too "noisy".

 

[daftandbarmy]