Mike Farrell's Wife Of 37 Years Blew Us Away

Mar 30, 2022

American actor, producer and activist Mike Farrell is still best known for playing the role of Captain B.J. Hunnicutt in the classic T.V. series “M.A.S.H..” He was on the series from 1975 to 1983 and came in at the end of the show’s third season. Throughout his time on the show, Farrell had the opportunity to direct four episodes and write five. 

From 1999 to 2002, Farrell was featured as the lead character’s father in the television series “Providence.” He has also appeared in “Murder, She Wrote,” “Justice League,” and “Desperate Housewives,” among others. In 1996, Farrel voiced Jonathan Kent in “Superman: The Animated Series,” and his wife Shelley Fabares voiced Martha Kent. Farrell also produced the 1998 movie “Patch Adams,” starring Robin Williams. 

Activism has also been a large part of Farrell’s life as well. He served as the co-chair of the California Human Rights Watch for a decade and has been the president of Death Penalty Focus for over ten years as well. 

Fabares and Farrell married in 1984, which was a year after Farrell was divorced from actress Judy Hayden. Hayden is best known for playing Nurse Able on “M.A.S.H..” They share two children. Fabares was divorced in 1980 from record and film producer Lou Adler. She and Farrell have stayed together since 1984, and though they had no other children, Fabares was a great stepmother. 

The couple has been through many difficult times together and supported each other through the hardships. One such time was in October 2000, when Fabares had a liver transplant. They compliment each other and have only kind things to say about one another. Keep reading to learn more about Farrell and Fabares’ marriage.  

Farrell is originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, and moved to Los Angeles with his family so his father could work as a carpenter on film sets. After he graduated high school, the star joined the military. “After I got out of the Marines, I still wondered what it would be like to have a career in acting,” he shared. “I knew I lived in the center of the action. I was just scared and didn’t know what to do.”

The actor’s experience serving in the military aided him in his iconic role as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt in the series “M.A.S.H.,” and even though it took place during the Korean War, the show made serious political commentary about the Vietnam War as well. Farrell said about the experience, “I thought the show was phenomenal. The show got laughs, it entertained people, but it also talked about something very important.”

Being an activist has been just as meaningful to the star as his acting and producing work. “Activism has been a very important part of my life for the past 40 years,” Farrell said. “With all of my involvement in other areas, there was also a growing awareness in the environmental catastrophe developing.”

Seeing the changes happening in the environment has spurred Farrell into action. “Since things in our climate are changing so rapidly, we’ve had to update the show from just five years ago. The differences in the atmosphere were not as severe,” he explained. “It’s coming now to the point that the most ardent deniers have the most difficult time justifying their disbelief.”

The other great passion in Farrell’s life is his wife and kids, and he means just as much to his family. “He has expanded my whole world,” his wife, Fabares, said. “Nothing in Mike’s life is casual. He’s very serious.”

On one of his first dates with Fabares, Farrell took her out for coffee and then to an exhibit of films and photographs from a recent trip he made to Central America. “I had just gotten back from a tour of refugee camps (in Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua), and I was reeling from the terribly inhuman treatment I had seen,” Farrell recalled. Added Fabares: “I knew nothing about Central America.”

As a stepmother, Fabares has always been there for Farrell’s children, and they got along well together despite the initial challenges. “The divorce was very hard on the kids,” Fabares shared. “It took a lot of love, patience, courage and strength, but now they have two solid homes, which is what we all wanted.”

Fabares also shared how supportive Farrell was when her mother was in the hospital. “Physically, I was gone 98 percent of the time. I just stayed at the hospital for months, and never, ever did Mike question it. He was always easing my mind. He ran everything for me. He has become my safe harbor. To have his strength when everything else is out of control…that’s the unbelievable gift he has given,” she said.

The couple only has lovely things to say about each other. “There is a light inside her that is just magical,” Farrell said about Fabares. “I find her a constant source of rejuvenation.” 

With different personalities, Fabares and Farrell complement one another. She added: “Mike grounds me, and I think I pull him out sometimes. It’s a nice mix.”

Do you remember Mike Farrell and Shelley Fabares? What do you think about their relationship? Let us know, and be sure to send this along to your friends and family.