After years of yeoman work as a guest star on television series and commercials in the 1960s, actor Mike Farrell earned his most memorable role as the affable Captain B.J. Hunnicut on “M*A*S*H” (CBS, 1972-1983), which he joined in 1975 and remained with until its historic final episode in 1983. Farrell returned to guest-starring roles in the years after “M*A*S*H,” as well as formed his own production company, which yielded several notable TV and feature films, including “Patch Adams” (1998). His genial nature belied his status as one of Hollywood’s most fiercely committed political activists.

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