Klinger's coming

ÔM*A*S*H*Õ star Jamie Farr headlines hospital fundraiser

Actor Jamie Farr Ñ famous as Cpl. Maxwell Klinger in the long-running television series ÒM*A*S*HÓ Ñ is the star attraction at North Valley Hospital FoundationÕs 10th anniversary of the M*A*S*H B*A*S*H.

Scheduled for Aug. 28, the annual hospital benefit raises money for equipment and other needs.

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Farr said he was excited about visiting Whitefish. He fell in love with Montana when he performed in Butte and Helena.

ÒI was taken by the topography,Ó he said. ÒItÕs probably the prettiest state IÕve been in.Ó

The actor said he receives many requests for personal appearances related to his role as the phony transvestite bucking for a Section 8 discharge on ÒM*A*S*H.Ó The show attracted 32 million viewers every week and the final episode in 1983 drew a record-breaking 125 million viewers.

Farr said he remains in awe of that number.

ÒThen you have to consider how long itÕs been in reruns,Ó he said.

The show ended, but Farr has remained busy with a career in television, movies, Broadway plays, other theater and game shows ever since. He claims 54 years in show business with a career that started at 11 when he won $2 in a talent contest in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio.

He and a friend borrowed their comedy act, called ÒThe Operation,Ó from a magazine of burlesque routines. It was good enough to garner second place.

ÒA tap dancer named Ruby beat us,Ó he said with a laugh. ÒShe won $4.Ó

Farr grew up with the name Jameel Farah. His father Samuel was a meat cutter/ grocer and his mother Jamelia was a seamstress.

An over-achiever at Woodward High School, Farr served as class president for three years, editor of his school paper, president of the Radio Club and manager of the football and basketball teams. He wrote and acted in two variety shows before graduating with honors.

He was determined to follow his love of show business.

ÒA lot of people enjoy something but donÕt pursue it,Ó he said. ÒThen they always have that gnawing feeling, wondering if they could have made it.Ó

Farr chased his dream to California where he attended the School of Theatre Arts at the Pasadena Playhouse, known as the school of the stars. Its graduates included Raymond Burr, Dustin Hoffman, Gene Hackman and Charles Bronson.

In reflection, he said he may have been even more successful as a character actor if he had gone first to New York to make his mark.

ÒCalifornia, this place is for the handsome and beautiful people,Ó he said. ÒNew York is a place for actors.Ó

FarrÕs talent brought him a screen test, which garnered his first film role as the mentally challenged student Santini in ÒThe Blackboard Jungle.Ó

While waiting for other roles, Farr worked a variety of jobs, including an Army surplus store clerk, a postal clerk, an airlines reservation agent and even a worker at a chinchilla ranch. By the late 1950s, he earned a regular spot on the Red Skelton Show.

ÒRed was my mentor. He taught me a lot of things,Ó he said. ÒThat was one of my triumphs. Then I got drafted.Ó

Farr spent two years in the military in Korea and Japan, then returned to California where he had to start his career from scratch. He said Hollywood didnÕt care that he left town to serve his country.

ÒI couldnÕt even get an agent,Ó he said.

Farr said his situation became desperate. His father died and he needed money to help his mother.

ÒI was going to have to leave the business,Ó he said. ÒRed Skelton wouldnÕt hear of it. He came to my rescue.Ó

Skelton gave him a contract to make guest appearances on his show as well as to introduce him. Because of his comedic timing, Farr also ran the crucial sound-effects device Skelton used with his pantomime routines.

Along the way, Farr scored a regular role on ÒThe Danny Kaye Show,Ó as well as appearances on ÒThe Dick Van Dyke Show.Ó He also worked with Lucille Ball, Andy Griffith, Mary Tyler Moore, Burt Reynolds, Bob Hope, Doris Day, Milton Berle and one of his all-time favorites, Dean Martin.

ÒI did [the movie] ÔCannonballÕ with him and I did his roast,Ó he said. ÒHe had a great sense of humor. ThereÕs that joke Ñ Frank Sinatra thinks heÕs God. Dean Martin knows heÕs God. He had a great devil-may-care attitude.Ó

Farr was in his late 30s when he was hired for one dayÕs work on ÒM*A*S*HÓ as Cpl. Klinger, a cigar-chomping, hairy-legged grunt who wore a veil and skirt in a desperate bid for a ticket out of the Army. He endured as a fashion plate and show favorite for the 11-year run.

Everyone asks him if the cast had as much fun off camera as on.

ÒMy answer hasnÕt changed. It was wonderful, very creative and much fun,Ó he said. ÒWhen youÕre on a hit television show, it is fun. It breeds creativity.Ó

It also brought loads of work to the hot actors like Farr. He said his versatility in playing comedic as well as serious roles has paid dividends.

Farr compared his range to that of Walter Matthau. He has played some of the same roles, like Oscar in the Odd Couple. Although plenty busy, Farr still hankers to get back into a television series.

The actor stays on the fly, performing live theater around the country at places such as a 700-seat theater in Kansas City. He also recently hosted ÒThe $250,000 Game ShowÓ at the Hilton in Las Vegas. He alternates hosting with Bob Eubanks.

ÒI donÕt have a television series or movies, but IÕm booked through 2010 and 2011,Ó Farr said.

Future live theater includes ÒTuesdays with Morrie,Ó scheduled in Hamilton, Ontario and Edmonton, Alberta.

When ÒM*A*S*HÓ ended, Farr continued in a series spin-off called ÒAfterMASH.Ó It only lasted a couple of seasons but he worked on the show with actor David Ackroyd, who lives in the Flathead Valley.

According to Farr, Ackroyd was a major motivation for him to accept the personal appearance gig at North Valley HospitalÕs M*A*S*H B*A*S*H.

ÒDavid is a wonderful actor and a very nice man,Ó he said.

As part of his appearance at the bash, Farr will judge the Klinger look-alike contest. Each year, participants are encouraged to dress up like that showÕs major characters.

Klinger, who wore heels, hats and feather boas, requires an extra measure of panache to emulate.

ÒI donÕt know if guys enjoy doing that,Ó Farr said.

When pressed, the actor chose his Statue of Liberty outfit as perhaps his favorite costume. But donÕt expect Farr to show up in a crown or display any leg at the M*A*S*H B*A*S*H.

He has moved on, but he enjoys meeting friendly people at personal appearances. Farr said people often thank him for the many years of entertainment. Some even say that the show influenced their decision to go into medicine.

ÒThatÕs whatÕs really rewarding,Ó he said.

With the show in syndication, Farr said he meets young people who enjoy the series just as much as the generations that watched through the 1970s and early Ô80s.

He credits ÒM*A*S*HÕsÓ enduring appeal to that of the old films of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin.

ÒGood is always good,Ó Farr said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.

BASH facts

What: 10th anniversary MASH BASH featuring Jamie Farr, the actor who played Cpl. Maxwell Klinger in the series. Other highlights include a silent auction, shotgun raffle and Klinger look-alike contest.

Where: Grounds of North Valley Hospital

When: Aug. 28

6 p.m. Happy hour and helicopter fly-in

7 p.m. Korean-style gourmet dinner

8 p.m. Entertainment and dancing to The Don Lawrence Orchestra featuring Brad Seaman

Tickets: Call North Valley Hospital Foundation at 863-3630 for event tickets or raffle tickets.