One of the highest compliments you can give any actor, writer, or other creative type is to refer to them as “prolific.” See, in most career fields, overwork is seen as a bad thing. It’s a one-way ticket to professional burnout. In the arts, however, simply managing to find steady work is a significant accomplishment by itself.
I’m still not sure what prompted me to run that Google search on actor Howard Hesseman. I suspect I’d gone a little too far down the Youtube rabbit hole of classic television while “researching” another writing project, and I must have been in one of those moods where I found myself wondering where people ended up. Whatever the reason, I was amazed at what I discovered.
Now, I’m willing to bet that most of us already have at least a passing familiarity with Mr. Hesseman’s canon of work. Television viewers “of a certain” age will most certainly recall his role as Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP Cinncinnati…
…while children of the ‘80s are most likely to remember how Hesseman led Millard Filmore High School’s Individualized Honors Program on Head of the Class…
…and even law enforcement professionals fondly remember Hesseman’s breakout role in Police Academy 2, one of those rare sequels which outshines its original.
But see, even though I was already familiar with Mr. Hesseman’s most famous roles, what I didn’t realize was that the man’s acting career has spanned fifty years! Howard Hesseman was raised by his father, an ORegon police officer, so it seems particularly fitting that in 1968 his first role came on the TV show Dragnet. From there, Hesseman went on to land roles on a number of popular programs, including The Andy Griffith Show, Sanford and Son, Quincy, M.E., and The Rockford Files. Even more impressive was how he kept landing steady work for decades to come, appearing on ER, Boston Legal, and fittingly, That ‘70s Show.
And as I dove even further into his career, I was blown away by how many movies I’d actually seen Mr. Hesseman in. For example:
Honestly, I’m sure that anybody who’s ever purchased a movie ticket or surfed through the television channels has their own Howard Hesseman memories to share. I’d be curious to hear some of yours!
But what’s more, lately I’ve found myself wondering about all of the movies that Howard Hesseman never appeared in, and why the hell not. That’s right… Hollywood needs more Hesseman! This is just my opinion, now, but I feel like the following movies are just a small sample of those which could have been improved by adding Hesseman’s presence:
And for all you up-and-coming directors out there, I’ve got great news! Mr. Hesseman is still active in the world of stage and screen, and he’s always looking for his next role. So why not give his agent a call? Although be forewarned, you may have get in line…
Edit, 31 January 2022: Aw, man. RIP to a legend. Thanks for all the laughs, Howard.