Mike is one of four children. His father, Joe, who died in 1956, was a carpenter at Hollywood studios. Mike attended grammar school with Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. He entered the marines in the 1950's for two years. Later, he attended the University of California at Los Angeles and studied acting at the Jeff Corey Workshop. He started getting big parts in movies, which led to a regular role on Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives and, ultimately, to M*A*S*H. When M*A*S*H went off the air, he resisted series TV for many years until he was offered Providence. In the meantime, he formed his own production company, which made the Robin Williams vehicle, Patch Adams, based on Mike's own acquaintance with the doctor. Mike is very politically involved. He lobbied against the firing of gay teachers. He was outspoken about the US involvement in Ecuador in the 80s. He served as a member of California's Commission on Judicial Performance from February 2, 1998 to February 28, 2001.


Febraury 2000 - his two children by screenwriter Judy Farrell are Michael Farrell (29), a martial arts teacher, and Erin Farrell (26), who works in the Los Angeles office of Jesse Jackson. Named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Served in the U. S. Marines Elected first Vice-President of the Screen Actor's Guild in 2002 and served for three years. Provided voice of Jonathan Kent on the animated "Superman" (1996) series with real life wife Shelley Fabares providing the voice of Martha Kent. It was Alan Alda's idea for him to grow a mustache in the seventh season, which he kept for the rest of the show's run. Appeared in a 1970's television commercial for Schmidt's Big Mouth Beer.