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. Works with Greenpeace. Named Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Went to school in W. Hollywood with Natalie Wood and Ricky Nelson. Served in the U. S. Marines Spokesperson for CONCERN/America; co-chair of Human Rights Watch in California; board president of Death Penalty Focus; member of the California State Commission on Judicial Performance Is vice-president of the Screen Actor's Guild. Presides over Family Motion Pictures, an organisation which strives to promote films suitable for family viewing. Provided voice of Jonathan Kent on the animated Superman series with real life wife Shelley Fabares providing the voice of Martha Kent. While he was a cast member on M*A*S*H as Captain BJ Hunnicutt, his first wife, Judy Farrell, also appeared on M*A*S*H playing various nurse characters. 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.