How did Howard Hesseman die? Tributes pour in as DJ Johnny Fever from 'WKRP in Cincinnati' passes away at 81

Popular character actor Howard Hesseman recently passed away on January 29 at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by his longtime representative Robbie Kass who said,

Howard became well-known for his appearances on sitcoms like WKRP in Cincinnati, Head of the Class, and more.

Howard Hesseman’s cause of death and career

The Loose Shoes star died of complications from colon surgery he had last summer. The news was mentioned by his wife, actress and acting teacher Corline Ducrocq. He was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Born on February 27, 1940, in Lebanon, Oregon, he was raised by his mother and stepfather. He graduated in 1958 from Silverton High School and attended the University of Oregon.

Howard made his television debut in an episode of the TV show Dragnet in 1968 and played the role of Jesse Chaplin, the editor of an underground newspaper.

The Doctor Detroit star became a familiar name in the entertainment industry during the late 1960s. He then joined the improvisational comedy troupe 'The Committee' in San Francisco in 1965 and was a radio DJ under the name Don Sturdy.

Hesseman made guest appearances on shows like The Andy Griffith Show, Dragnet 1967, Soap, and Sanford and Son.

He then grabbed the role of radio DJ Dr. Johnny Fever in the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. He was seen as an unlucky radio DJ who spent time on radio in the early stages of his career.

Howard received two Emmy Award nominations for his work on WKRP in Cincinnati and became famous for his appearance as Charlie Moore in the ABC comedy, Head of the Class. He played the role of a teacher at a Manhattan High School for high achievers.

The Martian Child actor was then cast on the CBS comedy One Day at a Time and continued to make guest appearances on shows like The Rockford Files, Chicago Med, House, Fresh Off the Boat, and others.

He was also seen in many television movies like A Christmas in Vermont, The Homeless Detective, and Bigfoot. He played major roles in other films like About Schmidt, Halloween II, Salvation Boulevard, All About Steve, and others.

Apart from his work on films and television, Howard spent most of his time swimming and gardening.

Netizens pay tribute to Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman gained a lot of fame thanks to his film and television roles since 1960s. Fans and celebrities expressed their grief on Twitter when news of his death went viral.

About the author

Anupal is a pop culture writer at Sportskeeda with a degree in Political Science. He developed a keen interest in the lives of celebrities, films, TV shows, and box office collections since an early age. After accumulating significant experience as a content writer across varied fields at companies such as The Indian Wire, DigiStatement, and QuirkyByte Media, he eventually settled on writing about his favorite genre - pop culture.

Anupal believes in conducting in-depth research while writing about any topic and relies on varied sources to ensure he produces holistic articles. He also often glances through content that was published in the 80s and 90s to gain a better understanding of the subject he is covering.

Anupal admires Robert Downey Jr., who played one of his favorite Marvel superheroes, Iron Man. He is inspired by the actor's resilience and the determination in overcoming past struggles to building a successful Hollywood career and admires the way he articulates his thoughts while speaking in interviews.

If Anupal could travel back in time, he would love to experience James Cameron's 2009 film 'Avatar' in a theatre full of fans. When he's not busy working, he binges on the latest OTT titles across languages.

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