Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist

315 Pages·2007·1.49 MB·English

by  Mike Farrell

More Praise for Just Call Me Mike
“I’ve always just called him Mike. But now I have to call him talented, brave,
principled, indefatigable, thoughtful, generous, and a man driven by his
conscience. I learned things about him in this book I never knew before. So now
I have to call him humble, too. He’s really kind of irritating.”
—Alan Alda
“If you question why Hollywood actors get involved in politics, Mike Farrell can
give you a whole book full of very persuasive answers … [An] engaging new
memoir.”
—Los Angeles CityBeat
“After years of searching and some spectacular professional successes, Mike
Farrell made an uncompromising commitment to his fiercest passion—a love of
global fairness, collaboration, and civility. This is a fascinating account of that
journey.”
—Governor Mario Cuomo
“In this honest autobiography, Farrell provides intimate accounts of growing up
working class in the shadows of wealthy Hollywood, overcoming personal
demons as he starts his acting career and finding happiness in the popular sitcom
… His passionate descriptions of human rights abuses show why Farrell is
considered one of Hollywood’s most prominent activists.”
—Publishers Weekly
“This informative, courageous, and sometimes scary account of the life of a
modern American male grabs the attention early and never lets go.”
—Sidney Poitier
“Take a break from the Paris-goes-to-jail countdown and read about a celebrity
who’s actually using his fame for good … He provides countless insights into
our world and the nature of service. Five stars.”
—Hour Magazine (Montreal)
“I admire Mike Farrell for his citizen activism. He has used the influence that
accompanies his celebrity as a force for doing good, and the lasting impact of his
humanitarian work is his legacy. The story of his rise to stardom and his
commitment to service is inspiring.”
—Rosalynn Carter
“Just Call Me Mike is a riveting tale of personal, professional, and civic growth
from sallow California kid to mature citizen committed to a more just social
order. Whether Latin America, the Middle East, the death penalty, or a whole
host of other human rights issues, Mike Farrell has confronted government abuse
with courage, dedication, and tenacity. It is a life lived in a way that would make
Voltaire proud. In short, I loved it.”
—Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson, IV
“An inspirational tale of change for a wide audience, from prior fans of his
career to newcomers …”
—Midwest Book Review
“Mike Farrell’s memoir is a sometimes funny but always serious development of
a committed artist’s life. Read it and enjoy—and wonder why there aren’t more
like him.”
—Julian Bond, Chairman, NAACP
“Mike Farrell’s personal journey is a wonder in itself. Those in the cultural
community who have ever been concerned about the arts and political activism
should have all their fears assuaged by this wonderful documentation.”
—Harry Belafonte
“It’s the illumination, the light that Mike Farrell kindles with his life, and the
wonderful complexity of his humaneness that shine through this extraordinary
book. It will ennoble and empower all who read it.”
—Rabbi Leonard I. Beerman
“Mike Farrell’s passion to discover, portray, and improve the human condition
shines through his book and brings credit to his profession as an artist and as an
activist.”
—Warren Beatty
“Mike Farrell may be best known for his years on M*A*S*H and Providence,
but his new book is no mere collection of show business anecdotes. It is the story
of the merging of the personal and the political realms in one man’s journey
through life.”
—Mail Tribune (Southern Oregon)
“I have long since come to understand and appreciate Mike Farrell’s sincere
devotion and commitment to justice, fairness, and equality. Despite being an
accomplished actor and gaining notoriety as a human rights activist, he remains
humble and focused. Just Call Me Mike confirms Mike’s love and compassion
for people. This book must be read by all of those who profess to be committed
to First Amendment rights and human rights, but do not have the courage of
their convictions to stand up and speak truth to power. Mike’s work and courage
puts us all to shame. We can all do better. Thank you, Mike.”
—Congresswoman Maxine Waters
“Farrell doesn’t hesitate to put himself on the line, whether writing about his
troubled past, the behind-the-scenes conflicts on the M*A*S*H set, or his human
rights activism.”
—Sacramento Bee
“An intimate, compelling memoir by a popular actor and dedicated
humanitarian, Just Call Me Mike is even more: It’s an exciting page-turner, a
modern spiritual odyssey, and, as the reader discovers, an account of one man’s
courageous battle against injustice in all its nefarious forms. Mike Farrell makes
the world a better place—and this book may change your life.”
—Donald Spoto, author of Enchantment: The Life of Audrey Hepburn
“Mike is one of the most gifted, committed, and interesting people I know. His
book is a fascinating perspective on his own remarkable life, as well as our
shared history. Full of great stories, valuable insights, and powerful inspiration.”
—Bonnie Raitt
“In Just Call Me Mike, the author tells of his campaigns across our country and
around the world on behalf of the poor, the forgotten, and the oppressed. To this
battle, our modern Don Quixote brings a skeptical intelligence, a disciplined
passion, and an informed contempt for those in authority ever ready to sacrifice
human rights on the altar of imperial ambition. Without boast or brag, Just Call
Me Mike testifies to the vital role played by citizens who ennoble our nation by
their willingness to denounce abuses of power.”
—Ambassador Robert E. White
“Mike Farrell proves that ferocious conviction is the organizing principle of an
extraordinary life. In his memoir, Just Call Me Mike, he describes the fantastic,
sometimes painful, and ultimately redeeming journey that his conscience has led
him on. Like his life, the book dances seamlessly between his great passions—
from fond memories on the M*A*S*H set, to nervous moments at military
checkpoints on his way to help refugees in war-torn Central America, to
scrubbing-in for real-life surgery on a prisoner of war in El Salvador. In a
disarmingly honest and gentle voice, Just Call Me Mike collects an incredible
diversity of experiences, so diverse that it’s difficult to believe that one person
could accomplish so much, in art and in service to others.”
—Kamala Harris, District Attorney of San Francisco “With raw honesty as
his constant companion, Mike Farrell reveals a journeyman’s stirring quest for
truth, which brought him to work tirelessly on human rights, protection of the
environment, abolition of the death penalty, and so many other issues on behalf
of the voiceless. Just Call Me Mike is a riveting read, and left me inspired by the
determination of one person to create a more just world.”
—Kerry Kennedy
“Incapable of putting his conscience on hold, Mike Farrell beautifully articulates
why he is a rebel without a pause.”
—Larry Gelbart
“Mike Farrell’s passion for life and compassion for people are formidable. Just
Call Me Mike is not merely an autobiography, but rather a road map and a book
of directions for those desirous of affecting positive change. He makes
believable the principle that one person CAN make a difference—we should all
be that kind of citizen.”
—Stanley K. Sheinbaum, economist
“This book never, not for a page, emerges as self-congratulatory, and yet one
cannot help but be overwhelmed by Mike Farrell’s principles, his profound
commitments, and his extraordinary courage. The account of his life experiences
is so real, so moving, it went straight through my heart.”
—Loretta Swit
“Each paragraph inspires … each page a sermon … the book, a history lesson
not generally taught. Mike Farrell is both poet and fighter, his pen a sword that
cuts through pretense and hypocrisy and enables each of us to be courageous in
pursuit of justice. His greatest role is offstage acting on behalf of those who have
been silenced … His book is a gift for all. I am proud to ‘call him Mike’—friend
to all.”
—Rabbi Steven B. Jacobs, chair of the Progressive Faith Foundation
“Thoughtful and honest.”
—St. Paul Pioneer Press

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form, by any means, including mechanical,
electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written
consent of the publisher.
Published by Akashic Books/RDV Books Originally published in hardcover by
Akashic Books/RDV Books in 2007
©2007, 2008 Mike Farrell
Foreword ©2008 Martin Sheen Preface ©2008 Lance Lindsey ePUB ISBN-13:
978-1-936-07035-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-933354-48-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2007939595
Akashic Books/RDV Books PO Box 1456
New York, NY 10009
[email protected]
www.akashicbooks.com
To Shelley,
my hero
To Erin and Mike,
my inspiration
To Kathy, Jim and Karen,
semper fidelis
To Sal,
for the things I never said
For Agnes
&
For Joe