# Howard Hesseman (Dr. Johnny Fever) passed away **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [January 30, 2022, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657 "2022-01-30T18:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mtnmatt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a3d4f5/32.png) [@mtnmatt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mtnmatt)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/21 "2022-01-30T20:36:34Z")
In HS during the late 70s I wore a navy blue chamois shirt, open over a t-shirt, largely because of Dr. Johnny Fever. ---
**Author:** ![SwissMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@SwissMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SwissMan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/22 "2022-01-30T20:36:58Z")
“Thanks for that on-the-spot report, Les. Uh, for those of you who just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven.” ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/23 "2022-01-30T20:43:28Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > My favorite Johnny Fever episode was the episode where they did the on-air drunk reflexes test… and Johnny just kept testing _better_ the more he drank. Aww, that’s the one I was going to mention. Another favorite: Johnny is playing Pink Floyd’s “Dogs”, Mr. Carlson comes in the booth and hears the dogs barking. He picks up the “Animals” album cover. A.C. “What’s this song called?” Johnny: “Dogs.” A.C. “Pigs on the Wing. I wonder what that one sounds like.” Johnny: “Hey man, I don’t take requests.” RIP Howard. You were awesome. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/24 "2022-01-30T20:43:42Z")
**Johnny** : Bigotry started a long time ago. Nobody knows where. I think the French started it. RIP, Doctor. Ya done good. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/25 "2022-01-30T20:56:41Z")
Dr. Johnny Fever awakes from the dead: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/FzgLeC54cqs/maxresdefault.jpg "WKRP Dr. Johnny Fever Awakens From The Dead") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzgLeC54cqs) ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/26 "2022-01-30T21:25:27Z")
I was going to say that the phone cops finally got him. ---
**Author:** ![GreysonCarlisle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a87d85/32.png) [@GreysonCarlisle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreysonCarlisle)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/27 "2022-01-30T21:32:17Z")
RIP, Mister Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/28 "2022-01-30T21:49:43Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It might be too soon, but I have to believe that Howard would appreciate us watching this WKRP bit today, about a jingle for a funeral home. I can’t believe I just “got” the Ferryman name. Also, I heard that Hesseman was an impeccable dresser IRL and never liked wearing the somewhat sloppy clothes Johnny Fever wore. Loved that show. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/29 "2022-01-30T22:13:37Z")
John Caravella aka Dr. Johnny Fever aka Johnny Sunshine aka Johnny Duke aka Johnny Style aka Johnny Cool aka Johnny Midnight aka Heavy Early was one of the great television characters. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/30 "2022-01-30T22:30:46Z")
> [@SwissMan](#): > > “Thanks for that on-the-spot report, Les. Uh, for those of you who just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven.” I’m wearing my “First Annual WKRP Thanksgiving Turkey Drop” t-shirt today, in tribute to Howard. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/31 "2022-01-30T22:50:47Z")
All these years later, I was waiting for the immortal line: “I’m sure all you doughboys out there remember that one.” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/32 "2022-01-30T22:57:27Z")
RIP, Howard. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2022, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/33 "2022-01-30T23:34:38Z")
Oh damn. I loved Dr. Johnny Fever. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/34 "2022-01-31T00:34:52Z")
“Disco’s dead, thank God!” And, sadly, so’s Johnny. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/35 "2022-01-31T00:40:30Z")
RIP from your fellow babies. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/36 "2022-01-31T00:52:45Z")
Hesseman was a regular on a lot more series than I’d remembered–all the way back to the _Smothers Brothers_ ('68-69); _Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman_, _The Bob Newhart Show_, _Soap_, _One Day at a Time_, and more. He worked a _lot_; one can guess he must have had a sterling reputation in the business. Condolences to his family and friends. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/37 "2022-01-31T02:37:35Z")
Johnny (as Rip Tide): You know that for the ol’ Ripper to play a record, it’s gotta have three things. It’s gotta have a beat, right? Gotta Dance Kids: Right! Johnny: And it’s gotta have soul, right? Kids: Right! Johnny: And it’s gotta be paid for, right? Kids: Whaa…? Johnny: Well, sure, if you want me to play your record, all it takes is a few dollars in the ol’ Ripper’s pocket, and I’ll make sure your record gets played. Kid: Shut up and play some music! Johnny: Hey, pizzaface, I’ll crack the whip, you make the trip, okay? All paraphrased from memory. But thanks, Howard, for such a memorable character as Dr. Johnny Fever. Rest well. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/38 "2022-01-31T04:05:44Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Dr. Johnny Fever awakes from the dead: For all who ever cued a record and slapped in a promo cart, the thing we all aspired to… ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/39 "2022-01-31T04:12:51Z")
WRIP in Cincinnati ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2022, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657/40 "2022-01-31T04:16:35Z")
WKRP is taken…Billy Jack is taken…Head of the Class… I see Michael McKean has tweeted: > Ah yeah, Hesseman was in “Spinal Tap.” I remembered him as a G-man at the end of “Clue,” which also had McKean. Come to think of it, he was also in an episode of “House, M.D.” He seemed so natural as an actor. RIP, Mr. Hesseman. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/howard-hesseman-dr-johnny-fever-passed-away/958657.md?page=3)