Jamie Farr Bio
Jamie Farr may be best known as the wacky dress-donning Corporal Klinger on the hit television series M*A*S*H where he provided more than 32 million regular viewers with a weekly dose of fun and entertainment.

Farr, who created one of the most memorable characters in television history, parlayed his one-day acting stint on an early episode of M*A*S*H into an 11-year run on what the editors of TV Guide have named the best television show of all time. The final two-and-a-half hour episode aired February 28, 1983 and drew more than 125 million viewers - a record that may never be broken.

After M*A*S*H followed its historic predecessor, transplanting Jamie's character into another place and time. The civilian Max Klinger joined his wartime officer Colonel Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan) and the 4077th's Padre, Father Francis Mulchahy (Williams Christopher), where they worked, for two years, side by side in a veteran’s hospital. In May of 2002, Jamie along with his cast members of M*A*S*H celebrated their 30th Anniversary with a special television reunion.

Jamie starred in a featured film with Rod Steiger called “A Month of Sundays” and played Clem Rogers in a tour of “Will Rogers Follies” with John Davidson. He also played Oscar Madison in the national tour of “The Odd Couple” with William Christopher.

In addition to his numerous appearances on game shows, television specials, movies and commercials, Jamie has successfully pursued additional creative outlets. Jamie and his wife Joy a published a children’s picture book titled Hababy’s First Christmas.

This is not the first time Jamie has become a published author, he became the first member of the M*A*S*H ensemble to write a memoir of his life before, during and after M*A*S*H. JUST FARR FUN, published by Eubanks/Donizetti, Inc., is an entertaining and candid look at Jamie's life and career. Throughout the book, Jamie takes readers on a fun-filled journey through his life, sharing intimate and humorous stories and photographs about himself and his famous friends.

In June of 2002, Jamie accepted an Honorary Doctorate from the Medical College of Ohio and received a lifetime achievement award from the Pioneer Broadcasters.

On Memorial Day, 2007, Jamie hosted a multi-episode presentation of M*A*S*H on the Hallmark Channel. The featured episodes showcased Jamie's performances on the show, with Jamie providing commentary during the commercial breaks.

Jamie is currently, along with Chuck Woolery and Bob Eubanks, a rotating host of the $250,000 Game Show Spectacular at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Jamie, a proud native of Toledo, Ohio, is the only son of Samuel, a Lebanese meat cutter and grocer, and Jamelia Farah, a seamstress. His given name was Jameel Joseph, and he has an older sister, Yvonne.

Jamie began his acting career at age 11 when he won $2 in a local talent contest. He graduated from Woodward High School with honors and was named most outstanding student. In addition to writing and acting in two variety shows, Jamie was a member of the Drama Society, class president for three years, feature editor of the school newspaper, president of the radio class, manager of the football and basketball teams and a member of the varsity tennis team.

After high school, Jamie attended the Pasadena Playhouse, where he was discovered by an MGM talent scout, screen-tested for The Blackboard Jungle, and won the role of a mentally-retarded student, Santini.

Between acting stints, Jamie worked as a delivery person for a lithograph company, a post office clerk, an Army-surplus store clerk, an airline reservations clerk, and an employee at a chinchilla ranch.

He was the only member of the M*A*S*H* cast to serve in Korea during a two-year stretch that also found him with the Army in Japan. He returned to Southern California to resume his acting career upon discharge.

In the late 1950s, Jamie became a regular on The Red Skelton Show for CBS. He went on to work with the likes of Danny Kaye and Huntz Hall on television before landing a role in George Stevens' monumental motion picture, The Greatest Story Ever Told. Jamie's big-screen credits also include Cannonball Run and Cannonball Run II with Burt Reynolds.

Jamie's greatest passion aside from acting is golf. He married the "joy" of his life, Joy Richards, in 1963. They remain happily married and enjoy a close family relationship with son, Jonas and daughter, Yvonne.