Howard Hesseman was good at playing men who had authority without much taste for ceremony. We rate his relaxed comic presence, particularly when the easy manner allows a little condescension or weariness to show.
Fi1m perspective
As Terry Ladd, the condescending rock manager in Rob Reiner’s This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Howard Hesseman makes an easy manner seem faintly dismissive. That relaxation is central to his appeal: he need not play a man as agitated to make him difficult company. The cameo fits a comedy whose actors give foolish people patient, serious attention. We laughed because the musicians are treated with such solemn care, rather than pushed at us as a succession of jokes. Hesseman is a useful part of that company, though the film’s pleasures are larger than his contribution.
The more substantial account of his acting is on television, especially Dr. Johnny Fever, the burned-out DJ in WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982). Hesseman’s own radio experience and improvisation with The Committee help explain why the part suited him. He brought familiarity with the work, as well as the comic freedom to ad-lib dialogue. With Charlie Moore, the unconventional history teacher in Head of the Class (1986–1990), he took that relaxed approach into a leading role. It is sensible casting for a performer who could suggest authority without becoming stiff.
In films, he was more often a supporting presence, with Larry Hertzel in Alexander Payne’s About Schmidt (2002) among the later examples. We recommend that uneven retirement comedy chiefly for Jack Nicholson’s restrained performance as Warren Schmidt. It gives Hesseman less room than his leading television work, and we would not choose it as an introduction to him. The reservation is with Payne’s comedy: its jokes about the surrounding characters can come too easily. Nicholson’s sadness is what makes the evening worthwhile.
We would not confuse Hesseman’s ease with a guarantee that every character is deeply written. The burned-out men and eccentric authority figures recur often enough to make the casting seem predictable. His sustained television roles give us more to judge than the brief film appearances, however good the company. Start with Johnny Fever for Hesseman himself; choose This Is Spinal Tap for the whole company.
Biography
Howard Hesseman was an American actor. Born in Lebanon, Oregon, he studied at the University of Oregon and began his career in the late 1960s as a member of the San Francisco improv comedy troupe The Committee. He also worked as a radio DJ under the name Don Sturdy.
Hesseman was best known for his television roles as disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982) and history teacher Charlie Moore on Head of the Class (1986–1991). His film credits include This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment (1985) and About Schmidt (2002), in which he played Larry Hertzel. He appeared regularly on television and in film from the 1970s until the 2010s.
