Howard Hesseman

Howard Hesseman was an American actor and founding member of The Committee, the San Francisco-based improvisational comedy troupe active from 1963 through the mid-1970s. His tenure with The Committee, which spanned roughly a decade until 1975, honed his skills in long-form improvisation alongside collaborators including Del Close and Rob Reiner. The troupe was known for satirical, unscripted performances that critiqued societal norms and staged shows at anti-war rallies and civil rights demonstrations. Hesseman channeled his improvisational background and real-world experience as a radio DJ into his Emmy-nominated television work, most notably his portrayal of disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati.