He was born Jameel Joseph Farah on July 1, 1934, in Toledo, Ohio, the only son of Samuel, a meat cutter/grocer, and Jamelia, a seamstress. His acting career began at age 11 when Jamie won $2. in a local talent contest. He graduated from Woodward High with honors and was named most outstanding student, having served as class president for three years. He also wrote and acted in two variety shows, was editor of his school paper, president of the Radio Club, and manager of the football and basketball teams. He became a member of the National Honor Society, and after graduation he moved with his family to Southern California where he attended the Pasadena Playhouse. He won his first film role as Santini in “The Blackboard Jungle”, then served two years in the army in Korea and Japan. He then proceeded to carve out a TV career by appearing as a regular on “The Red Skelton Show” and several episodes of the “The Danny Kaye Show” as well as the “Chicago Teddy Bears” series.

During the first season of M*A*S*H* Jamie was hired for one day’s work as a phony transvestite bucking for a section 8 discharge. Something about the chomped cigar under the veil and hairy legs under the flowing skirt and the hook nose immediately clicked with the producers. Jamie became a full member of the cast of the No.1 show on television, playing Corporal Klinger and having even directed several episodes. The weekly show could boast of an amazing audience of 32 million regular viewers, running for eleven years, and was chosen by TV guide as the best television show of all time. The final two and a half hour episode aired February 28, 1983, drawing more than 125 million viewers, a record that may never be broken. He also has appeared on the big screen in George Stevens’ “The Greatest Story Ever Told” and with Burt Reynolds in “Cannonball Run” and “Cannonball Run II.” He has toured with John Davidson in “Will Rogers’s Follies” and played Oscar Madison in the national tour of “The Odd Couple” with his M*A*S*H* associate, William Christopher. Jamie’s Broadway debut was made in the long running “Guys and Dolls” for which he received rave reviews for his portrayal of Nathan Detroit.

More recently, he appeared in “Moon Over Buffalo”, as well as the comedy-thriller play, “Catch Me If You Can.” Jamie is still hoping to get back on a successful TV series and we all hope it will be soon. One of his proudest accomplishments was in 1985 when he received a “Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame” and, of course, his Emmy nomination for M*A*S*H. And in 1983 Jamie received an honorary Doctor of Performing Arts Degree from the University of Toledo.

Shems: What is behind the imaginary camel, Hababy? How has the public responded to the book and when do you plan for the next one to come out?

Habeebie was an imaginary camel that my character Max Klinger originated on the television series “MASH”. It was another ploy he used in trying to convince his superiors he was crazy by talking to this invisible camel. Obviously, and thankfully for me, it did not work; which meant I kept on working. Years later some people were talking to me and my wife about putting together a children’s picture book and we came up the idea of making Habeebie real and giving him a wife and child. Thus we had Habeebie, his wife Habeeba and his baby Hababy. My wife Joy thought of the story and I asked a book manager of one of the book stores I had toured when I released my book “Just Farr Fun” to be the illustrator. She had shown me some of her work and I really liked it. It had a wonderful old world texture to it. It was difficult for us to get a publisher but eventually we did. The publisher was not one of the larger companies so getting our book circulated was a huge problem. The book was well received by the public and critics but we just could not get the books into the major book stores. The sales were just mild. Joy and I hope to do another book with Hababy and family as soon as we can find another publisher and one who can really see the potential of the series of Hababy books and the potential of even doing an animated television series about this charming camel family.

Shems: How did you get started with your present role in The 2004 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic tournament?

When the television series “MASH” had stopped production in 1982, thinking I would have some time on my hands before I went into another venture, I took up the game of golf. Soon after that an opening occurred on the LPGA tour and a young man who lived in Toledo, Ohio, my hometown, had been caddying for a PGA player named Craig Stadler. His name was Judd Silverman and he had this vision of having Toledo, Ohio be the next new stop on the LPGA tour. He contacted one of my childhood friends who became a successful businessman with the McDonalds chain of hamburgers and asked him to contact me. The purpose was to ask me if I would lend my name to the tournament as the Host. If I did that, Judd figured he could get sufficient sponsorship and the okay from the LPGA Commissioner. Of course I agreed. Judd with the help of my dear childhood friend, Don Michel, who helped seed the tournament for the first two years...and all of those wonderful people in Toledo who believed it was a good and profitable idea. and to LPGA Commissioner who granted us that stop...well here we are twenty years later. We are one of the most successful events on the LPGA tour.

Shems: You have performed with the best of Americans comic icons like Red Skelton Lucille Ball, and Dick Van Dyke, just to name a few. Which of these people have had the most profound affect on your own career within comedy?

They were all wonderful. Red Skelton was like a father to me and I would have to say that he had the most influence on me. not just for comedy but for his work ethic. He had the utmost respect for his work and his profession. I miss him. But I shall always have his teachings with me.

Shems: You have reportedly directed some of the episodes of M.A.S.H. Do you like directing or acting best? Why?

I really enjoyed directing but I have not done enough of it to see if it is something I would like to spend the rest of my life doing. Acting is something I have been doing most of my life. So that seems to be the comfortable thing to do.

Shems: For a man with your great success within comedy, how do you feel about your more serious roles?

I have done numerous serious roles on stage and in television but I really love comedy. It makes me feel good to be able to make other people laugh..and maybe in that little time they forget some of their troubles and pain. Comedy is exhilarating for me. It gives me energy. I believe a dramatic role would depress me if I had to do that on stage every night and two matinees. Maybe an occasional serious role in a film would be fine.

Shems: What are you planning next? Do you think you’ll be returning to the Television set in a new series, or would you prefer to work behind the scenes in the future?

Currently I am rehearsing for the George Burns one-person play called, “Say Goodnight Gracie.” George Burns, of course was an icon of American comedy. It is an honor to be able to do his life on stage and to be able to portray him. I was a big fan of his. I will be on the road in various cities and at various times in 2004 and 2005.

Shems: Why did you change your name too Farr, from Farah? And were your parents disappointed that you did not follow in your father’s footsteps?

I changed my name from Jameel Farah to Jamie Farr shortly after I was discharged from the United States Army. My name was too hard for people in the industry to learn...also, at that time if you had an ethnic name you would only be up for ethnic roles. People had been calling me Jamie instead of Jameel as a nickname so I kept that and just shortened my name to Farr. My father had passed away before I had changed my name and my mother was not too keen on it but I had to do what I thought would be beneficial for my career. As for not following in my father’s profession..well he was a grocer/meat cutter or as they call them, a butcher...and in some ways I have followed in his profession because some critics have said I “butchered” some of the acting roles I have had.

Shems: How did you meet your wife?

I met my wife Joy when I got out of the army. A Lebanese buddy of mine from Toledo, Ohio who also happened to be an entertainer introduced me to her. My friend’s name was Mitch Dewood and he was part of the comedy team of Marty Allen and Mitch Dewood. Joy had just moved to Los Angeles from Chicago and was staying in the same apartment building as my friend Mitch. He met her and told me about her and what a lovely lady he thought she was. He introduced me to her and she immediately fixed me up with her girlfriend. Well, her girlfriend and I did not get along too well so Joy said she would date me...she thought I was kind of cute. We are still dating after 42 years of marriage.

Shems: You are often referred to as a great story-teller. Have you had this role even among friends and in your own family? Has someone from within your family inspired you in your career or supported you in a special way, or has your inspiration from somewhere else?

My family has been very supportive. My parents and my wife and children. We have gone through some lean times when work was not available but they never once doubted my resolve. I am fortunate for that. Again I would say Red Skelton had the greatest impact on me. Also I have two wonderful friends who are in show business who also happen to be from Toledo, Ohio...Andrew J. Fenady, a prominent writer and motion picture and television producer and his brother, Georg Fenady, a motion picture and prominent television director. When times were tough they always seemed to have a part for me...and the rent was paid and food was on the table.