Jamie Farr (born Jameel Joseph Farah; July 1, 1934) is an American television and film comedian and theatre actor. He is best known for playing the cross-dressing corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger in the CBS television sitcom M*A*S*H.
After high school, he moved to California and joined the Pasadena Playhouse, where he was scouted by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). That led to his first acting role, playing Santini in the 1955 movie The Blackboard Jungle. The role was credited under his birth name, Jameel Farah. But Farrâs next big break wasnât on screen, it was on the radio. He took on the role of Snorkel, the sailor buddy on Red Skeltonâs NBC radio show. The relationship he developed with Skelton would come back to serve Farr during his time in the Army.
Drafted into the Army in 1957, Farr served two years on active duty. He started in New York City at the old Paramount Studios â converted to the Army Pictorial Center. There, he worked on training films. He was shipped to Japan and worked with Armed Forces Radio, taking trips to Korea to open Armed Forces Television.
After Skelton lost his 12-year-old son to leukemia, he decided to take a trip to Korea to entertain the troops. A former Army man himself, Skelton toured with the Special Services during WWII, performing as many as 12 shows a day. âHe just wanted to go out and entertain, and go to these small encampments throughout Korea,â Farr said. That was when Farrâs history with Skelton worked in Farrâs favor. Skelton put in a formal request with the U.S. State Department to have Farr accompany him on his tour of Korea. Then Pvt. Jameel Farah went from regular duty to VIP status and flying around the theater on a UN airplane. âWe entertained all the way up to the 38th parallel.â
When the two parted ways at the end of Skeltonâs tour, Farr returned to his duty station in Japan. But before parting, Skelton warned Farr that getting his career back on track would be tough. He invited Farr to come to see him once he was done with the Army. Farr recalled appreciating the gesture at the time, but not nearly as much as he would later.
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