Author and actor Mike Farrell will appear at Collected Works Bookstore in Santa Fe on Wednesday, May 14th at 5:30 PM to read from and sign copies of his new book, Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist.
From its opening pages, Farrell's new memoir reveals the distinctive voice of a man for whom life is an ongoing odyssey of self-discovery, personal commitment, and uncompromising social engagement.
With deep insight and disarming candor, Farrell describes his early years as a timid but restless teenager in West Hollywood, delivering groceries to the homes of countless celebrities, while dreaming of having his own career as an actor. In stark but riveting language, he relates his formative years as a Marine recruit, confused, conflicted, and eager to prove himself as a man.
Farrell humorously portrays his professional development from a young soap opera player on "Days of Our Lives" to the amiable star of two popular television series, "M*A*S*H" and "Providence", to the respected producer of successful motion pictures like "Dominick and Eugene" and "Patch Adams".
At the heart of his story, Farrell narrates his public struggle to be a responsible citizen of the world. From his firsthand accounts of the ravages of war and oppression in Cambodia, El Salvador, Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda, and the Gaza Strip, to his tireless advocacy against capital punishment, to his deep commitment to environmental causes, Farrell portrays each of these experiences with passion, outrage, and stubborn optimism.
Beyond the film industry, Farrell is a very active and outspoken citizen. Promoting human rights and opposing the death penalty are two of his prime concerns. Farrell has received numerous awards including the Valentine Davies Award by the Writers Guild of America and the Donald Wright Award from California Attorneys for Criminal Justice. In February 1998 Farrell was appointed to a three-year term on the Commission on Judicial Performance, an 11 member California State Commission that adjudicates complaints against judges in the state. In his spare time Mike loves to read, spend time with his wife and kids and enjoys cross-country motorcycling.
Collected Works Bookstore has been Santa Fe’s independent bookseller since 1978. The store is located at 208 West San Francisco Street in Santa Fe, just blocks from the downtown Plaza.
