Jamie Farr talks about his acting career and heritage with Arab America

In an exclusive interview, Arab America President Warren David sits down with film, television, and stage actor Jamie Farr to talk about his career, growing up in Toledo, and his Lebanese heritage.
Credits
Interviewer: Warren David
Producer: Fred Shwaery
Videographer: Ziad Foty

[@NickelPlateDave]

I had a pleasure of meeting Jamie in October of 2022 amazing human met him in motor city comic con a true sweet heart

[@MrMichaeljay1965]

And Toledo is proud to call you its Native Son! Thank you, Mr. Farr.

[@tigersnacks]

Thank you, Jamie (Jamil). You're one of my all-time TV favorites. ❤

[@sean2me]

He is a little older but still the same, love his voice.

[@joanketelby752]

He's a great example of being an American period.

[@FierroDuroRails]

I love him and all the cast I remember watching reruns in the 80s as a kid. And now I have a son... I am American of Mexican heritage and my wife moroccan arab and Berber and our kids now have a wonderful colorful heritage they can take and share with everyone..

[@HelloooThere]

He looks terrific and sounds like a youngster!!

[@jimshoe6699]

What a fine, caring human being...

[@johnpowers2921]

It seems like every old movie or tv show from the early 60’s on had a walk on of Jamie Farr.

[@johnsteele5264]

My Best friend whom I grew up with "Gary Salloum" was Lebanese. I wish I could find him all these years later. The Lebanese people immigrated to the United States in the 1950's . Thank You Jamie for being ARAB-Lebanese for all of the western world to enjoy and be inspired by.

[@rezamotori5709]

lebanese people were in america long long before that!............remember the poet Khalil Gibran?......he is lebanese and he was in america in 1895

[@cliveexton8993]

A true gentleman in all respects.

[@Michaelbos]

I believe this interview was done when Jamie was doing a one man show, where he played George Burns.

[@aceisagodkiss3872]

he looks like the guy from the movie "UP."

[@alexfogg236]

great guy .

[@docadams7099]

On MASH, in the episode where Klinger fakes forgetting he's in the Army, he mentions that his mother's maiden name is Aboudeelee (I hope I spelled it right), I thought Jamie just made up that name. I did not believe that was for real.

[@BobbNaef]

He talked so much about Tony Pacos. I was in a wedding in 1992 and they had the reversal there. Never watched MASH but my folks did. It wasn’t until I seen him on the gong show that I started watching it

[@Schattendragonfly]

I wonder if it was more difficult for him to act Clinger , having a more strict heritage. I did not know about it. Love they way he worked this role, awesome.

[@susanlegeza7562]

Loved jamie farr!His role was slightly unbelievable, but still,...

[@Cazz8203]

Watching mash while watching this interview and i noticed alan and and jamie have identical voices

[@deputydog7669]

fuzzy pink slippers and a hand glider episode is very funny::)))

[@liverneck2001]

toledo, oh and worcester, ma had significant lebanese communities in the 1920's and 1930's

[@alexfogg236]

thanks I didn't know that. cool.

[@kimiisungstartedthekoreanw2771]

So did Lawrence, Mass.

[@docadams7099]

I think Jamie also appeared in Sgt. Bilko. I know he's on The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan's Heroes, and Gomer Pyle, USMC. He also appeared with William Christopher in the movie "With Six You Get Eggroll" (late sixties). He and the future Fr. Mulcahy play hippies in that one.

[@JurassicRaptor1993]

Looking him up, I think he was a 2nd Lieutenant US Army Air Corp.

[@markyounger1240]

He is also starting to look like George Burns as he gets older.

[@davidllewis4075]

On first glance thought this was George Burns

[@muffdiver240]

Until he started talking, I might've mistaken him for George Burns.

[@TheEchovoices]

i thought that too good old Jamie

[@jimmysapien9961]

Ha - yes he probably could play his life story !!!

[@bigelsiea]

I love Lubia and Rice, and Stuffed Egg Plant

[@jayjay-bz3rr]

Nice guy

[@MtlCstr]

He looks like George Burns now. Hand him a cigar.

[@bigelsiea]

I knew you growing up and was in love with you. I went to St George with you. I guess I was too little! Boo Hoo

[@bigelsiea]

You look so wonderful. You know we Lebanese age slowly. God has been good to you! My maiden name was Saba, we lived near Richard Haddad. Do you remember

[@StanSwan]

Why immigration is what makes America Great! My roots go back to before the Civil War.

[@brianellinger6622]

I don't know who that is but I think he said are you ready to stop yet

[@robertlevine2827]

Probably the greatest measure of M*A*S*H's success and of Jamie Farr's on it is that they eventually let the character of Maxwell Klinger just be Jamie Farr, a Lebanese-American from Toledo--"Maxwell Klinger" not being a terribly Lebanese-sounding name--and nobody cared. Jamie Farr is more interesting than any fictional character a TV writer could come up with.

[@jprsa]

he now looks like George Burns. hehe.

[@LynnRC1957]

I wish YOU GUYS were CALLED AMERICAN ARABS . JUST LIKE I AM AN AMERICAN WHITE ANGLO-MORMON CHRISTIAN.L.. I Say THIS NONSENSE SO WE ARE NOT DIVIDED BUT Americans First and Americans always!!! May Allah and Jesus bless us ALL!

[@joeydepalmer4457]

I am sorry, but they say Arab American or Arabian television but neither 1 of them look Arabian, outside the "The Nose" that is

[@NoName-bh4pf]

You must not have seen Jamie Farr when he was younger. He had thick black hair and dark skin to go along with that nose.

[@joeydepalmer4457]

@@NoName-bh4pf seen him? i have every tv show and movie he was in on dvd

[@joeydepalmer4457]

@Yunus Al Canaani if i was to go to the middle east i well not be going to see people but history

[@electronicsjapan6293]

Nice .. I hope Arabs were more interconnected just like the Jews

[@judithqueen1971]

Videos for cats

[@joeydepalmer4457]

Mr. Farr looks like a 1930s Jewish gangster