'M*A*S*H's Mike Farrell's Private Lookalike Daughter & Granddaughter Who Make Him Beam at 84: Photo

• "M*A*S*H" star Mike Farrell and his wife of 39 years, Shelley Fabares, have two private kids and one granddaughter.

• Raising kids after his divorce from his ex-wife and marrying Fabares was not easy for the actor.

• At 84, he cannot restrain a smile while making a rare comment about his family.

TV actor Mike Farrell recently turned 84. He and his wife of 39 years, Shelley Fabares, lead quiet lives. Fabares is the stepmother of Mike's two adult children, Erin and Mike.

The father of two welcomed his kids with his first wife and "M*A*S*H" co-star, Judy Farrell. The former couple wed on August 18, 1963, and divorced on July 10, 1984.

Mike and his current spouse Fabares got hitched on December 31, 1984, and have no biological children. Nowadays, he remains out of the limelight. However, in 2022, he joined his former "M*A*S*H" co-star, Alan Alda, on his podcast, "Clear + Vivid," and made a rare comment about how his offspring visit him and Fabares.

Mike revealed that the mother and daughter duo, Erin and her child, usually visit him and Fabares at their marital home and swim in their pool. The doting parent and grandparent revealed that his children always "insist" on shopping for him.

Why Was Raising Kids Challenging for Mike?

Mike and the mother of his biological kids were devoted parents. However, the pair's marriage soon hit rock bottom, and they had to reassess their roles in each other's lives.

In his book, "Just Call Me Mike: A Journey to Actor and Activist," the Minnesota native discussed his marriage and divorce to actress Judy.

Mike recalled that despite being happy parents of two, after some self-introspection, they had to face the harsh reality of gradually drifting apart as a married couple.

After realizing their union was going downhill, the pair had to ensure they made the experience less painful for their children. But they could not entirely prevent them from the hurt they felt. Mike admitted breaking the news to his son and daughter was the most challenging part:

"[…] Of course, I did it all wrong. As I reflect back on it now, I realize that there probably isn't a right way to break that kind of news to a child. If there is, I certainly didn't find it."

"The whole process was a wrenching, deeply painful ordeal for all involved, but Judy and I were able to work out a cooperative arrangement," Mike explained.

He purchased a home close to the one they once shared and made special adjustments to it by building "steps and a gate, providing access to the kids with easy access both ways," he divulged.

Mike and Judy had a mutual agreement on shared custody and tried to be cordial as possible for the sake of their brood. He noted there was no party in the wrong, nor were any third parties involved in their marriage. Still, he expressed how devastating it was:

"It was awful. Sure as I was that the decision was right, I waffled constantly, fearing that anything that conflicted so much pain on the kids had to be a stupid mistake."

Nonetheless, Mike and Fabares started their new lives together and often spent time with Erin and Mike Jr. He explained they all learned to coexist and worked more on communication with Judy and her new husband, Joe Bratcher.

Mike said having kids live between two homes with different setups was too much to bear for them. Moreover, when the couples started to miscommunicate, they decided to involve a counselor to help them with family therapy, including the kids.

That experience allowed everyone to air and deal with their issues and eventually come to a mutual understanding for the sake of the blended family, said Mike. He added being a stepparent took its toll on Fabares as the children needed to warm up to her at first because they lowkey wanted their parents to reconcile.

The pair tried to include Erin and Mike in whatever they did. They were forthright with them, mainly because they had difficulty accepting that their dad was married to someone other than their mom. Mike revealed:

"Shelley, bless her, went out of her way to embrace and support them, giving them space and believing that in time they would come to accept it. Judy and Joe also worked hard from their end to help the kids through the transition. Shelley and the kids made it a particularly glorious experience."

Who Is Mike's, Granddaughter Addison?

Mike and Judy welcomed their daughter Erin on March 27, 1963, who now works in the Los Angeles office of Jesse Jackson. The former couple's son Mike arrived in 1970. He is a martial arts teacher.

Like their famous dad, the Farrell siblings live private lives. Erin, who is her father's lookalike, is married to Mike Curtis, who shares the same name as her dad and brother.

The couple made the "Providence" alum a grandfather by welcoming a daughter named Addison, a young aspiring soccer player. On June 14, 2020, Erin celebrated her daughter's birthday on Instagram alongside photos of the birthday girl.

"Happy Birthday to this amazing girl – Addison. You bring so much joy into my life, and you expand my heart, my mind, and my soul every day. Thank you for being you," penned the doting mom.

On September 11, 2022, Addison had her first "AYSO soccer game." It was her first time participating in a team sport, and she is said to be a promising young athlete.

She and her mom and dad went to the "Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5k," the mother of one revealed on social media alongside a family photo.

Erin shared she and her husband and daughter were having "an early and fun start to the day" before the match and were looking forward to it.

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