'M*A*S*H's Mike Farrell's Ex Held Their Kids' Hands before Death at 84 - He Wanted 'Her Back' after Split

• Judy Farrell, known as Nurse Able from "M*A*S*H," has died at 84. All details revealed.
• Her ex-husband of 20 years, Mike Farell, known as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt in "M*A*S*H," wanted to get her back after their tough divorce.
• The exes and their new spouses worked hard to build a blended family, as their kids initially didn't accept Mike's second wife.

Judy Farrell, known for portraying the role of Nurse Able in the hit sitcom "M*A*S*H," passed away on Sunday, April 2, at the age of 84. The actress's son, Michael Farrel, spoke to TMZ shortly after his mom's death, revealing she died nine days after suffering a severe stroke.

The stroke left Judy unable to speak, although she was still fully aware and clutching her children's hands before she passed on. Judy's daughter, Erin Farrel, celebrated her life and marked her passing in a post on Instagram.

The post showed an image of Erin and Judy smiling at the camera side-by-side. In the caption, Erin described her mom as "the embodiment of love, kindness, laughter, and strength. She went on to say that although she would miss her mother terribly, she was glad to have had Judy to guide her through life.

Therapy turned out to be excellent for Mike's personal growth.

Erin also wrote, "She inspired me every day, she made me laugh, she challenged me, she was so much fun, and she made me so proud to be her daughter." Judy shared her two children with her ex-husband, Mike Farrell. The two had known each other for years and even worked together on numerous occasions.

Like Judy, Mike was part of the cast of "M*A*S*H." The actor played the surgeon Captian B.J. Hunnicut on the popular sitcom, alongside Alan Alda as Captian Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce. Judy featured in eight episodes of the show and also appeared in a few other TV shows and films, including "Get Smart" and "Chapter Two."

Why Did Mike Want to Get Judy Back after Their Divorce?

Mike and Judy had dated for a while before they decided to settle down together in August 1963. The pair said their vows in a Presbyterian Church and welcomed their first child, their daughter Erin, in March of the same year. A few years later, in 1970, they brought their son, Michael, into the world.

Everything seemed to be looking up for Mike, but the first years of marriage offered new problems.

Mike recalled the birth of his son vividly in his 2008 autobiography, "Just Call Me Mike." The actor wrote that he was present while his wife went into labor, "providing ice chips and keeping her on track with the breathing." Although it was uncommon back then for the husband to stand by, Mike was there and said his wife was dauntless.

The parents were together for 20 years, raising their children and building a life. Mike hinted that, although they loved each other, they married partly for necessity and because of "societal pressure." Thus, after two decades together, their marriage started to crumble.

Neither Mike nor Judy wanted to admit it at first, but after much introspection and deliberation, they knew the only path forward would take them in two different directions. At first, Mike sought therapy to sort through personal problems. The actor still held out hope that he and Judy would get back together.

Therapy turned out to be excellent for Mike's personal growth. He attended Responsible Group, confessing, "I want to get her back and get my life together." Here, he learned to open up, working with others desperately hoping to turn their lives around. His fellow group members forced him to scour himself for reasons his marriage failed.

In the end, Mike and Judy went through with the divorce. The actor recalled, "The whole process was a wrenching, deeply painful ordeal for all involved." Luckily, the two parents found a way to raise their kids together amicably. The "awful" and "traumatic" divorce took its toll on the kids, but the family pushed through and moved on.

How Did Mike Thank Judy for Helping Him Reconcile Their Kids with His New Wife?

Although Mike tried his best to make Judy stay, he accepted that the divorce was best for them both. After they went their separate ways in 1983, Judy remarried in 1985. The actress tied the knot with Joe Bratcher, having met him while building a career as a writer.

Mike had likewise moved on with the actress Shelley Fabares. Shelley had also gone through a divorce before she met Mike, having been married to the record mogul Lou Adler. The two had briefly met in 1970 and reconnected at a convention after they were both divorced. Mike invited Shelley for coffee, and they got to know each other.

Less than a year later, Mike proposed to Shelley in Topanga Canyon, and the actress said yes. They said their vows in 1984, hosting the ceremony at the home of Shelley's aunt, Nanette Fabray, in Pacific Palisades. Everything seemed to be looking up for Mike, but the first years of marriage offered new problems.

Mike and Shelley were blissfully married, but the actor's two children, Michael and Erin, had a difficult time adjusting to their new stepmom. They were still hoping their mom and dad would hash things out between them and get back together. Shelley tried her best to make things easy, and Mike recalled:

"Our marriage was tough for Erin and Mike. Shelley, bless her, went out of her way to embrace and support them, giving them space and believing that in time they'd come to accept it. Judy and Joe also worked hard from their end to help the kids through the transition."

By attending closely to the kids and going to family therapy, Mike, Shelley, Judy, and Joe managed to work through the pain of the past. Slowly, with a lot of love and patience, Mike and Erin warmed up to Shelley and accepted their new family.

Mike recalled that the early days were stressful and weighed heavily on all the parents, but they managed to pull together through "mutual commitment to the kids' welfare." He credited his ex-wife and her husband for their willingness to help and said that Erin has taken to introducing her family as "all four my parents."

Subscribe to AmoMama on Google News!