I gave away two dogs years ago because I felt guilty at not being able to give them the time and attention they deserved. I now regularly feed an army of squirrels and wild birds around our house.

to promote the paperback edition of his first book. On December 31 1984 he married actress Shelley Fabares. Farrell was present as an observer but was in his words "shanghaied into assisting with the surgery" when the doctor said his help was needed.

He is an activist for political causes. Most recently he appeared as the character Fred Jones in the season 8 episode "Hunteri Heroici" of Supernatural. Farrell was a producer of Patch Adams (1998) starring Robin Williams and has starred on the television series Providence (1999–2002).