Henry, We Hardly Knew Ye!

This week Democratic U.S. Representative Henry Waxman of California announced he'll be retiring from Congress at the end of the year.

Waxman served in Congress for 40 years, and is a leading liberal who helped draft the Obamacare program. He was also instrumental in promoting clean air initiatives, strengthening food safety laws, improving AIDS care, lowering drug prices and condemning the tobacco industry.

Before entering the political arena, Waxman was best known for playing the part of Charlie Haggers, the devoted husband of country singer Loretta Haggers, on the 1970s satirical soap opera Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman.