Randolph Mantooth On Emergency!: John Gage To The Rescue

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Randolph Mantooth as Johnny Gage on 'Emergency!' Sources: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; IMDB

In 1972, the world created by Dragnet and Adam-12 got a third series in Emergency!, a show about firemen and paramedics starring Randolph Mantooth. Mantooth's character John Gage had been established with a couple of appearances on Adam-12, and the public's enthusiasm for the police show suggested that a show about fire and rescue operations would also be a hit. Produced by Mark VII Ltd. (Dragnet star Jack Webb's production company), Emergency! made familiar TV heroes out of Mantooth and his co-stars Kevin Tighe, Julie London, Bobby Troup and Robert Fuller.

Growing up, he always knew he wanted to act and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. While performing in the lead role in a stage production of Philadelphia, Here I Come in the '60s, he was discovered by chance by a talent agent from Universal Studios. It wasn’t long before he had signed a contract with iconic studio and moved to sunny California.