Thursday, March 28, 2024

RIP Kevin Dobson, Star of “Kojak” and “Knots Landing” was 77, Was on CBS Screens for 20 Uninterrupted Years

Share

Sad news that Kevin Dobson, a terrific actor and a great guy, has died at age 77. Dobson had a long run on “Knots Landing” as Mack Mackenzie, the good guy lead of the show, from 1982- 1993. His character was married to Michele Lee’s Karen, the “moral center” of the soap opera that ran 14 seasons. Dobson was the rare kind of blue collar macho guy who was also a romantic lead.

Before “Knots Landing,” Dobson was a breakout on “Kojak” starring Telly Savalas. He played Detective Bobby Crocker. Men and women loved him. I remember when the show started (I was a wee lad) but Kevin Dobson was the It Guy. And that never stopped. He was literally on CBS screens from 1973 to 1993, 20 years, without a break, doing movies of the week and every series where he could guest star.

“Kojak” overlapped with “Knots” because Dobson was not in the second show’s original cast. He replaced Don Murray, who played Michele Lee’s first husband. But Murray had been a movie star and didn’t want to re-sign his contract, so they killed off his character after two seasons. Ironically, Murray just turned 91. Three years ago he had a career Renaissance on the revived “Twin Peaks.”

Dobson is survived by his wife, Susan, who he marred in 1968, three children, and fans all over the world.

 

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
spot_img

Read more

In Other News