Randolph Mantooth, the actor best known for playing firefighter and EMT Johnny Gage on the 1970s NBC hit series “Emergency!,” has died. He was 80 years old.
Mantooth died Thursday at a hospice facility in Ventura, Calif., after a long illness, his brother Donald Mantooth told The Hollywood Reporter.
Donald said the actor had been “sick for years and kept getting thinner and thinner.”
Mantooth shot to fame in 1972 when he was cast as Johnny Gage on the NBC drama “Emergency!,” which introduced the paramedic profession to millions of viewers.
He co-starred with Kevin Tighe in the series, which ran for six seasons, and performed most of his own stunts.
The actor later reprized his role as Gage on shows such as “Adam 12,” and continued to be an advocate for firefighters, paramedics, and EMTs over the years.
Mantooth recalled the warm reception he received from firefighters after the program aired, saying, “It’s an emergency!” The cast “didn’t want it to look bad.”
“They were so happy that they made a show about them,” Mantooth said in a 2013 interview, according to the Television Academy. “Because there’s always a show about cops. There’s always a show about lawyers and doctors. But here it’s a show about fire departments! ‘Cause their hair was standing on end. It’s like, ‘Yeah, honey, that’s my job!'”
“They attached themselves well to us because we didn’t want them to look bad. We wanted them to look like exactly who they are: heroes,” Mantooth added. “Now, everyone has flaws. It drives me crazy. I don’t care about your flaws. I just want you to show me your work. How did you do it? And I’ll show you how to do it for real. Show me!”
Mantooth, who was born in Sacramento, California, discovered acting through school plays after his family settled in the Santa Barbara area, according to IMDb.
He attended Santa Barbara City College and later won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
After gaining attention for his stage work in “Philadelphia, Here I Come,” he signed a contract with Universal and began his television career.
Before “Emergency!,” he appeared in series such as “Ironside,” “The Virginian,” “Dr. Marcus Welby,” “The Bold Ones,” “MacLeod,” and “Alias Smith & Jones.”
After the show ended, Mantooth continued to act for decades, appearing on films such as Dallas, Charlie’s Angels, The Love Boat, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer, and Sons of Anarchy.
He also had long stints on daytime television, playing Clay Alden and later Alex Masters on Loving, Richard Halifax on General Hospital, and appeared on One Life to Live, As the World Turns, and The City.
Mantooth’s Loving co-star Lena Sofer mourned her “dear friend” and mentor who “took me under her wing.”
“There’s so much I want to say about him and so much love for him that I’m at a loss for words,” Sofer posted on Instagram Friday night. “This man came into my life when I was 18 and never left. He was protective of me, like most young actors I’ve ever met. He treated me with respect and kindness, but most of all, with friendship.
“We have been lifelong friends and I cherish every moment we spent with him. He was a friend to many and truly a great friend.”
Mantooth is survived by his wife Kristen and brothers Donald and Tonya.
