1970's Sexiest TV Actors

Ken Berry

Ken's career began in the 50's, but it was being cast in the 1966 series "F-Troop" that made him into a household name.

Once the series ended, he joined the ranks of "The Andy Griffith Show" during it's 8th season as "Sam Jones" and when the series officially ended, he took that character on into "Mayberry R.F.D" the sequel to show. In the 70's Ken guest starred on shows like, "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", "The Love Boat", "Medical Center" and more.

Bill Bixby; From the Magician to the Incredible Hulk

Bill's career spanned over 30 years. His TV debut was on an episode of the 1961 series "Hennesey" and from then on he made many guest appearances on TV shows before landing the role of "Tim O'Hara" in "My Favorite Martian". Once the series ended in 1966, Bill went on to work in some big screen films and did two movies with Elvis Presley. ("Clambake" and "Speedway")

In 1969, Bill would take on the role of "Tom Corbett" in the series, "The Courtship of Eddie's Father", which ran from 1969 to 72 and then in 1973, he took on the role of "The Magician" (he trained as a magician to make the scenes more realistic!) a show that lasted for one season. Bill would then make more guest appearances on shows like "Barnaby Jones", "Mannix" and even a big screen Disney film, "The Apple Dumpling Gang" in 1975.

In 1977, Bill starred in a two hour TV movie called "The Incredible Hulk". It was a ratings success and CBS decided to turn it into a series which lasted from 1978 to 82.

Once the series ended, Bill decided to add directing to his resume directing episodes of TV shows like "Sledge Hammer", and "Blossom".

Bill was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1991 and died November 21, 1993.

James Brolin; "Dr. Steven Kiley" on "Marcus Welby, M.D."

And Mr. Barbara Streisand

James first role was in an episode of the 1961 series "Bus Stop". This opened doors for him to get guest appearances in other shows like "Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea", "Love American Style" "Twelve O' Clock High" and others.

The 70's rolled around and found James getting lead roles in big screen movies like "The Car", "Capricorn One" and the cult favorite "West World". But, television was also calling his name. He would play "Dr. Steven Kiley" on the series "Marcus Welby, M.D" from 1969-76 and would make guest appearances on a variety of others as well as making several movies of the week.

James still works to this day and is known now as "Mr. Streisand" since marrying Barbara Streisand in 1998.

David Canary

Busy Character Actor.. and What A Character, Too!!

Broadway, big screen, TV....David has done it all. His career started in the 1960's working on Broadway and then on the popular "Peyton Place" for 26 episodes as "Dr. Russ Gehring". In 1967, he won the role of nasty "Lamar Dean" in the big screen film, "Hombre" with Paul Newman. On television, he would then win the role of "Candy Canaday" on the series "Bonanza". He would remain with that show (except for a brief period during a contract dispute)until it's cancellation in 1973.

David would then go on to do movies and guest appearances on popular TV shows, like "Hawaii Five-O" in the episode "3000 Crooked Miles To Honolulu" and on "S.W.A.T" in the episode titled "Kill S.W.A.T". Eventually he would get a few roles on different soap operas, like "Search For Tomorrow", "Another World (as Steven Frame) and the big one... as "Adam and Stuart Chandler" on "All My Children" starting in 1984; a role he finally left in April of 2010.

Christopher Connelly

Peyton Place to Paper Moon

Christopher made a name for himself on the 1960's TV series, "Peyton Place".

Once the series ended he continued to work into the 70's making guest appearances on many of the 70's most popular shows like, "Barnaby Jones", "Cannon", "Marcus Welby, M.D." and more. He had the role of" Moses "Moze" Pray", in the TV series "Paper Moon" based on the big screen movie of the same name. The series lasted less for 13 episodes before being canceled.

He continued working right up to his death in 1988 at the age of 47 from lung cancer. He is buried the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California.

Frank Converse

Will Chandler on Movin' On

Frank had roles in many shows and movies during the 60's and 70's.

But he is probably best remembered by 70's TV fans an Will Chandler from the trucking oriented TV series, "Movin' On that co starred Claude Akins as Sonny Pruitt. The unlikely duo, crusty ill tempered Sonny and the college educated Will made an odd but fun pairing in this series that lasted 2 seasons.

Roger Davis

From Dark Shadows To Alias Smith and Jones

You might remember Roger from his work on the 60's campy gothic horror soap "Dark Shadows".

But you might also remember him as the voice for the title sequence narration on the series "Alias Smith and Jones" and he even acted on the series once to twice. But, when actor Peter Duel, who played "Hannibal Heyes/Joshua Smith" committed suicide, Roger was asked to take over the role. The series never recovered from the loss of Peter and seventeen episodes later (just 12 episodes into it's third season) the show was canceled in 1972. Roger did a great job considering he was asked to do the difficult task of taking over an already established role.

I always thought that Roger was cute, but what I really liked was his very soft mellow voice. Oh and another thing, Roger was married to Jaclyn Smith ("Kelly Garret" on the classic "Charlie's Angels" series) for several years.

Want to know more... visit Rogers; Official Website

Steve Forrest:

Lt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson in TV's S.W.A.T.

Steve Forrest is actually the younger brother of the late actor Dana Andrews.

Steve's career began in the 1950's working on the big and small screens. In the 70's many knew of his as Lt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson in the police drama, "S.W.A.T.". Steve also made many guest appearances on popular 70's shows like "The Six Million Dollar Man", "Alias Smith and Jones", "Cannon" and more.

James Garner; Jim Rockford of The Rockford Files

One of TV's best private eye series

James' career has spanned more than 50 years. His first taste of acting came way back in 1954, in a non speaking role in the Broadway play, "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial", which starred Henry Fonda. Once the play ended, James went on to work in commercials the eventually found his way into big screen movies.

In 1957 he would play "Bret Maverick" in the series, "Maverick" which last until 1960. James would make a number of films in the 1960's, like "Move Over Darling", "The Americanization of Emily", and "Support Your Local Sheriff" to name a few.

Starting in 1974, he would star in the successful series, "The Rockford Files" playing private detective, "Jim Rockford". The series would last for six seasons.

James is still going strong, making appearances on the big and small screen.

Gil Gerard; Buck Rogers in the flesh

His first official professional credit was a bit part (that ended up on the cutting room floor) in the film "Love Story". Gil would go on to make a living working in commercials, with over 400 to his credit. A small role on "Little House in The Prairie" impressed Michael Landon so much that he cast him in a movie that Landon wrote and directed called "Killing Stone" in 1978.

In 1979, he signed on to play Buck Rogers in the TV series "Buck Rogers In the 25th Century" which lasted from 1979-81. Gil continues to act and you can find out the latest news on his career at his official website .

Clu Gulager

Clu's career began in the 1950's and he worked steadily through that decade and into the 60's,too. In the 1970's Clu was one of the familiar character actors whose face seemed to pop up on many popular shows of that decade like Cannon, Mannix, McCloud, Mod Squad and more as well as working in TV movies, too.

One of my memories of Clu was as the bad guy in a Disney TV movie called The Mystery of Dracula's Castle which is a favorite movie from my childhood. You can check out some of the other Disney TV movies at 70's Disney TV Movies..

Ron Harper

Ron's career began in 1959 as the understudy to Paul Newman in the play "Sweet Birth of Youth". He moved to Hollywood in the 1960's and started getting roles on TV shows and daytime TV.

In 1974, Ron was cast as Alan Virdon in the TV adaption of Planet of the Apes which was one of the 70's short lived series, lasting for 14 episodes.

He also worked on the 70's Saturday morning live action show, Land of the Lost as Uncle Jack Marshall after Spencer Milligan left the series.

Earl Holliman

Lt. Bill Crowley in Police Woman

Earl's big break in the entertainment business came in 1953 with a small part in the Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis film, "Scared Stiff".

Earl would go on to work in a multitude of roles including westerns, war films and dramas. He had roles in many classic films, such as "The Rain Maker" in 1956 for which he won a Golden Globe for his performance, "Giant" with Elizabeth Taylor and "Gunfight at OK Coral" with Spencer Tracey.

In the 1960's, Earl started to act in more TV roles, and the role that brought him his "overnight success" was as "Lt. Bill Crowley" the 70's TV show, "Police Woman" with Angie Dickinson.

Robert Hooks: Tony Nominated Actor

Handsome Robert Hooks has worked in over 100 roles on stage and TV. He broke through the "color barrier" that existed and made guest appearances in 60's TV series. He continued working through the 70's making guest appearances in shows like The Rookies, Canon, Marcus Welby, M.D., The Streets of San Fransisco and more.

Robert also co founded the Negro Emsemble Company, a theater group in New York City. Robert, who is still as handsome as ever, continues to work in films and TV.

Hal Linden was Barney Miller

Hal Linden is a stage, screen and TV star who got his breakthrough role on stage in 1962 going on to win a Tony Award for the play "Anything Goes".

But, most people will probably associate Hal with his role of "Barney Miller" in the series of the same name that ran 1975 to 1982.

Jack Lord Hawaii Five-0's Handsome Steve McGarrett

Jack's career started back in the 1950's, with some of his first roles being on Broadway. His first movie role was "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" in 1955 in which he co starred with Gary Cooper.

But, it is probably his role as "Detective Steve McGarrett" on the series "Hawaii Five-O" which ran from 1968 to 1980 that is Jack's most memorable role.

Jack died of congestive heart failure at his home in Hawaii on January 21, 1991, he was 77 years old.

Lee Majors

Steve Austin... Cyborg

Lee's first movie role was back in 1964 in a film called "Straight Jacket". But his big break came when he beat out over 400 actors (including Burt Reynolds) for the role of "Heath Barkley" on the series "The Big Valley" which starred actress Barbara Stanwyck and Linda Evans which lasted from 1965-69.

Lee would move on into the 70's with a part in the long running series "The Virginian" in 1971. He would make a few "Six Million Dollar Man" made for TV movies, starting in 1973. But, he would get a regular role on the series "Owen Marshall,Counselor at Law" in 1973. Finally in 1974, the Six Million Dollar Man became regular series, and Lee would play astronaut turned cyborg for five seasons. Lee had married Farrah Fawcett back in 1973 and she guest starred on the "Six Million Dollar Man" four times. The couple would split in 1978 and finally divorcing in 1982.

Once the series ended in 1978, Lee would do work on the big screen in a series of movies that didn't set the box office on fire. He returned to TV in the series "The Fall Guy" which ran from 1981 to 86.

Lee continues to act with some of his most recent appearances being on the series "According to Jim" in 2008.

Monte Markham

Handsome Super Busy Character Actor

Monte is probably one of the busiest actors to ever hit Hollywood and one of the most handsome, too as a kid I had a crush on him. He has worked on the big screen, TV and Broadway.

Monte's career started in the middle 1960's by making guest appearances on then popular shows. In 1967, he won the role of "Ken Carpenter" on the series "The Second Hundred Years" about a prospector named "Luke Carpenter" who gets frozen into suspended animation in the 1900 Alaska gold rush, only to be successfully thawed out years later. He is a dead ringer for his grandson, Ken, with both roles, being played, obviously, by Monte. The show lasted a season.

The second series Monte starred in was the fourteen episode "Mr. Deeds Goes To Town" beginning in 1969. Monte played "Longfellow Deeds".

Monte would go on to guest star in many of the 70's (and beyond) TV series; shows like "Barnaby Jones", "Hawaii Five-O", "Police Woman", "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" and many more!

There is one guest star role, that you might remember best. In the series "The Six Million Dollar Man" Monte was "Barney Miller" the "Seven Million Dollar Man", first seen in 1974 in the episode "The Seven Million Dollar Man" and then again in 1975 in "The Bionic Criminal".

Sam Melville

Mike Danko of The Rookies

Sam did guest appearances on many popular shows in the 60's, shows like; "That Girl", "The Fugitive", "Hogan's Heroes", "The Big Valley" and more. But, it is probably his role on the TV series, "The Rookies" as "Officer Mike Danko" that offers Sam his most notoriety.

The series co-starred Kate Jackson as his wife and would last from 1972-76. Once the series ended, Sam went on to do many more guest appearances in shows like "TJ Hooker", "Fantasy Island", "The Dukes of Hazzard", "Airwolf" and more. He would also get a chance to work with Kate again, in her series "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" playing her ex husband, "Joe King".

Sadly, Sam passed way March 9, 1989 at the age of 53 from heart failure. Sam is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles California.

Oh, and does anyone else think that he sort of reminds them of Brian Kerwin, of Sheriff Lobo fame?

Ricardo Montalban: Handsome And Mysterious Mr. Rourke of Fantasy Island

Smiles, everyone...smiles

Ricardo's career spanned almost 70 years, beginning in 1943, but it wasn't until 1949 that he would get his first starring role in a big screen film, "Border Incident". He would go on to do many roles in films and on TV shows and even a few stints on Broadway.

In 1975, Ricardo started to do advertisements for Chrysler advertising the new "Cordoba". Remember how he heavily emphasized the "soft Corinthian leather" that Chrysler used in the interior of the car.

Missed his car advertisements, well that's ok, you have another chance to remember him... as the dark and mysterious "Mr. Rourke" in the series "Fantasy Island" that ran from 1978 to 84. Each week we were treated to celebrity guests who came to "Fantasy Island" hoping to get their deepest wish fulfilled for the sum of $50,000. There was always a bit of a mystery as to just who or what Mr. Rourke really was....in the TV movies, he was a little darker and more sinister than in the TV series. Some suspected that he was God, while others thought maybe he was the Devil. No matter, though, the show was fun to watch and made stars out Ricardo and his pint size co star Herve Villechaize.

Once the show ended, Ricardo went on to other roles, and one in particular in 1982, was on the big screen in "Star Trek The Wrath of Khan" where he played "Khan Noonien Singh" a genetically enhanced super human who was seeking revenge against Captain Kirk whom he blamed for the death of his wife.

Ricardo passed away January 14, 2009.

Greg Mullavey

Tom Hartman on Mary Hartman Mary Hartman

Probably best remembered as "Tom Hartman" on the TV series, "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" that co starred Louise Lasser in the title role. The show ran for 31 episodes beginning in 1976.

Greg's father was a major league baseball player having played for the White Soxs and Red Soxs and as third base coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the LA Dodgers.

Some of Greg's most recent work was a reoccurring role on "I Carly" on Nickelodeon.

Ben Murphy

Alias Smith and Jones

Ben had several different series in the 1970's but folks might remember his best from "Alias Smith and Jones" which ran from 1971 to 73. He played "Kid Curry/Thaddeus Jones". Sadly, the series ended shortly after the suicide death of co-star Peter Duel.

Ben then joined the cast of the short lived Lorne Greene series called "Griff" in 1973. Then in 1976 he was cast as "Sam Casey" in the series, "Gemini Man" which lasted for eleven episodes.

Ben never seemed to be without work, doing guest shots on shows like "Fantasy Island", "Hotel" "The Love Boat" and more.

In the 80's he had several short lived series as well, "The Berengers" in 1985 and "Dirty Dozen": The Series" in 1989 and he keeps right on working to this day.

Barry Newman

Vanishing Point's Kowalski And TV's "Petrocelli"

Barry is handsome in an "ordinary guy" sort of way. His career started in the 1960's but it was the 1971 big screen film, "Vanishing Point" that grabbed people's attention. His character named "Kowalski" was a burned out, pill popping ex cop whose new job was working as a driver for a car delivery company. He takes a bet that he can make a run from Denver to San Francisco, driving a 1970 white Dodge Challenger in under 15 hours. He is pursued by highway patrolmen determined to stop him and his is helped on his journey by blind DJ named "Super Soul" played by Clevon Little.

Barry never really achieved super stardom, but has had a successful career in the entertainment business, having the lead role in the TV series, "Petrocelli" that ran from 1974 to 76 and making numerous guest appearances on other shows. Barry is still working in the business and his most recent work was on an episode titled "Till Death Do Us Start" on the hit series "Ghost Whisperer" .

Dack Rambo

RIP March 21, 1994

Handsome Dack and his identical twin brother, Dirk, were discovered by Loretta Young and had a one season stint on her show in 1963. Sadly, Dirk would be killed in an accident in 1967. Dack went on to get a role in the series "The Guns of Will Sonnett" playing Jeff Sonnett for two seasons beginning in 1967.

Dack would do guest appearances on many of the 70's most popular shows and even have several series of his own that were short-lived; the first being "Dirty Sally", a "Gun Smoke" spin off, in which he played "Cyrus Pike". It lasted for thirteen episodes. The second series was "Sword of Justice" which lasted for ten episodes in 1978.

Dack would go into the 1980's have success there, as well, getting roles on prime time and even day time shows. You might remember him as "Jack Ewing" on Dallas from 1985-87, or playing "Grant Harrison" on the day time soap, "Another World" from 1990-91. Sadly, while performing on the show, Dack was diagnosed with AIDS. He decided to retire from acting and focus his attention promoting AIDS awareness. He was very candid about his disease and his bisexual lifestyle.

Dack would succumb to the disease March 21, 1994, he was just 52 years old.

Bruce Solomon

Dennis Foley on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman

Curly haired character actor you may best remember from his role on "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman". He was police sergeant, Dennis Foley, the man that Mary would eventually run off with toward the end of the series.

He also starred in the short lived series "Lanigan's Rabbi" with Art Carney in 1977.

Ralph Taeger

Gaining most of his TV recognition from the 1960's TV series Klondike and Hondo . Ralph transitioned into the 70's making appearances in shows like The Six Million Dollar Man and Quincy

Ralph hasn't done much in the way of acting in recent years, but has taken an occasional role in local plays when the mood strikes him.

Lyle Waggoner as Steve Trevor on Wonder Woman

Our handsome Lyle was once a candidate to wear the Batcape as he was in the running to play "Bruce Wayne" on the 60's campy series, Batman. Of course we know the role would eventually go to Adam West. But the loss of the superhero role didn't stop Lyle. He soon began working on the Carol Burnett show in 1967 and performed on over 20 episodes before leaving the show in 1974 to try his hand at acting. It wasn't long after his departure from the Burnett show that he found himself cast as "Colonel Steve Trevor" on the series, "Wonder Woman" which ran for three seasons beginning in 1975.

Larry Wilcox

As Officer Jonathan Baker in the hit 70's TV series, "CHiPS", Larry made a name for himself in the entertainment industry. However, he did a lot of guest appearances in TV shows of the 70's like "Cannon", "The Streets of San Francisco", ,"The Partridge Family" and more.

Ed Winter

M.A.S.H.'s Own Colonel Flagg

Edward did many guest stints on a variety of 70's TV series, but it's probably his portrayal of "Colonel Flagg" on the series M.A.S.H. that makes his face so memorable. He did 7 appearances on the show during it's 11 year run.

He would also play for 5 episodes "Congressman Walter McCallum" on the series, Soap and his most steady work in the 70's was on the series, "Project UFO", as "Captain Ben Ryan" which ran on NBC from 1978-79.

Edward continued to be a busy character actor working into the 1990's, but sadly, he passed away March 8, 2001 of complications from Parkinson's Disease.