Television Actors

Television actors have changed a lot over the years. One of the first well-known television actors was Jack Webb — and he became well known during the same era that television became an accepted entertainment medium. Jack Webb produced and starred as Sgt. Joe Friday — "Just the facts, ma'am…nothing but the facts." The phrase spoken often by Jack Webb became a kind of "catch phrase" of the era.

Let's not forget James Arness as Matt Dillion in the all-time great western television series "Gunsmoke." "Gunsmoke" aired on national television between 1955 and 1975.

The 1960s gave us Peter Graves (James Arness's brother, by the way) as Jim Phelps, the Impossible Mission Force leader. Jim Phelps was portrayed as a smart, savvy character who could achieve any goal that national security depended upon. ("Your mission, should you choose to accept it.")

The 1970s ushered in a form of television that's sometimes called "dramady" (a mix of comedy and drama),with "M.A.S.H.," starring Alan Alda as Hawkeye. The last episode of "M.A.S.H." aired on February 28, 1983, and it was a national event that drew a record television audience.

Star Trek was the first science fiction genre television series of any consequence. William Shatner starred as Captain James Tiberius Kirk.

In the 1980s, we all followed the escapades of "Magnum, P.I.," played by Tom Selleck. The series ran from 1980 until 1988.

Ted Danson starred in the comedy "Cheers" as Sam (the owner and recovering alcoholic owner, former baseball player who never drank). The series ran between 1983 and 1883.

"Dallas" was the first prime-time soap opera. The story revolved around J.R Ewing (played by Larry Hagman), a wealthy and ruthless Texas millionaire and his dysfunctional family. "Dallas" ran from 1978 to 1991.

One of today's most popular TV series is "House," starring Hugh Laurie as a pill-popping, irreverent, opinionated, doctor.