LOS ANGELES — Actor Randolph Mantooth is best known for his role as firefighter and medic John Gage on NBC’s “Emergency!” The actor, who appeared on the TV series in the 1970s, has died at the age of 80 after a long illness, his family announced Friday.
Subscribe to read this story without ads
Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.
Mantooth’s family says his role and the show, which ran for five years, changed the way first responders were viewed on television.
“This series helped introduce paramedics and emergency medicine to the general public and inspired countless people to pursue careers as paramedics and firefighters,” the family said in a statement. “The impact extended far beyond entertainment and helped raise the profile of emergency medical services across the country.”
“Emergency!” Featuring members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s 51st Precinct. The film ran from January 1972 to May 1977. There was also a made-for-TV movie that ran until 1979.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department said Friday that Mantooth will be remembered as part of the heritage of fire departments and firefighters across the region.
“Randolph Mantooth was the face of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for an entire generation. As any fire buff of a certain age will tell you, Johnny Gage of Squad 51 is a legend,” said Los Angeles County Fire Captain Aaron Caton.
Mantooth was born on September 19, 1945 in Sacramento, California. He won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, his family said.
He appeared in the 2003 off-Broadway show Rain Dance, a play by Lanford Wilson that also starred actor James Van Der Beek.
According to IMDB, Mantooth was of Seminole descent. Backstage reported at the time that he played a military police officer and a former Native American dancer in the film, which depicts the night before an atomic bomb test in New Mexico.
Though known for his television shows, “Randy remained dedicated to theater throughout his career,” his family said.
“Beyond acting, Randy’s bond with the emergency services community became one of the most meaningful parts of his life,” Mantooth’s family said in a statement. “He was dedicated to honoring firefighters and first responders and ensuring their courage, sacrifice, and humanity are recognized.”
