Actor Randolph Mantooth, star of 1970s TV series “Emergency!”, dies at 80
Randolph Mantooth, best known for playing firefighter-medic John Gage on NBC’s “Emergency!”, died at age 80 after a long illness, according to his family.
Actor Randolph Mantooth, who portrayed firefighter and medic John Gage on NBC’s “Emergency!” from 1972 to 1977, died at 80 after a prolonged illness, his family said on Friday. The series, which featured a crew from Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 51, is credited with raising public awareness of paramedics and emergency medical services.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles County Fire Department said Mantooth will be remembered as part of the department’s legacy. "Randolph Mantooth was the face of the Los Angeles County Fire Department for an entire generation," fire captain Aaron Katon said.
Born in Sacramento on Sept. 19, 1945, Mantooth earned a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. He continued to work in theater, appearing in the 2003 off-Broadway production “Rain Dance.” The family noted that his connection with the emergency-services community remained a central aspect of his life.