Kevin Dobson

• Name — Kevin Dobson • Birth Name — Kevin Patrick Dobson • Born — 18 March 1943 • Birthplace — Jackson Heights, Queens, New York, U.S. • Died — 6 September 2020 • Place of death — Stockton, California, U.S. • Children — 3 • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1968–2017

Dobson was born in Jackson Heights, New York, and was of Irish descent. He was one of seven children born to the janitor of a grammar school (Our Lady of Fatima, Jackson Heights) and a stay-at-home mother. Before embarking on an acting career, Dobson worked as a trainman, brakeman, and conductor for the Long Island Rail Road, followed by a few years as a waiter.

After a brief appearance in the 1971 film Klute, and small roles in television series such as The Mod Squad, Emergency!, and Cannon, Dobson signed a contract with Universal Studios in 1972. It led to his role of Det. Bobby Crocker, Lt. Theo Kojak's young partner, in the television series Kojak, opposite Telly Savalas. For the role, he had to borrow a suit. He had twice auditioned and failed, then called his agent, telling him, "'Do what you have to do,' so he called in a favor and I read for them [again]. I was a military policeman in the Army, so I knew how to hold a gun and throw somebody against a wall. I got a call [the next night] asking if I'd sign a contract." Dobson auditioned for a third time and finally won the role. He remained with Kojak for its entire five-season run from 1973 to 1978, and later reunited with Savalas for the 1990 television movie, Kojak: It's Always Something, his character having become an assistant district attorney. They remained friends until Savalas's death from bladder cancer in 1994. In 1976, Dobson was on Battle of the Network Stars with Savalas (Captain), Adrienne Barbeau, Gary Burghoff, Pat Harrington, Bill Macy, Lee Meriwether, Mackenzie Phillips, Loretta Swit, and Jimmie Walker. In 1978, Dobson played Pete Lomas in the two-part television movie The Immigrants, based on the novel by Howard Fast. In 1981, Dobson starred as Det. Jack Shannon, a San Francisco police officer who is a single father, is on the CBS series Shannon. However, the show failed to gain substantial ratings and was cancelled after nine episodes. A more successful television role for Dobson followed in 1982 as M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie in the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing, opposite Michele Lee. He joined the show at the beginning of its fourth season in September 1982 and remained in the role until its cancellation in 1993. Dobson won five Soap Opera Digest Awards for his work on the series. He later reunited with his Knots Landing co-stars for a miniseries, Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac in 1997, and again in the 2005 non-fiction special Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again. Dobson also appeared in a number of feature films, most notably the World War II movie Midway (1976) alongside Henry Fonda and Charlton Heston, as Ensign George Gay — a pilot and the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron Eight from the Aircraft Carrier Hornet's ill-fated opening attack against the Japanese fleet on June 4, 1942. Another prominent role was as Bobby Gibbons, the husband of Cheryl Gibbons (Barbra Streisand) in the 1981 romantic comedy All Night Long. He also had a small role as a priest in the well-received 2007 psychological horror film 1408. Dobson continued to appear in a number of television roles, including the syndicated F/X: The Series for one season (1996–1997) and the daytime drama series One Life to Live (2003), The Bold and the Beautiful (2006–2007), and Days of Our Lives, where he was the fourth and final actor to play original character Mickey Horton. He featured in 15 episodes of the show from April to October 2008. The character then left with no explanation, before being "killed off" in January 2010. Although Mickey is best remembered for being portrayed by veteran soap actor John Clarke for almost 40 years, Dobson instead appeared as Mickey in the character's final appearances in 2008.

Dobson starred in the Tony Award winning play Art at the Royal George Theater in Chicago. He originated the role of Steve Gallop in the world premiere of the American Theatre Critics Association nominated stage play "If it was Easy..." at The 7Stages Theater in Atlanta, Georgia, and appeared in many other stage roles across the United States. He starred with Richard Thomas in the 2009 stage production of 12 Angry Men. Dobson stated, concerning actors who are afraid of being typecast, "You should be so lucky."

Dobson, a former Army soldier (MP), served twice as chairman of the National Salute To Hospitalized Veterans. Having long assisted with the needs of hospitalized veterans, Dobson received the AMVETS (American Veterans) Silver Helmet Peace Award and the American Legion Award. Dobson, was a life member of AMVETS and also a charter member of AMVETS MOH Richard A. Pittman Post #1947 - Stockton, California.

Dobson married his wife, Susan, in 1968. They had three children: Mariah, Patrick and Sean. He was the chairman of the United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County (UVCSJC).

Dobson died on September 6, 2020, at a Stockton, California hospital, after struggling with an autoimmune deficiency. UVCSJC reported his death the following day. He was 77.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1969–1971 — The Doctors — various roles, 8 episodes — Policeman on May 19 and 20 1969 • 1971 — The Mod Squad — Howie — Episode: "Feet of Clay" • 1972 — The Rookies — Pilot, Uncredited • 1972 — Emergency! — First Deputy — Episode: "Decision" • 1972 — Ironside — Young Marine — Episode: "Nightmare Trip" • 1972 — Cannon — Hotel Security Guard — Episode: "The Shadow Man" • 1973–1978 — Kojak — Det. Bobby Crocker — 117 episodes • 1973 — Police Story — Patrolman — Episode: "Slow Boy" • 1976 — Stranded — Rafe Harder — Television movie • 1977 — Captain Kangaroo — Mac Hasty — Television series • 1978 — The Immigrants — Pete Lomas — Television movie • 1978 — Greatest Heroes of the Bible — Joab — Episode: "The Judgment of Solomon" • 1979 — Transplant — John Hurley — Television movie • 1979 — Orphan Train — Carlin — Television movie • 1980 — Hardhat and Legs — Sal Pacheco — Television movie • 1980 — Reunion — Don Hollander — Television movie • 1980 — Mark, I Love You — Hal Painter — Television movie • 1981–1982 — Shannon — Det. Jack Shannon — 9 episodes • 1981 — Margin for Murder — Mike Hammer — Television movie • 1982–1993 — Knots Landing — M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie — 291 episodes Soap Opera Digest Award: Favorite Super Couple on a Prime Time Serial (with Michele Lee) (1986); Favorite Super Couple: Prime Time (with Michele Lee); Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role: Prime Time; Outstanding Hero: Prime Time; Outstanding Actor: Prime Time (1988, 1991-1992) Nominated—Soap Opera Digest Award: Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role on a Prime Time Serial; Outstanding Actress/Actor in a Comic Relief Role on a Prime Time Serial (1986) • 1982 — CBS Schoolbreak Special — Jim Welsh — Episode: "Help Wanted" • 1984 — Tales of the Unexpected — Fred Pearson — Episode:' "The Dirty Detail" Also starring George Peppard • 1984 — Sweet Revenge — Col. Joseph Cheever — Television movie • 1989 — Money, Powder, Murder — Peter Finley — Television movie • 1990 — Kojak: It's Always Something — Assistant District Attorney Bobby Crocker — Television movie • 1990 — Casey's Gift: For Love of a Child — Hank Bolen — Television movie • 1991 — Fatal Friendship — Michael — Television movie • 1992 — Dirty Work — Tom — Television movie • 1992 — A House of Secrets of Lies — Jack Evans — Television movie • 1993 — The Conviction of Kitty Dodds — Chuck Hayes — Television movie • 1994 — Burke's Law — Sheriff Greene — Episode: "Who Killed Good Time Charlie?" • 1994 — Touched by an Angel — Coach Earl Rowley — Episode: "Show Me the Way Home" • 1994 — The Commish — Frank Botrell — Episode: "Revenge" • 1995 — If Someone Had Known — Jack Liner — Television movie • 1996–1997 — F/X: The Series — Det. Leo McCarthy — 22 episodes • 1996 — Voice from the Grave — Det. Joe Sraccula — Television movie • 1997 — Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac — Mack MacKenzie — Miniseries • 1997 — Early Edition — Darrel Foster — Episode: "March in Time" • 1998 — Nobody Lives Forever — Lt. Jim Ransom — Television movie • 2000 — Chicken Soup for the Soul — Episode: "The Two Sides of Love" • 2000 — Nash Bridges — Raymond Porter — Episode: "Double Trouble" • 2001 — The Haunted Heart — Mr. Hopkins — Television short • 2001 — She's No Angel — Donald Shawnessy — Television movie • 2003-2005 — One Life to Live — Gov. Harrison Brooks — Television series • 2005 — Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again — Himself — Television special • 2006–2007 — The Bold and the Beautiful — Judge Devin Owens — 13 episodes • 2007 — Christmas at Cadillac Jack's — Cop — Television movie • 2008 — Days of Our Lives — Mickey Horton — 15 episodes • 2008 — Cold Case — Mickey Thompson '08 — Episode: "The Dealer" • 2012 — CSI: Crime Scene Investigation — Malcolm Turner — Episode: "Ms. Willows Regrets" • 2012 — Hawaii Five-0 — Al Shepard — Episode: "Ha'alele" • 2013 — House of Lies — Mr. Pinkus — 4 episodes • 2013 — Damn Sea Vampires — Glenn Hunter — Television movie • 2014 — Anger Management — Dr. Cameron — Episode: "Charlie and his Probation Officer's Daughter" • 2017 — 12 to Midnight — Episode: "Nana's Pancakes"