Kevin Dobson
Encyclopedia
Kevin Patrick Dobson is an American
film
and television
actor
of Irish
descent, who is primarily known for his roles on television. His most prominent roles were as Lt. Theo Kojak's (played by Telly Savalas
) trusted partner, Det. Bobby Crocker on the popular 1970s TV crime drama Kojak
, and as Karen MacKenzie's (played by Michele Lee
) second husband, M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie, on the popular 1980s soap opera
Knots Landing
- a role he played from 1982 until the series' end in 1993. Dobson premiered on the daytime soap opera Days of our Lives
as Mickey Horton
on April 1, 2008.
, followed by a few years as a waiter then bartender at Manhattan restaurant Brew's, owned by relatives.
After small acting roles on TV series such as The Mod Squad
, Emergency!
and Cannon
, Dobson won the role of Telly Savalas
's young partner, Det. Bobby Crocker, on the TV series Kojak
, after he signed a contract with Universal Studios
in 1972. He remained with Kojak for its entire run from 1973 to 1978. He later reunited with Savalas for the 1990 TV movie, Kojak: It's Always Something.
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
, among other stage roles across the country.
In 1980, he was offered the chance for a lead role on Magnum, P.I.
, unfortunately, he turned that down, hence, the role was eventually given to another Universal
contract player, Tom Selleck
. From 1981-1982, Dobson starred as the title character of the CBS series Shannon
, about a San Francisco
police officer who is a single father. The series failed to win substantial ratings and was cancelled after nine episodes.
The following season, he landed the role of M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie on Knots Landing
, cast opposite Michele Lee
, a role he played for eleven years. He later reunited with his Knots Landing co-stars for a reunion, Knots Landing: Back To The Cul-de-Sac in 1997. The cast reunited to reminisce in Knots Landing: Together Again in 2005.
Dobson also appeared on the syndicated F/X: The Series
for one season, playing Detective Leo McCarthy in 1996-97, and on the hit daytime drama series, One Life to Live
and The Bold and the Beautiful
.
Dobson starred with Richard Thomas
in the 2009 stage production of 12 Angry Men. Dobson has stated, concerning actors who are afraid of being typecast, "...you should be so lucky".
He played Mickey Horton on Days of our Lives
from April 2008 to October 2, 2008. His character was not seen on screen and left with no explanation for two years. The character of Mickey was "killed off" the show in January 2010. Although Dobson played the character for a few months, Mickey is best remembered being played by veteran soap actor John Clarke.
In the 1976 WWII film "Midway" starring Henry Fonda and Charlton Heston,Dobson played the non-fictional character of Pilot George Gay. Ensign Gay was the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron Eight from the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet's ill fated opening attack against the Japanese fleet on June 4, 1942.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
descent, who is primarily known for his roles on television. His most prominent roles were as Lt. Theo Kojak's (played by Telly Savalas
Telly Savalas
Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz...
) trusted partner, Det. Bobby Crocker on the popular 1970s TV crime drama Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, and as Karen MacKenzie's (played by Michele Lee
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing...
) second husband, M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie, on the popular 1980s soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Knots Landing
Knots Landing
Knots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show centered on the lives of four married couples living in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle...
- a role he played from 1982 until the series' end in 1993. Dobson premiered on the daytime soap opera Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
as Mickey Horton
Mickey Horton
Michael "Mickey" Horton I was a fictional character on the soap opera Days of our Lives. Mickey was played from November 1965 to January 2004 by actor John Clarke, briefly in 2004 by Richard Voigts, and was played by actor John Ingle from 2004 to 2006...
on April 1, 2008.
Life and career
Dobson grew up in Jackson Heights, New York, one of seven children born to a grammar school (Our Lady of Fatima, Jackson Heights, NY) janitor and a stay at home mom. Before embarking on an acting career, Dobson worked as a trainman, brakeman and conductor for the Long Island Rail RoadLong Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
, followed by a few years as a waiter then bartender at Manhattan restaurant Brew's, owned by relatives.
After small acting roles on TV series such as The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews...
, Emergency!
Emergency!
Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
and Cannon
Cannon (TV series)
Cannon is a CBS detective television series produced by Quinn Martin which aired from March 26, 1971 to March 3, 1976.The primary protagonist was the title character, Frank Cannon, played by William Conrad....
, Dobson won the role of Telly Savalas
Telly Savalas
Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz...
's young partner, Det. Bobby Crocker, on the TV series Kojak
Kojak
Kojak is an American television series starring Telly Savalas as the title character, bald New York City Police Department Detective Lieutenant Theo Kojak. It aired from October 24, 1973, to March 18, 1978, on CBS. It took the time slot of the popular Cannon series, which was moved one hour earlier...
, after he signed a contract with Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
in 1972. He remained with Kojak for its entire run from 1973 to 1978. He later reunited with Savalas for the 1990 TV movie, Kojak: It's Always Something.
Dobson starred in the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
winning play 'Art' at the Royal George Theater in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. 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
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, among other stage roles across the country.
In 1980, he was offered the chance for a lead role on Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I.
Magnum, P.I. is an American television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from 1980 to 1988 in first-run broadcast on the American CBS television network....
, unfortunately, he turned that down, hence, the role was eventually given to another Universal
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
contract player, Tom Selleck
Tom Selleck
Thomas William "Tom" Selleck is an American actor, and film producer. He is best known for his starring role as Hawaii-based private investigator Thomas Magnum on the 1980s television show Magnum, P.I.. He also plays Police Chief Jesse Stone in a series of made-for-TV movies based on the Robert B....
. From 1981-1982, Dobson starred as the title character of the CBS series Shannon
Shannon (1981 TV series)
Shannon is an hour-long 9-episode CBS crime drama starring Kevin Dobson as Jack Shannon, a former New York City police officer who, after the death of his wife, relocates with his ten-year-old son, John, to San Francisco, California...
, about a San Francisco
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
police officer who is a single father. The series failed to win substantial ratings and was cancelled after nine episodes.
The following season, he landed the role of M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie on Knots Landing
Knots Landing
Knots Landing is an American primetime television soap opera that aired from December 27, 1979 to May 13, 1993 on CBS. Set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles in California, the show centered on the lives of four married couples living in a cul-de-sac, Seaview Circle...
, cast opposite Michele Lee
Michele Lee
Michele Lee is an American singer, dancer, actress, producer, director and frequent game show panelist of the 1970s. She is best-known for her role as Karen Cooper Fairgate MacKenzie on the 1980s prime-time soap opera, Knots Landing...
, a role he played for eleven years. He later reunited with his Knots Landing co-stars for a reunion, Knots Landing: Back To The Cul-de-Sac in 1997. The cast reunited to reminisce in Knots Landing: Together Again in 2005.
Dobson also appeared on the syndicated F/X: The Series
F/X: The Series
F/X: The Series was a television series based on the film F/X, starring Cameron Daddo, Christina Cox, Kevin Dobson , Jacqueline Torres , Carrie-Anne Moss and Jason Blicker. It ran for 40 episodes from 1996 through 1998....
for one season, playing Detective Leo McCarthy in 1996-97, and on the hit daytime drama series, One Life to Live
One Life to Live
One Life to Live is an American soap opera which debuted on July 15, 1968 and has been broadcast on the ABC television network. Created by Agnes Nixon, the series was the first daytime drama to primarily feature racially and socioeconomically diverse characters and consistently emphasize social...
and The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Bold and the Beautiful is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS Daytime. It premiered on March 23, 1987....
.
Dobson starred with Richard Thomas
Richard Thomas (actor)
Richard Earl Thomas is an American actor, best known for his role as budding author John-Boy Walton in the CBS drama The Waltons.- Early life :Thomas was born Richard Earl Thomas in New York,...
in the 2009 stage production of 12 Angry Men. Dobson has stated, concerning actors who are afraid of being typecast, "...you should be so lucky".
He played Mickey Horton on Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives
Days of our Lives is a long running daytime soap opera broadcast on the NBC television network. It is one of the longest-running scripted television programs in the world, airing nearly every weekday in the United States since November 8, 1965. It has since been syndicated to many countries around...
from April 2008 to October 2, 2008. His character was not seen on screen and left with no explanation for two years. The character of Mickey was "killed off" the show in January 2010. Although Dobson played the character for a few months, Mickey is best remembered being played by veteran soap actor John Clarke.
Affiliations
Dobson served twice as Chairman of the National Salute To Hospitalized Veterans, having been a soldier himself. He has been widely acclaimed by veterans organizations for his service to help hospitalized veterans, receiving the Silver Helmet Peace Award and the American Legion Award.In the 1976 WWII film "Midway" starring Henry Fonda and Charlton Heston,Dobson played the non-fictional character of Pilot George Gay. Ensign Gay was the sole survivor of Torpedo Squadron Eight from the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet's ill fated opening attack against the Japanese fleet on June 4, 1942.