Martin Milner, Star Of 'Adam-12' And 'Route 66,' Dies At 83

By Bill Chappell / NPR

Published September 7, 2015 at 9:59 AM PDT

This story was published more than 8 years ago.

Martin Milner, right, died Sunday at age 83. He's seen here with co-star Kent McCord on the set of their TV series Adam-12, in 1969. — Martin Milner, right, died Sunday at age 83. He's seen here with co-star Kent McCord on the set of their TV series *Adam-12,* in 1969.

Actor Martin Milner, whose work as Officer Pete Molloy introduced generations of Americans to a tough and honorable policeman on Adam-12, died on Sunday. Milner, who was 83, died at home.

Word of Milner's death came out Monday, via a fan page on Facebook. His former co-star on Adam-12, Kent McCord, then confirmed to the AP that the actor had died.

"I had a long, long friendship with Marty and we remained friends up till the end," McCord tells the news agency. "He was one of the really true great people of our industry with a long, distinguished career...Wonderful films, wonderful television shows, pioneering shows like Route 66. He was one of the great guys. I was lucky to have him in my life."

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Born in 1931 in Detroit, Milner grew up in Seattle and Los Angeles, where he studied theater at the University of Southern California before his acting career took off.

In 1949, Milner had a minor role in the John Wayne film Sands of Iwo Jima. He went on to other notable roles in the 1950s, acting in 1955's Mister Roberts, with Henry Fonda, and 1959's Compulsion, with Orson Welles. In 1957, he appeared in both Gunfight at the O.K. Corral and Sweet Smell of Success.

But one of the most fateful acting jobs Milner had came in 1950, when he met Jack Webb on the set of Halls of Montezuma. At the time, Webb was in the second year of making his Dragnet radio series — and just two years away from turning the show into a TV series. He went on to create Adam-12 in 1968.

In 1960, Milner became a household face after Route 66 debuted, telling the itinerant stories of Tod Stiles, a once-wealthy young man who drove around America in his Corvette along with his friend Buz Murdock (George Maharis).

That show ran for more than 115 episodes; Milner followed it up with Adam-12, which ran from 1968-75. In it, he played Malloy, the veteran cop who was partnered with rookie Jim Reed (McCord).

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Milner's death brought the notice of the current chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. In a tweet, Charlie Beck wrote:

"Adam 12 and Martin Milner embodied the spirit of the LAPD to millions of viewers. His depiction of a professional and tough yet compassionate cop led to thousands of men and women applying to become LAPD officer, including me. Godspeed Martin, you will live forever in our hearts."