Randolph Mantooth, the actor best known for playing paramedic Johnny Gage in the hit 1970s television series Emergency!, has died at the age of 80.
Mantooth died on 9 July at a hospice facility in Ventura following a long illness, according to his brother. Deadline first reported the news.
The actor rose to fame in 1972 after landing the role of Johnny Gage in NBC’s Emergency!. The series, which ran for six seasons, introduced the profession of paramedics to a wider audience. Mantooth starred alongside Kevin Tighe and performed most of his own stunts during the show’s run.
He later reprised the role of Johnny Gage in other television series, including Adam-12. Throughout his life, he remained a strong advocate for firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).
Following the success of Emergency!, Mantooth appeared as a guest star in several popular television programmes, including Dallas, Charlie’s Angels and The Love Boat. He later built a successful second career in daytime soap operas.
In 1987, he joined Loving as Clay Alden before spending two years on General Hospital as Richard Halifax. He later returned to Loving for another two years. His television credits also included The City, As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer and Sons of Anarchy.
Born in Sacramento, California, Mantooth was the son of a father of Cherokee and Seminole heritage. He studied at Santa Barbara City College before earning a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
After being discovered on stage in New York and signing a contract with Universal, he began appearing in television series including Ironside, The Virginian, Marcus Welby, M.D. and The Bold Ones.
Mantooth was diagnosed with cancer in 2015.
He is survived by his wife, Kristen, and his siblings, Donald and Tonya.
