What do the actors who played the handsome detectives in the TV series of the last century look like now?

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Several decades ago, they not only defeated criminals, but also easily won the hearts of TV viewers. Times are different now, and so are the heroes, and yet at the word "detective" or "agent" it is difficult not to imagine someone like Sunny Crockett, or Fox Mulder, or even Sledge Hammer.

Sunny Crockett, Miami Police Department of Morals

For the first time "Miami Police" was shown on television in 1984. For five seasons, the series not only retained the love of the public, but also set benchmarks in men's fashion. A T-shirt under a jacket, white linen trousers, moccasins and sunglasses of the brand that became popular thanks to the Miami Police - the details for which the main character, Sunny Crockett, became recognizable around the world, were in great demand. Famous couturiers were involved in the creation of each episode - they suggested the most spectacular and promising options for Crockett's image: in one episode he could change five to eight sets of clothes

The musical accompaniment has become an equally significant distinguishing feature of Miami Police. The creators of the series relied on promoting the culture of the New Wave of the eighties, and therefore some of the scenes looked more like a music video. A special line of the budget for the release of the series was the cost of purchasing a license - on average, they cost ten thousand dollars for each episode. In different series, compositions by Brian Adams, Phil Collins, Tina Turner, Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode sounded - and this is not an exhaustive list of aspiring and already established stars associated with the Miami Police. It's no wonder that all together - including the charisma of the starring actor - made the show a cult hit.

For Don Johnson, the role of Detective Crockett was a major career achievement. Now sixty-nine, Johnson's last job to date was the role of the sheriff in the 2019 series Keepers.

David Addison, Moonlight Detective Agency

The series, which tells about the work of a detective agency, appeared on screens in 1985. Young actor Bruce Willis was invited to play the main role of the merry fellow and joker David Addison. For his approval, the author of the idea Glen Gordon Caron fought in earnest with the producers - the potential of Willis and its correspondence to the image of the hero was not at first discerned. For the first seasons, the main line of the series revolved around investigations, and then the relationship between Addison and Maddie Hayes, the owner agency, played by Cybill Shepherd. When filming, the directors actively used the effect of the "destruction of the fourth wall" - when the characters began to address the audience.

The role in the series made Bruce Willis a star, he began to receive offers to shoot, and in 1988 he starred in the cult action movie Die Hard. At the moment, its next sequel is being prepared for release - in addition to other film works, in which the 64-year-old actor is actively involved.

Agent Cooper, Twin Peaks

FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, according to the story, arrived in the town of Twin Peaks to investigate the death of schoolgirl Laura Palmer. He loves “damn good coffee” and cherry pie, has an original sense of humor, always carries a dictaphone with him, where he writes down his thoughts and observations on the case, sometimes addressing an unknown viewer to Diana. Agent Cooper is a man with a tragic past and experience of Tibetan practices, and therefore he attracts the attention not only of the residents of the town, but also of fans of the series directed by David Lynch.

Participation in the filming of "Twin Peaks" created a specific role for the actor Kyle McLachlan - on the one hand, an ideal man, on the other, a weirdo. In 2017, the third season of "Twin Peaks" was released, where McLachlan performed several roles, in addition, every year he takes part in the filming of films, of the last - "Fonzo", where Tom Hardy played the role of Al Capone.

Fox Mulder, The X-Files

Another FBI agent, also associated with unexplained phenomena, devoted himself to solving the mystery of the disappearance of Samantha's sister - who was allegedly kidnapped by representatives of an extraterrestrial civilization when Fox was twelve years old. However, throughout the series, he himself will have to become a victim of a similar kidnapping, like his investigative partner, Dana Scully. The success of Chris Carter's series is based both on the incomprehensible and terrible, which each episode of The X-Files is broadcast, and on the special charm of Mulder's characters. and Scully, between whom a platonic romance develops over nine seasons - eventually turning into a very real connection.

David Duchovny, the grandson of an emigrant from Russia, dreamed of becoming a writer in his youth. By the time he auditioned for the role in The X-Files, he had already appeared in several episodes of Twin Peaks as an anti-narcotics agent. At the casting for his new series, Chris Carter was amazed at how Duchovny looked in the frame - the actor was one of those who "love the camera." After the seventh season, due to a conflict with the creators of The X-Files, Duchovny stopped being the lead actor, appearing in separate episodes.

Cool Walker: Texas Justice

A Texas ranger named Cordell Walker fights crime and, in general, the vices that he himself, apparently, is deprived of. A Vietnam War veteran, martial artist, impeccably noble, he attracts not only his investigative partner Alex, but the entire female audience of the series.

Carlos, or Chuck, Norris, the leading actor, has since become no less than a hero of folklore - "facts about Chuck Norris", which continued the image of the "superman" already outside the television series. The life story of the actor is somewhat similar to the biography of Walker - except that the real fighter for justice did military service not in Vietnam, but in South Korea. Norris' first significant role went to him in the film "The Way of the Dragon" opposite Bruce Lee. In addition to cinema, for many years the actor has been actively involved in the development of martial arts, teaching acting skills to young talents, writing books and taking part in solving political issues.

Thomas Magnum, "Magnum Private Investigator"

You can fight criminals this way - living in a luxurious house in Hawaii, driving around in sports cars and showing expensive watches. Orders find Magnum themselves, and the house was provided for use by the never-seen-on-screen writer Robin Masters, who commissioned Jonathan Higgins, a retired military man, to look after the estate. Tom Magnum is a charismatic figure. Mustaches, baseball caps, Hawaiian shirts, expensive cars and a beautiful life have all turned out to be easily recognizable attributes of a private detective's success with countless clients and viewers. During the first seasons, the series was among the twenty best on the American continent.

For the lead role in the series, actor Tom Selleck received an Emmy. In the nineties, he played a supporting role in the TV series Friends, increasing the ratings of an already successful project with his participation. Currently, the 74-year-old actor plays in the television series Blue Blood about the police dynasty. As for Magnum and his detective practice, the series was relaunched in 2018 with Jay Hernandez in the title role.

Sledge Hammer, "Sledgehammer"

Having become a parody of serials and films that came out before her, "Hammerhead", however, perfectly parodied itself. Sledge Hammer (whose name actually means "sledgehammer") became the main character in the series about investigations of the San Francisco police unit. Sledge does not stand on ceremony with either criminals or ordinary residents of the city - his love of cruelty and reverent attitude to the revolver with which he talks and which he uses at every opportunity, have made Hammer the reputation of the most aggressive and implacable police officer in the city. Removing the holster with a weapon where it is not allowed to be armed, for example, in a courthouse, Sledge walks leaning over, since the body is "used" to balance only with the presence of a revolver. As for the music that the policeman prefers, his favorite tracks are those in which the sounds of a shot are heard.

Actor David Rush, now 75, has played more than eighty roles in his acting career. In 1976 he married Heather Lapton, with whom he still lives. It was she who played the ex-wife of Sledge in one of the episodes of Sledgehammer.

But the series "Colombo" became popular without a handsome hero - moreover, being filmed contrary to the classic laws of the genre.