{"id":4205,"date":"2026-07-11T08:36:28","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T08:36:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4205"},"modified":"2026-07-11T08:36:28","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T08:36:28","slug":"randolph-mantooth-emergency-star-who-played-johnny-gage-dead-at-80","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4205","title":{"rendered":"Randolph Mantooth, \u2018Emergency!\u2019 star who played Johnny Gage, dead at 80"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Randolph Mantooth, the actor best known for playing firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on NBC\u2019s hit 1970s series \u201cEmergency!,\u201d has died. He was 80.<\/p>\n

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Mantooth died Thursday at a hospice facility in Ventura, Calif., after a long illness, his brother Donald Mantooth told The Hollywood Reporter.<\/p>\n

Donald said the actor had \u201cbeen ill for a number of years and kept getting thinner and thinner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mantooth shot to fame in 1972 when he was cast as Johnny Gage on \u201cEmergency!,\u201d the NBC drama that introduced the profession of paramedics to millions of viewers.<\/p>\n

He starred alongside Kevin Tighe on the series, which ran for six seasons, and performed most of his own stunts.<\/p>\n

The actor later reprised his role as Gage on shows including \u201cAdam-12\u201d and remained a longtime advocate for firefighters, paramedics and EMTs.<\/p>\n

Mantooth recalled the positive reception he received from firefighters after the show aired, saying the \u201cEmergency!\u201d cast \u201cdid not want to make them look bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were so ecstatic that they had a show about them,\u201d Mantooth said in a 2013 interview, according to the Television Academy. \u201cBecause there\u2019s always shows about cops. There\u2019s always shows about lawyers and doctors. But here\u2019s a show about the fire department! I mean, their hair stood up on end. It\u2019s like, \u2018yeah, honey, that\u2019s what I do!’\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey took to us well because we did not want to make them look bad. We wanted to make them look like exactly who they were \u2014 heroes,\u201d Mantooth added. \u201cNow, everyone\u2019s got to have a flaw. It drives me crazy. I don\u2019t care about your flaws. Just show me what you do. How\u2019s the job done? And do it real. Show me!\u201d <\/p>\n

Born in Sacramento, Calif., Mantooth discovered acting through school plays after his family settled in the Santa Barbara area, according to IMDb.<\/p>\n

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He attended Santa Barbara City College before earning a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.<\/p>\n

After being spotted in a stage production of \u201cPhiladelphia, Here I Come,\u201d he signed with Universal and launched his television career.<\/p>\n

Before \u201cEmergency!,\u201d he appeared on series including \u201cIronside,\u201d \u201cThe Virginian,\u201d \u201cMarcus Welby, M.D.,\u201d \u201cThe Bold Ones,\u201d \u201cMcCloud\u201d and \u201cAlias Smith and Jones.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the show ended, Mantooth continued acting for decades, appearing on \u201cDallas,\u201d \u201cCharlie\u2019s Angels,\u201d \u201cThe Love Boat,\u201d \u201cCriminal Minds,\u201d \u201cGhost Whisperer\u201d and \u201cSons of Anarchy.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also had a lengthy run in daytime television, playing Clay Alden and later Alex Masters on \u201cLoving,\u201d Richard Halifax on \u201cGeneral Hospital,\u201d and appearing on \u201cOne Life to Live,\u201d \u201cAs the World Turns\u201d and \u201cThe City.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mantooth\u2019s \u201cLoving\u201d co-star Rena Sofer mourned her \u201cdear friend\u201d and mentor, who \u201ctook me under his wing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI have so much to say about him, so much love for him that I am left speechless,\u201d Sofer posted on Instagram on Friday night. \u201cThis man came into my life when I was 18 years old and never left. He took me under his wing as he did to most young actors he ever met. He treated me with respect and kindness but most of all friendship.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have been lifelong friends and I cherish every moment I had with him. He was a friend to so many, a true great friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mantooth is survived by his wife, Kristen, and his siblings, Donald and Tonya.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Randolph Mantooth, who starred as Johnny Gage on NBC\u2019s \u201cEmergency!,\u201d died at 80 after a long illness at a California hospice, his brother Donald Mantooth said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-news"],"yoast_head":"\nRandolph Mantooth, \u2018Emergency!\u2019 star who played Johnny Gage, dead at 80 - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4205\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Randolph Mantooth, \u2018Emergency!\u2019 star who played Johnny Gage, dead at 80 - 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