Randolph Mantooth

Randolph Mantooth
Born	Randolph Donald Mantooth September 19, 1945 (1945-09-19) (age 66) Sacramento, California, U.S.
Other names	Randy Mantooth
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970-present
Spouse	Kristen Connors (2002-present) Rose Parra (1978–1991) (divorced)
Website
http://www.randolphmantooth.com/

Randolph Donald Mantooth (born September 19, 1945) is an American character actor of stage, film and television. Mantooth is best known for his work in the 1970s medical drama, Emergency!, as Johnny Gage, a Los Angeles County Fire Department paramedic. He is also known for his work on the E! Network's program Talk Soup alongside host John Henson, and for appearing in various soap operas starting in the 1980s.

History

Mantooth, the oldest of four children, was born in Sacramento, California, to Sadie and Donald Mantooth. He is half Seminole. Because of his father's job in the construction industry, Mantooth's family lived in 24 states, finally settling in Santa Barbara, California, where he grew up. Even as a child, Mantooth was fascinated with acting. He attended San Marcos High School, where he further cultivated his passion in drama, which led him to become an actor. He graduated from high school in 1963 and then the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, with a major in drama and dance. One of his earlier jobs was as a page at NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center in New York City.^[1] During his childhood, Mantooth sold newspapers for his local paper, the Coatesville Record, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. ^[2]

Mantooth was prepared for the lead role in the play Philadelphia Here I Come, after performing in the popular production of How to Laugh on Stage. His performance as Gar earned him the Charles Jehlenger Award, an honor he shared with fellow actor Brad Davis. Then, in 1970, he received a contract with Universal Studios, left New York and moved back to California, where he guest-starred in a variety of shows.

Producer Robert A. Cinader saw him in a small role on The Bold Ones that led to his decision to cast him as hotshot paramedic Johnny Gage on the long-running TV series, Emergency!, which shot him to stardom in 1972 to 1979, and stayed on for the entire run, which starred opposite Robert Fuller, Julie London and Kevin Tighe, who would become best friends for life. Mantooth, who said in one of his interviews that growing up, he and his family were fans of Julie's music, despite his father not meeting her. On the set, he and co-star Tighe both developed a close relationship with London and Bobby Troup, while off the Emergency! set, both he and Tighe spent more time with Julie's and Bobby's family, during weekends. After the show's run, he did not keep in touch with the Troup family; on October 18, 2000 his longtime friend and series' star London died, the year after her husband and co-star Troup had died.

After Emergency!, he appeared in the mini series "The Seekers" in 1979,^[3] based on the John Jakes novel. . Afterwards, he found it difficult to sustain any long-term acting roles until he appeared as Clay Alden (later Alex Masters) on the soap opera Loving, which he played from 1987 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1995. Mantooth reprised his role as Alex Masters on The City from 1995 to 1997.

In 2003, Mantooth joined the cast of As the World Turns as a temporary replacement for Benjamin Hendrickson in the role of Hal Munson. When Hendrickson left the show in 2004, Mantooth was again cast as Munson, also in a recurring position; Hendrickson returned to the program in 2005. In 2007, Mantooth landed the recurring role of Kirk Harmon on One Life to Live, but the character was killed off after two months.

Mantooth also guest-starred in Battlestar Galactica Classic episode "Greetings from Earth" as Michael and JAG(1997) as Col. Ron Barret.

Mantooth serves as honorary chairman and spokesperson for the non-profit County of Los Angeles Fire Museum Association, and recently received an award for his efforts from the International Association of Fire Chiefs' EMS section. He has been married to Kristen Connors since 2002. He and his Emergency co-star Kevin Tighe have remained close friends since the series.^[4]

Mantooth has a brother Donald (born 20 June 1952) and two sisters Nancy (born ?) and Tonya (born 12 Jun 1959). In August 2002, Mantooth married Kristen Marie Connors at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens.

Mantooth has made frequent appearances at EMS symposiums across the United States, most recently at a symposium held at the Great Escape Lodge in Queensbury, New York, on January 30, 2010.^[5]

In 2011, the actor appeared in two episodes of Sons of Anarchy on the FX channel. ^[6]

References

1. ^ http://wherearetheynow.gophercentral.com/Randolph_Mantooth.aspx
2. ^ http://www.route51.com/Randy_Mantooth/Blog/Entries/2011/5/28_Homeward_Bound.html
3. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials: 1974-1984. VNR AG. p. 371. ISBN 9780918432612. http://books.google.com/books?id=AKlgjBCPPnsC&pg=PA371. 
4. ^ Randy Mantooth Website
5. ^ "Actor talks at EMS forum", Post-Star (Glens Falls NY), January 31, 2010
6. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/randolph-mantooth/credits/190772

External links

• Randolph Mantooth at the Internet Movie Database

Persondata
Name	Mantooth, Randolph
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	September 19, 1945
Place of birth	Sacramento, California,
Date of death
Place of death