'S.W.A.T.' Star Steve Forrest Dies at 87

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com ^ | may 22, 2013 | Mike Barnes

[lowbridge]

Steve Forrest, who starred as Lt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson on the 1970s ABC action series S.W.A.T., died peacefully surrounded by family on May 18 in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 87.

In a career spanning more than 60 years, Forrest frequently was cast as a leading man or “heavy.” An aficionado of the American Western, he delighted in roles that glorified the genre, including guest-starring appearances on such television classics as The Virginian, Bonanza and Gunsmoke.

But it was his role as the hard-hitting yet warmhearted Harrelson on the Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg-produced S.W.A.T. that most endeared Forrest to the American audience. As the leader of the police department’s five-man special weapons and tactics team, he often was seen with his bullhorn in hand, jumping into the large dark gray van and shouting the signature line “Let’s roll!”

[CatherineofAragon]

That was heresy. There will forever be only one Jock Ewing as far as I’m concerned.

[Puppage]

Haha. We did too.

[justlurking]

Forrest made a cameo appearance in the SWAT movie, too. He was the driver in the van as they rolled up to a crime scene.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

He was in attendance at one of the greatest Hollywood parties ever given: “All-Star Party for ‘Dutch’ Reagan” (1985), the year he was sworn in for his second term.

Check out the amazing Hollywood guest list:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193453/reference

[Rummyfan]

[Jack Hydrazine]

That show helped to make tyranny more acceptable to the masses.

[Impy]

RIP

That show had an epic theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Iwp1d7eKbA

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Charleston SC got their first SWAT team back in the 70s and IIRC, part of it was due to the popularity of this show. Their first call was to take care of a wasp nest. Now every podunk town has some form of SWAT team, like CSIs are going now.

[Jack Hydrazine]

It’s that growing police state!

[wally_bert]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Rb3W8UTrg