Actor Martin Milner, known for his role in Route 66, died at the age of 83.
Variety reported his death was confirmed by Diana Downing, who is a representative for Milner’s fan page. Other roles he was known for included Valley of the Dolls and Sweet Smell of Success.
Milner came from a family who were involved in showbusiness. Born in Detroit, his mother was a dancer and his father was a film distributor who helped him get into acting.
His first role came in 1947 when he was a teenager and his father had helped to get him an agent. That was for the film Life With Father.
From 1968 to 1975, he starred in Adam-12 as Pete Malloy with Kent McCord. They played two cops who experienced the highs and lows of everyday life on the job and in their own lives.
In the ‘70s, he appeared in Swiss Family Robinson and other television movies later on. He also made guest appearances in many classic ‘80s shows including Fantasy Island, Murder, She Wrote, and MacGyver.
He retired from acting in 1997 after appearing on Diagnosis Murder.
Milner is survived by his wife of 58 years, Judith Jones, one daughter and two sons. Another daughter died in 2004 of leukemia.
As a tribute to Milner, the Twitter account for the LAPD Communications wrote, “Pete Malloy you are End of Watch… #RIP Actor Martin Milner.” Chief Charlie Beck with the LAPD wrote a touching tribute to Malloy and how Adam-12 played a role in young individuals becoming cops.
Image via Twitter from LAPD Communications.