Veteran actor, Martin Milner, passed away Sunday night, September 6. He was 83.
Milner's friend Pete Gray shared that the actor passed away surrounded by his family, reports CNN. Gray co-hosted the Southern California sports fishing radio show "Let's Talk HookUp" with Milner. Milner appeared in various TV shows and movies during his Hollywood career. He appeared in "Dragnet," "Murder, She Wrote," "Sweet Smell of Success" and many others. Milner is best known for his roles in the 1960's TV hit shows "Adam-12" and "Route 66." The veteran star had a forthright manner which reportedly made him a perfect and popular choice for cop roles or military officers. In the TV show "Adam-12" he played LAPD officer Pete Malloy who would patrol the city of Los Angeles with his partner. The show's plotlines were reportedly based on actual LAPD cases. "Adam-12" was even credited as the show which introduced many viewers to police procedures and terminologies.
The CNN report also cited a tribute that Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck made to commemorate Milner's legacy. In a Twitter message, the police chief stated that Milner's "Adam-12" role helped to inspire him and many others to join the force. Beck wrote, "#Adam12 and Martin Milner embodied the spirit of the #LAPD to millions of viewers. His depiction of a professional & tough yet compassionate cop led 2 thousands of men & women applying 2 become #LAPD officers, including me."
According to People magazine, Milner made his movie debut in the 1947 film, "Life With Father." He then appeared in John Wayne's "Sands of Iwo Jima" in 1949 and "Operation Pacific" in 1951. By 1995, the actor retired from the limelight and even told the magazine then that he was happy to retire from acting. He added, "I was never a celebrity - just a working actor." Milner then shared that his passions included "family and fishing, in that order."
Milner is survived by wife Judith Bess "Judy" Jones, daughter Molly and sons Stuart and Andrew. His daughter Amy died from acute myeloid leukemia in 2004, states People.
