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Veteran TV and Film Actor — Who Coined a Catchphrase in a Popular TV Show in the ’70s — Dead at 87

May 23, 2013  •  Post A Comment

An actor who carved out a long string of credits in both movies and television, winning a Golden Globe in 1954, has died. Steve Forrest, who starred as Lt. Dan "Hondo" Harrelson on the ABC series "S.W.A.T.," died May 18 in Thousand Oaks, Calif., according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 87.

Forrest was often cast as the leading man or "heavy" during his 60 years of acting, and had a special affinity for Westerns, taking on guest-starring roles in TV classics such as "The Virginian," "Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke."

He won a Golden Globe Award as most promising male newcomer for the feature film “So Big” in 1954. He went on to a starring role opposite Anne Baxter in “Bedevilled” in 1955, worked with Elvis Presley and Barbara Eden in “Flaming Star” in 1960, and had a big role in the Faye Dunaway vehicle “Mommie Dearest” in 1981, among many other film roles.

His role as Harrelson on the 1970s series "S.W.A.T.," produced by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg, endeared him to American TV viewers, especially with his catchphrase, "Let’s roll!," the report notes. His character was often seen with a bullhorn shouting out the signature phrase.

He played the title role in the 1960s U.K. series “The Baron,” appearing as the show’s “Baron” John Mannering during its one-season run.

Forrest resurfaced in a cameo as the van driver in the 2003 film version of “S.W.A.T.,” which starred Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell.

steve-forrest.jpgSteve Forrest

2 Comments

  1. I believe that he was Dana Andrews’ brother.

  2. Besides SWAT he was great in North Dallas 40.
    RIP Steve, you will be missed.

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