Steve Forrest, 87

Actor Steve Forrest passed away at his California home on May 18, 2013. He was 87.

Forrest parlayed a stint in the Army during World War II (where he rose to the rank of Sergeant and fought in the Battle of the Bulge) into an education at UCLA, where he graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Theater Arts. A job as a stagehand at the legendary La Jolla Playhouse introduced him to Gregory Peck, and Peck’s encouragement and influence led Forrest (Born William Forrest Andrews) to an MGM contract and a life following his older brother Dana Andrews as Hollywood actor.

His work was primarily in the realm of television where in 1975 he created the iconic role of Lt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson on the TV version of S.W.A.T.. Forrest would have a cameo in the 2003 film adaptation of the show that starred Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell. Typically, Forrest could be counted on guest appearances in everything from the anthology shows of the 1950s, to the Captain America TV movie of the 1970’s to classic TV shows such as Gunsmoke, L.A. Law, and Murder She Wrote.

Forrest also found time to do some film work in a number of iconic films throughout the decades. he won a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer – Male in 153 for his work in the film So Big. The actor would go one to star in films such as Prisoner of War, Western Star, The Longest Day, North Dallas Forty, Mommie Dearest, Spies Like Us and Amazon Women on the Moon.