Kevin Dobson, ‘Kojak’ & ‘Knots Landing’ Star, Dies At 77

 Kevin Dobson, an actor who starred in Kojak and Knots Landing, died at age 77 in a hospital in Stockton, California, on Sunday evening after a suffering a heart attack.

Dobson was a longtime Veteran’s Rights activist who had worked closely with many veterans’ causes. His death was announced by the organization United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County, which Dobson had at once served as a chairman, in a heartfelt Facebook post that celebrated his long and eventful life. The council shared images of the late actor hosting their last July 4 celebration a few months ago.

Dobson born in Jackson Heights, New York, later enlisting in the Army and working as a conductor Long Island Railroad before eventually beginning a career as an actor. After appearing in a few daytime television dramas and even film starring Jane Fonda, Klute, Dobson would sign with Universal Studios in 1972 to co-star in Kojak as Detective Bobby Crocker, later appearing in the 1990 TV movie of the same name. He stayed enjoyed the role for five seasons before landing a role on the soap opera Knots Landing as a federal prosecutor and eventual series regular after his character married Michele Lee’s Karen Gate. The series aired for eleven years and spawned two reunion specials by 2005.

Dobson remained active in the 2000s by appearing on several other popular series like The Bold and the Beautiful, a Days of Our Lives, House of Lies, Hawaii Five-0 and Anger Management. It is currently unknown how or when his health complications began, but he struggled with an autoimmune deficiency in his last days. The condition led to his eventual heart attack.