Hunter is a police drama television series starring Fred Dryer as "Sgt. Rick Hunter" and Stepfanie Kramer as "Sgt. Dee Dee McCall", which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1991. However, Kramer left after the sixth season (1990) to pursue other acting and musical opportunities. The seventh season saw Hunter partnered with two different women officers. The titular character, Sgt. Rick Hunter, was a wily, physically imposing, and often rule-breaking homicide detective (badge# 89 in the early seasons, badge# 378 in later seasons) with the Los Angeles Police Department. The "Pilot" TV movie premiered on September 18, 1984, with the regular series starting 10 days later. The show ended on April 26, 1991, after seven seasons. There are a total of 153 episodes, spanning seven years (1984–1991) of the show's run.
Created by Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell, the show in its early episodes played as television's answer to Dirty Harry. Actor Dryer bears a striking resemblance to Dirty Harry actor Clint Eastwood, with his tall thin frame, chiselled facial structure and even a similar receding hairstyle. Even after the show's violence was toned down during the second season in hopes of boosting ratings, Hunter and McCall still managed to resolve many cases by shooting the perpetrators dead.
The show's executive producer during the first season was Stephen J. Cannell, whose company produced the series.
Original series
Main cast Fred Dryer ... Det. Sgt. Richard "Rick" Hunter Stepfanie Kramer ... Det. Sgt. Dee Dee McCall (1984–1990) Charles Hallahan ... Capt. Charles "Charlie" Devane (1986–1991). Captain Devane joined the cast in the first episode of the third season, "Overnight Sensation". He replaced Captain Wyler and was a more confrontational boss, although not as hostile and unlike previous captains trusted Hunter & McCall's judgment on decisions pertaining to cases. Captain Devane remained for the rest of the series.
Supporting cast The supporting cast of the series changed over the course of the series, occasionally within the same season. John Amos ... Capt. Dolan (1984–1985). Captain Dolan became the supervisor of Homicide Division starting in the sixth episode of the first season, "Legacy". Amos remained for the duration of the first season. Courtney Barilla ... Allison Novak (1991). The daughter of Chris Novak and her ex-husband Al. Richard Beauchamp ... Carlos (Asst. M.E.) (1985–1987). Debuted in the second season as an assistant medical examiner, often providing insight for Hunter and McCall. Arthur Rosenberg ... Capt. Lester D. Cain/Commander Lester D. Cain (1984/1987). Only appeared in the first few episodes of the first season as Captain Cain, later promoted to Commander. Appeared in Season 4, as Commander Cain in "City of Passion", parts 1 and 2. Michael Cavanaugh appeared as Captain Lester Cain in the TV Pilot, but did not appear in further episodes. Perry Cook ... Barney Udall (Coroner) (1986-1990). Appeared in the two-part episode "The Beautiful and the Dead" as a county coroner. Occasionally appeared in later episodes. Bruce Davison ... Captain Wyler (1985–87). Replaced John Amos as Hunter and McCall's supervisor Homicide Captain Wyler beginning in the first episode of the second season. Was promoted to Deputy Chief by the beginning of the third season and was replaced by Captain Charles "Charlie" Devane. Darlanne Fluegel ... Off. Joanne Molenski (1990–1991). Killed off midway through season 7. Stanley Kamel ... Gov. Agent Brad Wilkes (Occasional) (1987–1988) Lauren Lane ... Police Sgt. Chris Novak (1991). Molenski's replacement as Hunter's partner. Garrett Morris ... Arnold "Sporty" James (1986–1989). Debuted in the episode "The Return of Typhoon Thompson". Became a guest star informant in later appearances, beginning with the first episode of the third season. John Shearin ... Lt. Ambrose Finn (1985–88). Debuted in the episode "Blow-Up" as Homicide Lieutenant Ambrose Finn, a less confrontational immediate supervisor for Hunter and McCall. Killed off at the end of season 4. James Whitmore, Jr. ... Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger (1984-1986). An ambitious but incompetent detective. A regular cast member in the first season, the character moved to the Internal Affairs division during the second season and was an occasional guest star.
Guest appearances
Season One Episode Actor Character Role"Pilot" Brian Dennehy Dr. Bolin Police psychiatrist / serial killer Michael Cavanaugh (actor) Capt. Lester D. Cain Homicide Captain (Pilot only)"Hard Contract" David Ackroyd Gus Trancus McCall's former partner turned hitman "The Hot Grounder" Sam J. Jones Lance Lane Tennis player William Windom Commissioner Larry Crenshaw Police Commissioner "A Long Way from L.A." Paul Eiding Wally Wallerstean Transport criminal Bo Svenson Jake Cutter - - "Legacy" Tony Longo Dave Newton - Al Ruscio Carmine Santorro - Mary-Margaret Humes Sandy Newton - "Flight on a Dead Pigeon" Gary Cervantes - - "Pen Pals" Jack O'Halloran Hammer Inmate Tracey Walter Archie Inmate "Dead or Alive" Wings Hauser Jimmy Jo Walker Bounty Hunter "High Bleacher Man" Richard Romanus Nathan 'Nate' Demarest Mob boss Alan Autry Archie Inmate "The Shooter" Beau Billingslea - Motorcycle cop Marc Alaimo Doug Kirkwood - "The Garbage Man" Ed O'Neill Dan Colson Parole officer Frances McDormand Nina Sloan Policewoman Christopher McDonald Sonny Dupree Parolee Nicholas Worth Ramos Parolee "The Avenging Angel" Robert Pastorelli Willie Wakefield - "The Snow Queen, Pt. 1" Dennis Farina Vic Terranova Club owner/ drug dealer Dennis Franz Sgt. Jackie Molinas Corrupt New York police sergeant "The Snow Queen, Pt. 2" Dennis Farina Vic Terranova Club owner/ drug dealer Dennis Franz Sgt. Jackie Molinas Corrupt New York police sergeant "The Beach Boy" Steven Williams Parker LeMay - Jere Burns Greg Jones Drug pusher Kerry RossallEddie Marx - Brett Baxter Clark Wes Kapano Hawaiian hitman "Guilty" Ken Foree Louis McMahon Parolee Willard E. Pugh Eddie Conman "The Last Kill" Madison Mason Kerry Le Masters / Tommy Largo - Steven Keats Jimmy Tomasino Mafioso "Fire Man" William Russ Jack Lachman Vietnam vet Belinda Balaski Judy Caretaker Robert Desiderio Gene Byrd Vietnam vet / Fireman Mark Schneider Matt Gold Reporter Vivian Bonnell Witness "Sniper" James Cromwell Seymour Robbins IRS auditor Jack Starrett Dennis Balzer Joe Dorsey Sgt. Louis Whitlow Sandy Martin Iris Balzer
Season Two Episode Actor Character Role "Case X" Leo Rossi Tony Cochran - Sam Anderson Vinny Cochran - James Whitmore, Jr. Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger Internal Affairs Sergeant "Night of the Dragons" Clyde Kusatsu Detective Lieutenant Raymond Lau - James Hong Chang - "The Biggest Man In Town" Nana Visitor Amy Laurton - Gregory Itzin Charlie Latimer - Don Stroud Sheriff Johnson - Stuart Whitman Raymond Bellamy - "Rich Girl" Lois Hamilton Ginger Flagg - K. Callan Mrs. Jorgensen - John Calvin Bradley Woolsey - Dorian Lopinto Cynthia Flagg - "Killer in the Halloween Mask" Jesse Ventura Jesse - James Whitmore, Jr. Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger Internal Affairs Sergeant Tim Russ Sam - Gary Graham David Talon - "Rape & Revenge, pt. 1" Richard Yniguez Raul Mariano - Mike Pniewski Dr. Lantree - Larry Hankin Jimmy Cracklin - Michael Ansara General Mariano - Danny Ponce Ignacio - Jack Starrett Dennis Balzer - "Rape & Revenge, pt. 2" Richard Yniguez Raul Mariano - Mike Pniewski Dr. Lantree - Larry Hankin Jimmy Cracklin - Michael Ansara General Mariano - Danny Ponce Ignacio - Jack Starrett Dennis Balzer - "Million Dollar Misunderstanding" Robert Davi Sonny Dunbar - Robert Englund Vaughn - James Whitmore, Jr. Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger Internal Affairs Sergeant Phil Rubenstein Tito Constantine - "The Big Fall" Vic Polizos Fabro - Mills Watson Ray Longmire - James Whitmore, Jr. Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger Internal Affairs Sergeant Jonathan Banks Gary Krewson - "Waiting for Mr. Wrong" Fernando Allende Carols Moreno - Michael Dorn Highway Patrolman - John Lansing Jerry Borrell - Ada Maris Angie Chavina - "Think Blue" William Smith Neville Sigerson - Alan Blumenfeld Ziggie Police Mechanic Ramon Bieri Charlie Coster - "Blow-Up" Anthony James Otto Minsky - Bradford English Singer Detective John Shearin Lt. Ambrose Finn Detective Kate Zentall Tiffany Reed Defense Attorney "War Zone" Vernon Wells Zajak - Billy Drago Le Claire - Gela Nash Leanne - Don Hood Arthur Speigal - "Burned" Jane Russell Ava Fontaine - Anthony Caruso Nick Bartoni - "Scrap Metal" Frank Campanella Vinnie Brokaw - Joseph Cortese Marco Brokaw - Kay Lenz Alicia Fiori - Ji-Tu Cumbuka Homer - "Fagin 1986" Richard Coca Umberto Sandoval - Gary Cervantes - - Jacob Vargas Emilio Morales - Trinidad Silva Hector Rivas - "62 Hours of Terror" Persis Khambatta Dhari Ziad - Thom Christopher Hasseb Hamza - "Death Machine" John Matuszak Lincoln - Karen Witter Linda - Frank Collison Bosco - "The Set Up" Jack Colvin Michael Varn - Robert O'Reilly Willem Sunderson - James Whitmore, Jr. Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger Internal Affairs Sergeant Conrad Dunn Rocket Informant "The Beautiful & the Dead, pt. 1" Dan Lauria Broder - Kabir Bedi Leo Zukoff - Kim Johnston Ulrich Allison Kavaley - Andrew Massett Sgt. Jerry Billings San Francisco Homicide Sergeant Marc McClure Ralph Skinner - "The Beautiful & the Dead, pt. 2" Dan Lauria Broder - Kabir Bedi Leo Zukoff - Kim Johnston Ulrich Allison Kavaley - Andrew Massett Sgt. Jerry Billings San Francisco Homicide Sergeant Marc McClure Ralph Skinner - "The Return of Typhoon Thompson" Isaac Hayes Jerome 'Typhoon' Thompson - Garrett Morris Sporty James - Sheryl Lee Ralph Josie Clifford - Miguel Fernandes Eddie Zbinksi - "Saturday Night Special " Anne-Marie Johnson Isabel Teret / Nella Watkins - Beah Richards Pockets / Ella Mae Fuller -
Season Three Episode Actor Character Role "Overnight Sensation" Sal Lopez Tony Melendez - Michael Wren Raul Marcado - James Whitmore, Jr. Sgt. Bernie Terwilliger Internal Affairs Sergeant "Change Partners and Dance" Tim Thomerson Police Sergeant Harry Traynor - Robert Firth Detective Riley Causland - Norbert Weisser Craig Borson - "Crime of Passion" Ray Wise Alex Parker - Candy Clark Jody Stone - "The Castro Connection" John Beck Neil Jordan - Jack Bannon Michael Stevens - "High Noon in L.A." George DelHoyo Carlos Mariano - Ethan Phillips Michael Stevens - Zitto Kazann Joey - "From San Francisco with Love" Laura Johnson Det. Sgt. Valerie Foster - "True Confessions" Lauren Tewes Sheila Burke - "Love, Hate, and Sporty James" Claudia Christian Sheila Burke - Jack Bannon Michael Stevens - "The Contract" Brent Spiner Vaughn - Peter Haskell Roger Hennessy - Katherine Moffat Laura Hennessy - Katherine Cannon Gail Morton - "The Cradle Will Rock" Chaka Khan Miss Gina B - John Hancock Sam Pruitt - "Bad Company" Dean Stockwell Brother Harold Hobarts - Big John Studd Randy - Lar Park Lincoln Angela Holly Hobarts - "Down and Under" Anthony LaPaglia Woodward - Marina Sirtis Kate Scanlon - "Straight to the Heart" Robert Miano Karl - Lydia Cornell Nicki Rains/Rena Farrell - "Requiem for Sergeant McCall" Bruce Davison Deputy Chief Wyler - "Double Exposure" George Clooney Matthew Winfield - "The Girl Next Door" Stanley Kamel Brad Wilkes, FBI - Robert Firth Detective Riley Causland - "Any Second Now" Theresa Saldana Jennifer Hartman - "A Child Is Born" Leif Garrett Todd Logan - "Crossfire" Richard Cox Carl Remick - Larenz Tate Sporty's Nephew - Jack Bannon Michael Stevens - "Hot Pursuit: Part 1" Ji-Tu Cumbuka Homer - Gela Nash Vicki - "Hot Pursuit: Part 2" Ji-Tu Cumbuka Homer - Gela Nash Vicki - "Shades" Shelley Taylor Morgan Sgt. Katherine 'Kitty' O'Hearn - Michael Gregory Al - Jared Martin Special Agent Ringerman -
Season Four