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David Janssen explained why The Fugitive had to end after four seasons
Even the star of the series understood that it was time to take one final bow.
All good things must come to an end, even if they've brought us joy. The important thing is to remember the journey, not mourn the fact that it ended.
As an actor, David Janssen was incredibly familiar with both beginnings and endings. Janssen had appeared in various films but was best known for his work in television, where he starred in shows like The Fugitive and Harry O.
After portraying a character like Richard Kimble for four years, Janssen was incredibly attached to Kimble. But after four seasons of the hit series, he knew that it was time to say goodbye and that the show was nearing its end.
Janssen argued that he understood that it was time for the show to end based on his perspective as an actor. He had studied Richard Kimble for years, and there was simply nothing left for him to do.
"After you've exhausted the possibility of a character, an actor wants to travel on to something else," said Janssen during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "It's only natural, it's an actor's ego."
Every creator in television dreams of a show as successful as The Fugitive, though Janssen argued that as time went on producing the show, so increased the risk for mistakes. "The series is demanding for everyone," said the actor. "You have a constant battle when you go into a fourth and fifth year. There is the danger of dogging it and becoming lethargic. And it's always hard to come by good material - a writer finds it's been done before."
