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Here's how David Janssen set Harry Orwell apart from his fellow private detectives
"Tough on the outside, but with a heart of gold," said Janssen.
While a character like Dr. Richard Kimble from The Fugitive and Harry Orwell from Harry O are far from the same character, they do have more than a few similarities. Most notably, both characters are played by the same talented actor, David Janssen. Janssen made a name for himself in television, leading action shows with an iron fist.
During an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer, Janssen confessed that while Orwell might seem to have a spiny exterior, he had a deep-seated desire to help others that fueled the sense of justice in his heart.
"Tough on the outside, but with a heart of gold," said Janssen.
As an actor who knew his way around a mystery, Janssen was aware of the power of a detective show but was also concerned with oversaturation in the television industry.
"There's always a plethora of anything the networks have done," said Janssen. "Right now, there's a lot of cops. When I began The Fugitive, the following year, there were 10, or 12 copies... For a time, everyone made Westerns. How many lawyer shows came and went before one of the great shows of all time, The Defenders?"
An influx of shows meant that Janssen would have to take great pains to ensure that Harry Orwell stood apart from his fellow detectives.
"I thought it was a nice touch in Harry O to have a private detective who was not really in a hurry," said Janssen. "Who said, 'To hell with it, if you want it solved in a hurry, get someone else.' Also, I liked the idea of his getting around by bus. And a haircut that was an anachronism - short, so he wouldn't have to spend money by going to the barber so often."
These small details had a profound effect, and the series continues to be a popular show to this day.
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