Barnaby Jones proved that private investigation was not just a young man's game. With his silver fox look and intuitive personality, Buddy Ebsen set a standard in the crime genre, no matter how old he was.

However, it should also be noted that Jones was constantly surrounded by more than a few young people to keep him youthful at heart...and to help him with the case, of course. One of these sidekicks was J.R. Jones, played by Mark Shera.

Previously, Shera starred as Officer Dominic Luca in the hit series, S.W.A.T. The same year that the series ended, Shera didn't miss a beat and began appearing in Barnaby Jones.

Watch Barnaby Jones on MeTV!

Tuesday–Saturday at 4 AM

*available in most MeTV markets

 Add to Favorites  Remind Me

"Originally, the part was supposed to be a one-shot," said Shera during an interview with The Wichita Eagle. "But I think the network (CBS) liked the idea of having another regular on the show."

Funnily enough, Shera said that he believed that it was Dominic Luca who earned him the role of J.R. Jones.

"It was a matter of one part leading to another," said Shera during an interview with the Hickory Daily Record. "One of the reasons I think I was cast as J.R. was the quality of the character I played in S.W.A.T. Now it's a different name, a different show, and a different character. But there are a lot of similarities...One important difference is that J.R. is more intelligent."

But despite his good fortune in television, Shera was eager to put the work in that would earn him the reputation of a talented actor, rather than coasting by on the good name of a show like Barnaby Jones. "It's dangerous to let publicity precede your work," said Shera during an interview with the Statesville Record and Landmark. The actor argued that publicity should simply "point to the work."