Kevin Tighe was planning to leave the United States for Prague when he was asked to audition for Emergency!

Much like his character, the actor was quick to jump into action when an opportunity demanded it.

December 6, 2024, 10:18AM By MeTV Staff

NBC

Every now and again, life gives you a treat when you least expect it.

Just before he was cast as Roy DeSoto in Emergency! Kevin Tighe had been through a rather nasty string of bad luck.

Tighe had secured a role in a London cast, but the opportunity disappeared when the director became ill. Tighe was no stranger to setbacks; after earning his bachelor's degree, the actor dedicated the next two years to military service. After getting out, he earned a Master of Fine Arts, becoming a theatre teacher while continuing to search for roles.

In an interview with the Wichita Eagle, Tighe explained that before he was asked to audition for Emergency! he had plans to study in Prague. However, it seemed that life had other plans for him.

"I came back to the States to get the money for it, and two days after I got back I got the role of Roy DeSoto," he said. "I was more or less being considered for a contract by Universal. And somebody said Jack Webb was looking for an actor for a series. They were at a loss at the time and I think anybody could have stepped into that office and gotten that job."

Tighe was aware of his fortune, not only to have a role in a network television series but also one that had an impact as strong as Emergency!

"It's an essential program," Said Tighe. "A lot of people used to think a paramedic was a doctor who parachuted from planes. Now kids are playing it in their backyards."