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Mike Stoker was one of the real firemen to appear on Emergency!
He was a firefighter on-screen and in real life!
Mike Stoker wasn’t a huge name in Hollywood, but he was one of its most valuable actors. He had two roles: teaching people how to save lives through his work on Emergency! and saving real lives as a firefighter off-screen.
Both jobs came with a cost, but they were also among the most important a person could have. Stoker clearly could handle the heat both on and off the set. In fact, he was fueled by fire.
During his time on Emergency!, Stoker played the role of Firefighter Engineer Mike Stoker. His role was unique because he wasn’t just an actor—he was a real-life Los Angeles County Fire Department engineer.
According to a 1974 interview with The Lansing State Journal, Stoker was able to arrange time off with the LAFD to film the series. While doing so, he also became a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Only twice in three seasons had there been any conflicts, and his duties as a firefighter took precedence.
"A couple of seasons ago, I was involved in two major fires," Stoker said. "I was absolutely filthy dirty, black from head to foot. I reported for work at Universal, cleaned up and did one scene, then went home and caved in."
Since Stoker was an actual firefighter, his presence added authenticity to the series, and his expertise helped Emergency! get its facts straight.
Stoker originally joined the fire department to earn money for his master’s degree in electronics. The idea to become a firefighter came from his older brother, Patrick, who was already a member of the LAFD. He said becoming a firefighter and being on the series inspired him to become a full-time paramedic. At the time, he only had a few more courses to take before becoming certified.
It wasn’t just Stoker who benefited from the show and what it taught. According to a 1974 interview with The Town Talk, series star Kevin Tighe said Emergency! had one of the most influential outcomes in history.
"The show is one with great social significance," Tighe said. "Because of our show, many towns and cities are beginning serious programs in emergency medicine. I was in West Virginia, and I learned that, because of Emergency!, they had begun a program of voluntary paramedics... I think that is very important and I am proud of it."
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Here - let me help...
Here's Mike on the show
Here's Mike last year
And here's one I came across, but don't know if it's real. This is not listed on his IMDB page, so I'm suspicious that it's fan art.
