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Producers were so convinced that Randolph Mantooth was a first responder after he starred in Emergency! that they stopped offering him acting roles for a period of time
One producer who denied Mantooth said that they wanted "a real actor."
With a show as popular as Emergency! was in the 1970s, it can be easy to see why actors on the series assumed that the television would serve as a runway to the rest of their careers.
However, while some Emergency! actors enjoyed stardom, others were not quite so lucky. In an interview with Enterprise, Randolph Mantooth, one of the stars of Emergency! revealed that once filming had wrapped on the series, he had a difficult time getting new roles.
"I didn't get any offers," Mantooth said.
Strangely enough, Mantooth might have been a bit too good at his job while starring in Emergency!
The article stated that many people, including producers, watched the series and believed that Mantooth and his costar Kevin Tighe were actual emergency responders, not actors playing a role.
"In fact, a couple of times I heard that my name came up for possible series roles and the producer said, 'No, I want a real actor,'" said Mantooth.
"That hurt. Although people told me I should feel complimented, because it was a tribute to my acting ability, it still hurt. And it didn't help me advance my career any either."
It's a credit to Mantooth's talent as an actor that some were unintentionally fooled by his portrayal of John Gage. By studying actual paramedics while preparing for the role, Mantooth actually picked up some experience on the field, though he was hesitant to use it.
"But, a little knowledge can be dangerous," he said. "So I really hesitate to use what I know."
