‘S.W.A.T.’ Star Dies: Steve Forrest Passes Away At 87

Noted character actor Steve Forrest, whose leading role as Lt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson in ABC-TV’s S.W.A.T. made him a household name in the 1970’s, died “peacefully” surrounded by family Saturday in Thousand Oaks, California.

He was 87 and no cause of death was announced.

Born William Forrest Andrews in Huntsville, Texas, Forrest was the youngest of 13 children. At age 18 he enlisted in the military and served with the Army attaining the rank of Sergeant during World War II, where he fought in the historic Battle of the Bulge.

Following his service with the Army, Forrest moved to California where he began attending classes at UCLA. He went on to graduate from the school with honors and got his first shot in the entertainment business when he cast in the summer stock production of “Goodbye Again” by Hollywood legend Gregory Peck.

Peck later arranged for Forrest’s first screen test with MGM, where he was placed under contract.

In a career spanning more the 60 years, Forrest frequently was cast as a leading man.

After nabbing a number of roles on classic early television series including Playhouse 90, Lux Video Theater and Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Steve went on to appear in shows such as Gunsmoke, Dallas, and Murder, She Wrote.

He is most famous, however, for playing Hondo, the tough-talking, no-nonsense leader of the Special Weapons and Assault Team (shortened to S.W.A.T.) in the 1975 to 1976 series written by Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg.

Check out the opening from S.W.A.T. below:

In addition to his numerous television series roles, Forrest appeared in multiple movies.

His most notable films include So Big, for which he won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year – Actor, The Longest Day, North Dallas Forty, and Mommie Dearest.

He also had cameo roles in Spies Like Us, Amazon Women on the Moon, and the movie version of S.W.A.T.

Forrest is survived by his wife Christine, sons Michael, Forrest and wife Lori Andrews of Los Angeles, Stephen and wife Sally Andrews of Napa Valley and his grandchildren Samantha, Emily, Aubrey and Alex Andrews.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a service will be held for Steve Forrest at 10 am May 30 at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks Griffin Memorial Park in Westlake Village, California.