Actor Kevin Dobson, best known for his roles as Mack MacKenzie on the soap opera Knots Landing and Detective Bobby Crocker on the CBS series Kojak, passed away over Labor Day weekend after reportedly struggling with an autoimmune deficiency. He was 77.
The United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County -- where Dobson once served as Chairman -- announced the news on Monday via their official Facebook page.
"The United Veterans Council regrets to inform you that our former Chairman and Army Veteran Kevin Dobson passed away this evening, Sunday, September 6th, 2020, due to medical complications," the statement reads. "Our condolences to his family and May he Rest In Peace. More information will be posted about his funeral services once available."
Dobson was born on March 18, 1943, in Jackson Heights, New York, and began his working career as a trainman, brakeman, and a conductor on the Long Island Railroad. His acting career began in 1969, when he joined The Doctors in various roles, including a bartender, police officer, and orderly. Shortly after, he landed a small part in the 1971 noir film Klute, which starred Jane Fonda.
Dobson's first major role came in 1973, when he signed on as Detective Bobby Crocker, the young partner of Lt. Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas), in the CBS series Kojak. He remained with the popular show for its entire five-season run from 1973 to 1978, and later reunited with Savalas for the 1990 TV movie Kojak: It's Always Something, in which his character had become an assistant district attorney.
The actor's next notable role was the Knots Landing character M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie, the love interest and eventual husband of Karen MacKenzie (Michele Lee). He joined the show at the beginning of its fourth season in 1982 and carried on until 1993, when the series was canceled. However, he reunited with his Knots Landing costars for the miniseries, Knots Landing: Back to the Cul-de-Sac in 1997, and then again in 2005 for the nonfiction special Knots Landing Reunion: Together Again.
Sending our deepest condolences to the family of #KevinDobson who passed away yesterday at the age of 77. We were lucky enough to have Kevin on #BoldandBeautiful in 2006/2007 where he portrayed #JudgeDevinOwens. RIP. pic.twitter.com/vyf0QLwUu8
— BoldInsider (@boldinsider) September 8, 2020
Dobson's other soap opera roles included The Bold and the Beautiful's Judge Devin Owens from 2006 to 2007, Days of our Lives' Mickey Horton in 2008, and the small role of Gov. Harrison Brooks on One Life to Live from 2003 to 2004.
Dobson also appeared in a number of feature films, most notably the 1976 WWII movie Midway alongside Henry Fonda and Charlton Heston, and the 1981 romantic comedy All Night Long, in which he starred opposite Barbra Streisand.
A former Army soldier, Dobson served twice as chairman of the National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans, and was a life member of AMVETS (American Veterans).
He is survived by his wife, Susan, who he married in 1968; their daughter, Mariah; and sons, Patrick and Sean.
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