32 Facts About Martin Milner

Martin Sam Milner was an American actor and radio host.

Martin Milner is best known for his performances on two television series: Route 66, which aired on CBS from 1960 to 1964, and Adam-12, which aired on NBC from 1968 to 1975.

The family left Detroit when Milner was a young child, moved frequently, and settled in Seattle, Washington by the time he was nine.

When Martin Milner was a teenager, he moved with his family to Los Angeles where his parents hired an acting coach and later an agent for him.

Martin Milner had his first screen test and began his film career with his debut in the Warner Bros.

Martin Milner recovered within a year and had bit parts in two more films, then was graduated from North Hollywood High School in 1949.

Martin Milner immediately landed a minor role in the film Sands of Iwo Jima starring John Wayne.

Martin Milner attended the University of Southern California where he studied theater.

Martin Milner dropped out after a year in the fall of 1950 to concentrate on acting.

Martin Milner made his first television appearance in 1950 as a guest star in episode 28 titled "Pay Dirt" on The Lone Ranger.

Martin Milner had several more roles, both minor and major, in war films in the 1950s, including another John Wayne picture titled Operation Pacific and Mister Roberts, with William Powell and Henry Fonda, James Cagney and Jack Lemmon.

In 1952, Martin Milner began a two-year stint in the United States Army.

Martin Milner was encouraged by fellow soldier and future actor David Janssen to pursue an acting career when his time in the Army ended.

Janssen and Martin Milner served at Fort Ord with fellow future actors Clint Eastwood and Richard Long.

Martin Milner appeared on six episodes of Webb's Dragnet television series between 1952 and 1955.

Martin Milner made guest appearances on numerous television shows, including episodes of The Bigelow Theatre, The Great Gildersleeve, TV Reader's Digest, Science Fiction Theatre, Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse, NBC Matinee Theater, The West Point Story, The Twilight Zone, Wagon Train and Rawhide.

Martin Milner was under contract at Hecht-Lancaster, Burt Lancaster's production company.

Martin Milner acted in films, including The Long Gray Line, Mister Roberts, Gunfight at the OK.

Martin Milner later costarred in Valley of the Dolls, based on the best-selling novel by Jacqueline Susann.

In 1960, Martin Milner was cast as Tod Stiles on the television series Route 66, which ran from 1960 to 1964.

Martin Milner's traveling partner on his escapades is his friend Buz Murdock, a former employee of his father's.

Route 66 was shot on location, so Martin Milner spent nearly four years traveling the US for the series, sometimes taking his wife and children along.

Martin Milner appeared on Broadway once in the short-lived comedy The Ninety Day Mistress in 1967.

Martin Milner had appeared in numerous episodes of both the radio and television versions of the series Dragnet, and had worked with Webb in the films Halls of Montezuma and Pete Kelly's Blues.

In 1968, Martin Milner returned to television as seven-year LAPD veteran uniform patrol Officer Peter Joseph "Pete" Malloy in Adam-12, a Webb-produced police drama.

Martin Milner was Webb's choice for Pete Malloy in part because of his relative youth and prior acting credits and because of his on-camera driving experience from his days on Route 66.

In 1971, Martin Milner portrayed the murder victim in the premiere episode of Columbo titled "Murder by the Book".

In 1983, Martin Milner hosted a morning radio wake-up show on AM 600 KOGO in San Diego.

In 1990, Martin Milner teamed again with Kent McCord in the cable TV-movie Nashville Beat, on The Nashville Network.

In 1992, Martin Milner guest-starred on five episodes of ABC's Life Goes On.

In May 1956, Martin Milner met singer and actress Judith Bess Jones at a Hollywood dinner party.

On September 6,2015, Martin Milner died of heart failure at his home in Carlsbad, California at age 83.