“We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world’s first bionic man. Steve Austin will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster.”
The cast of The Six Million Dollar Man, the hit sci-fi/action TV series from 1973 to 1978, are a memorable bunch. Some went on to act in huge roles in big film productions, while others…not so much. Who of the cast went on to be bigger? Stronger? Faster? Click next to find out!
1. Paul Carr (Timberlake)
Carr’s character Timberlake helped him go on to star in over 100 Broadway shows.
He was a director and writer too, in addition to an actor.
2. Joan Van Ark (Valerie Sheffield)
She appeared in “The Bionic Boy” episode and afterwards, would appear in quite a few TV roles later on, such as Knots Landing, Dallas, and most recently The Vagina Monologues.
3. Jennifer Darling (Peggy Callahan)
A handful of episodes playing Peggy Callahan back then, now a bunch of animated series and movies doing voiceovers.
Some Pixar films too, like Monsters Inc. and Bug’s Life!
4. William Sylvester (Prescott)
He was Prescott, a small role in the series.
Afterwards, he went to focus on the science fiction/space genre, best known for his part in 2001: A Space Odyssey before passing away at 72.
5. William Shatner (Josh Lang)
You know Shatner. He was in the one episode involving a rocket ship, outer space and a dolphin.
Which makes sense as he was already well known as Capt. Kirk from the Star Trek TV series (of which he would reprise his role in the film franchise) and he still continues to act today.
6. Bruce Glover (Capt. Voda)
Captain Voda, a kooky villain in the series, would go on to become a teacher of acting.
7. Jack Colvin (Dr. Charles Leith)
He was Dr. Charles Leith, but you may know him better today as the reporter Jack McGee in The Incredible Hulk TV series.
Eventually, he died from a stroke in 2005, though not before teaching aspiring young actors about the art.
8. John de Lancie
Lancie only played minor roles in the series but he also played a handful of different characters.
Today, you might recognize him for his role in not only the Star Trek series but the critically acclaimed hit Breaking Bad.
9. Farrah Fawcett (Major Kelly Wood)
Major Kelly Wood played a big role in the series, and Fawcett would go on to play an even bigger role in the Charlie’s Angels TV show. She died from cancer in 2009.
10. Lee Majors (Col. Steve Austin)
Last but certainly not least, the star of the show Majors played Colonal Steven Austin.
Inspiring many as the space explorer with bionic superpowers in the show, Majors wouldn’t quite hold a similar feat after the show ended, but nonetheless appeared in plenty of guest spots on popular TV series and that one movie with Frankie Muniz, Big Fat Liar.
11. Barry Cahill (Det. Olmstead)
Although he merely played Detective Olmsted on the show, Cahill moved forward to play a role in Grand Theft Auto and Sweet Bird of Youth, before dying at the age of 90 in 2012.
12. Martin E. Brooks (Dr. Rudy Wells)
This was the original Dr. Rudy Wells in the show and in The Bionic Woman, with Wagner.
He didn’t stop there and went on to appear in Knots Landing with Ark and General Hospital before dying at age 90 in 2015.
13. Noah Keen (Joe Canton)
Four episode as Joe Canton in the series was enough to be memorable to fans.
His acting spotlight came later when he appeared on The Sopranos and then Battle for the Planet of the Apes. He’s 95 and still kicking.
14. Alan Oppenheimer (Dr. Rudy Wells)
Like Shatner, he would go on to appear in the Star Trek film franchise, as well as Deep Space Nine.
In the series then, he was Dr. Rudy Wells and the second actor to play the role too. He is still alive and works as a voice actor for animated features and video games.
15. Lindsay Wagner (Jaime Sommers)
Before she became The Bionic Woman in her own series, she was Jamie Sommers on the show.
More recently, she’s moved away from acting and instead focused on leading others in meditation and spirituality.
16. Richard Anderson (Oscar Goldman)
Anderson played the fancily dressed Oscar Goldman, showing up in tons of episodes on the show, and was also on The Bionic Woman.
He didn’t go on to do much afterward, but a chicken in The Trailer Park Boys was named after him. Anderson passed away in August 2017.