The Fall Guy cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the 1981 ABC action series?

To the action TV viewers in the early 1980s, The Fall Guy was a classic feed, a blend of daring stunts, adventure, and Hollywood bravado in a one-hour-long slot each week. When ABC debuted this series in 1981, it was not the first action vehicle, but it did establish itself as the only program in which the glitz of show business collided with the grit of bounty hunting every week, all behind the wheel of a classic GMC pickup.

The premise itself was captivating: what would happen if real-life professional stuntmen with specialized stunting skills applied their skills to actual criminal suspects in between filming a movie? Millions of viewers tuned in to the TV to find out.

To a large extent, it was the memorable cast that made The Fall Guy tick, and headlining the cast was television heavyweight Lee Majors. Viewers fell just as quickly in love with Colt Seavers and his team that rampaged through windows, overturned vehicles, jumped off helicopters, and pursued the villains around California.

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The Fall Guy cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the 1981 ABC action series?

Lee Majors as Colt Seavers

The protagonist of The Fall Guy, Colt Seavers, is a bounty hunter in disguise. In addition to working as a professional stuntman in Hollywood, he moonlights as a bounty hunter to make ends meet. Lee Majors, already known as the star of the super hit series The Six Million Dollar Man, added a rugged coolness to the show, mixed with wit to the character of Colt. This made sure the audience sympathized with him having a blue-collar job while still believing in him in action.

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Douglas Barr as Howie Munson

Howie Munson is the eager, somewhat naive cousin of Colt and an aspiring stuntman. Howie was portrayed by Douglas Barr, the lovable and usually comic foil whose literary skills sometimes come into conflict with the perilous business of bounty hunting. This was balanced by the charisma and comedic flair that Barr brought to the table, and the level-headed moments between action scenes.

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Heather Thomas as Jody Banks

Having athletic prowess and a killer screen presence, Jody Banks joins the team as the stuntwoman in The Fall Guy. Jody, played by Heather Thomas, was one of the few prominent female action heroes on television in the early 1980s. She gave the team intelligence, strength, and charm. Thomas did a fantastic job stunting in the movie, and with the other actors, making her a trailblazer of female action-hero roles.

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Jo Ann Pflug as Samantha "Big Jack" Jack (Season 1)

Samantha "Big Jack" Jack made an appearance in the premiere season of The Fall Guy as the first bail bondswoman and part-time boss. Her character brought the case assignments and financial clout to Colt and his side venture, and with it, a rare mix of hard-nosed professionalism and much nurturing wisdom.

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Markie Post as Terri Shannon/Michaels (Seasons 2–5)

Terri Shannon/Michaels was the next bail bondswoman/common customer of the crew, and was played by Markie Post, who took over the role from the previous incumbent in the position, known as "Big Jack." She was a great fan favorite, as her wit and charisma helped to engage Colt and the crew, often in between issuing new bounties. When Post joined, it proved a significant step in the evolution of The Fall Guy, as more of the lighter, more comedic subplots were introduced into the action.

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Other notable recurring and guest characters:

William Bryant played several director/boss characters.

Ben Cooper was featured several times as one of Hollywood's directors or persons in the industry.

Terry Kiser was also included in another regular part as Craig Rogers.

Among others, Robert Donner, Dick Durock, Nedra Volz, Bob Terhune, Judith Chapman, Jock Mahoney, and Lewis Dauber all made multiple, often lead, appearances in the show in various support and guest roles during 1981-1986.

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What was The Fall Guy about? A brief look into the series

The Fall Guy was created by prolific TV producer Glen A. Larson, and aired as a five-season show on ABC in the period November 1981 to May 1986. The show focused on the double life of Colt Seavers, a stuntman who dared to do some wild stunts during the day, and by night, he was a bounty hunter who used his abilities to pursue fugitives. Together, these two components set this show apart from others of the era, including CHiPs and The A-Team.

The premise of the show enabled very high-octane stunts: car chases, rooftop jumps, and every kind of Hollywood practical effect, prominently featuring an iconic 1981 GMC Sierra Grande pickup truck driven by Seavers.

Larson also had a background in production, which prevented the stunts from being the mere perfunctory window dressing they usually are. As much as action was at center stage, the series also had its fair share of friendly bants and camaraderie, complete with some light romance on the side.

Critics praised the realistic portrayal of the stunt industry, with actual Hollywood problems occasionally appearing, and guest stars playing a caricature of themselves or of an industry type. This combination of adventure and a bit of comedy, along with Lee Majors’ presence and his characteristic theme music, became the foundation of the TV show’s solidification in pop culture.

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