Classic TV Icon Kent McCord ('Adam-12'/'Ozzie & Harriet') is 82: A Look Back at His Life and Career

Photo byClassic TV Preservation Society

Actor Kent McCord, best known for his role as Officer Jim Reed on classic TV’s Adam-12 (NBC, 1968–1975) is now 82 years old. This is his story.

A Closer Look

Kent McCord was born Kent Franklin McWhirter on September 26, 1942, in Los Angeles, the son of Bert and Laura McWhirter.

In 1961, McCord had planned on becoming a physical education instructor and football coach, when he transferred from Citrus Junior College to the University of Southern California.

Upon meeting actor/singer Ricky Nelson during a football game, the two became close friends. That led to McCord making a few minor guest star appearances on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, playing one of Ricky’s fraternity brothers.

In 1965 McCord signed a contract with Universal Pictures, and three years later he got his big break when Jack Webb picked him to co-star in Adam-12.

McCord starred on Adam-12 for seven seasons opposite Martin Milner (who died in 2015 at 83), who played his police partner Officer Pete Malloy.

Following Adam-12, McCord appeared in TV shows like the sci-fi-driven Galactica 1980 and movies like Airplane II: The Sequel and Predator 2.

In the 1990s, McCord appeared in three episodes of the legal-angled TV drama JAG In the 2000s, he was seen in Farscape, another sci-fi-based show. He also played Deputy U.S. Marshal Jack Hendricks on the series Renegade, and did voiceover work for commercials and documentaries. His last screen performance was in the TV movie Tides of War in 2005.

Lasting Impression

Kent McCord is not only one of TV's favorite actors but he is considered one of the nicest guys in Hollywood.