Jack Webb would write Dragnet scenes for Martin Milner

The two had a wonderful friendship.

Everett Collection

We should all be continuously striving to be better people for the benefit of ourselves and each other. But, in case you needed that extra incentive, sometimes being such a darn good person help you with success.

While an actor like Martin Milner is typically remembered for his work on Adam-12, he was also heavily involved with another Jack Webb project, Dragnet.

According to an article from the Associated Press, Webb and Milner became fast friends in the 1950s, and Webb frequently hired Milner to work on the radio version of Dragnet. The friendship continued and grew stronger, and when Dragnet inevitably made its way to the screen for a television adaptation, Webb never forgot his old friend.

Milner was hired for the series in a recurring role. In the article, Milner said that he often reconnected with Webb when he visited Los Angeles during his time in the Army. Every time Milner visited his pal, Webb made sure to include a scene with Milner's recurring character. "Even though there wasn't a part for me in Dragnet that week," said Milner, "Jack would write one in so I could collect $125."

Webb wasn't the only collaborator that Milner left an impression on. Kent McCord, who starred in Adam-12 with Milner, also had wonderful things to say about his fellow actor and friend.

"I had a long, long friendship with Marty, and we remained friends up until the end," he said. "He was one of the really true great people of our industry with a long, distinguished career ... Wonderful films, wonderful television shows, pioneering shows like Route 66. He was one of the great guys. I was lucky to have him in my life."

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7 Comments

AgingDisgracefully 5 months ago
Jack Webb's finest moment was turning down the role of Dean Wormer in Animal House.
He feared it might trigger some of his thick-skinned friends in law enforcement.
Bird 5 months ago
For those that are saying they’ve not seen Milner on Dragnet, it is the original Dragnet episodes he appears on, not the Dragnet 67 that MeTV airs. The older episodes are widely available on many free streaming sites.
DocForbin 5 months ago
Let's not forget Milner's performance on the "Mirror Image" episode of the original Twilight Zone as well. Also, if you want to see the original 1950s version of Dragnet, Jewish Life TV (JLTV) has it on Saturday afternoons at 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM CT.
ussmidway 5 months ago
I remember him from the radio Dragnet, but will have to keep my eye open for him in the TV version.
MichaelGreene ussmidway 3 months ago
Milner made at least one appearance in the original Dragnet series, in 1953, where he played a high school student with a stash of what would be in 2024 parlance as X-rated pix. Milner may have made other appearances in the original Dragnet, but not all of the old episodes are available. He would appear in the 2nd series, as Off. Malloy, his Adam-12 character. Interestingly, Kent McCord made a number of appearances in the 2nd Dragnet series..,he played an "Officer Reed" in a number of episodes, with his first appearance being in the 2nd episode.
WordsmithWorks 5 months ago
Other than as Malloy, I don't recall Milner on Dragnet. Now McCord, I remember clearly as the cop who was mistaken for a robbery suspect and as an undercover posing as a sailor trying to buy drugs.
Same here. I’ve seen Kent McCord but not Martin Milner on Dragnet.
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