# Randolph Mantooth (Johnny Gage on "Emergency!") has died **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [July 11, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579 "2026-07-11T00:18:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/21 "2026-07-11T14:18:29Z")
> [@bmasters1](#): > > > [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](#): > > > > I believe Robert Fuller is still around, as well as Kevin Tighe. > > And also Ron Pinkard, who was Dr. Mike Morton at Rampart (a minor character, but no less important to the team in the Rampart scenes). Kevin Tighe is still working. I don’t think anyone mention Tim Donnelly’s (‘Chet’) death a few years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/22 "2026-07-11T14:32:38Z")
Yes. MeTV is where I watched as well. If you watch the guest stars they were allover TV back then. Many familiar faces. Nothing like sweet little Cissy from Family Affair being a druggy teen. Oh, that might’ve been Adam 12. Anywhoo… ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/23 "2026-07-11T14:42:15Z")
RIP. Emergency! was must-see TV when it came out in the early 70s. However, the first thing I thought of when I saw the news of his passing was the Tubes song _What Do You Want From Life_…one of the choices offered is “a personally autographed picture of Randy Mantooth”. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/24 "2026-07-11T14:54:22Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Yup, flippin’ caps off on a call was definitely a cool, “Johnny & Roy” move I watched what must have been a 50th anniversary special, and ALL the paramedics they interviewed love “poppin’ caps”. I’m like, of course! I make that motion, and I never was a paramedic! 🙂 The show even put one in the credits. I watched that show since the pilot episode. I wish growing up I’d had a lunch box, but alas, we had school lunches, so I wouldn’t have used it anyway. [![](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSccNVWJmg6tXl7_ZVKla7AwlOLdtCCf7l1xSKIzoMPIpBX_1eIm877op9n&s=10) ](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSccNVWJmg6tXl7_ZVKla7AwlOLdtCCf7l1xSKIzoMPIpBX_1eIm877op9n&s=10) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/25 "2026-07-11T14:59:14Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I watched that show since the pilot episode. I wish growing up I’d had a lunch box, but alas, we had school lunches, so I wouldn’t have used it anyway. In fact, I _did_ have that lunchbox!! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/26 "2026-07-11T15:03:44Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In fact, I _did_ have that lunchbox!! i hate you 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/27 "2026-07-11T15:06:15Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > > [@nearwildheaven](#): > > > > We can think this man for “Gage” (and spelling alterations galore) being a popular baby name in recent years. > > So not _Pet Sematary_? I read an article some years ago that persuasively explained why it was more likely due to Mantooth. i don’t remember why but I think they tracked the name through the SSA lists and found the surge began before the book. i think. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/28 "2026-07-11T15:21:47Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@robby](#): > > > > One thing I learned from that show was that all burning cars will explode > > Nope, I believe that was from CHiPs! 😉 🤦‍♂️ Yes, you are totally correct. It seemed to happen just about every episode. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/29 "2026-07-11T15:29:31Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > > > I watched that show since the pilot episode. I wish growing up I’d had a lunch box, but alas, we had school lunches, so I wouldn’t have used it anyway. > > In fact, I _did_ have that lunchbox!! I totally remember that lunchbox! And if I’d been wiser that’s what I would have asked for. (But I asked for a Snoopy lunchbox instead. Unfortunately my mom got me a white vinyl one, which made it a girl’s lunchbox. For a first-grade boy in the ‘70s, this was an unforgivable sin. I was mocked mercilessly.) ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/30 "2026-07-11T17:35:02Z")
I believe I mentioned Tim Donnelly had the lead role in “Parts: The Clonus Horror” of MST3K fame back when he passed. Not going to bother looking it up though. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/31 "2026-07-11T17:56:43Z")
Here’s the “Emergency!” 50th Anniversary Special for those who have yet to see it (or want to see it again). [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/b1h-BNGSstY/maxresdefault.jpg "EMERGENCY! 50! The Show that Saved Your Life (FULL LENGTH)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1h-BNGSstY&t=0) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/32 "2026-07-11T19:00:37Z")
> [@bmasters1](#): > > And also Ron Pinkard, who was Dr. Mike Morton at Rampart (a minor character, but no less important to the team in the Rampart scenes). Heh, it’s funny. All the years I watched that show I knew that Rampart wasn’t a real hospital. I only now looked it up, and Rampart was based on Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance. Although in the show world I had the impression the hospital was in the Wlishire District or WeHo. I was older than a kid when the show came on, but I still watched it all the time. I knew it was somewhat cheesy, but it never completely was. It was always interesting, and Johnny Gage was my favorite character. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/33 "2026-07-11T19:50:43Z")
My favorite board [game](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mngAAeSwHthplRJM/s-l1600.jpg) as a kid; I believe I still have it in the basement ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2026, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/34 "2026-07-11T19:53:22Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > All the years I watched that show I knew that Rampart wasn’t a real hospital. I only now looked it up, and Rampart was based on Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance. Although in the show world I had the impression the hospital was in the Wlishire District or WeHo. “Station 51” was an actual Los Angeles County fire station, #127, in Carson. It’s now named for Robert Cinader, the creator of the show. My wife visited it some years ago, when she and some friends went to Los Angeles for a fan convention; at least at that time, the firefighters at Station 127 welcomed guests, allowed tours, and sold commemorative t-shirts (the funds supported a firefighters’ charity, I believe). > **[Touring Los Angeles County Station 127: On Location with Emergency! -...](https://untwistedvintage.com/touring-station-127/)** > > KMG365! Exploring the filming locations of the 1970s television classic Emergency! with tour of Los Angeles County Fire Station 127. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/35 "2026-07-12T20:49:31Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > Although in the show world I had the impression the hospital was in the Wlishire District or WeHo. There really was and still is a section of LA City named Rampart. I always assumed the show’s hospital was named for the district where it was. Of course as any SoCal native knew at the time, _Emergency!_'s geography bore no resemblance to the actual greater Los Angeles area, much less the area under LA County Fire jurisdiction. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2026, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/36 "2026-07-12T22:55:16Z")
I’m not familiar with “Pet Sematary”, either the book or the movie, but chances are, Stephen King took that name from the “Emergency” character. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/37 "2026-07-13T00:24:30Z")
In _Pet Sematary_ Gage was an evil homicidal undead toddler. So less likely to inspire children’s names. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/38 "2026-07-13T01:14:30Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > In _Pet Sematary_ Gage was an evil homicidal undead toddler. So less likely to inspire children’s names. He was just misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/39 "2026-07-13T13:26:03Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > In _Pet Sematary_ Gage was an evil homicidal undead toddler. So less likely to inspire children’s names. OTOH, if parents were allowed to (re-)name their kids at age 2-1/2 I bet King’s Gage would be a _very_ popular name. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579/40 "2026-07-13T13:26:58Z")
> [@robby](#): > > > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > > > _Emergency!_ was one of my favorite shows when I was a kid… > > Me, too. Me three! > [@robby](#): > > > [@Spiderman](#): > > > > > [@robby](#): > > > > > > One thing I learned from that show was that all burning cars will explode > > > > Nope, I believe that was from CHiPs! 😉 > > 🤦‍♂️ > > Yes, you are totally correct. It seemed to happen just about every episode. _Emergency!_ used several real firefighters and paramedics as technical consultants on the show, so I believe it was pretty accurate, especially for its day. I’ve watched some episodes on one of those retro on-air channels like MeTV in recent years, and it holds up well. I mean, I’m no expert, but the show is much more believable than modern ‘first responder’ shows like _911_, where the emergencies and dangerous situations they respond to are ever more ridiculously over the top. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/randolph-mantooth-johnny-gage-on-emergency-has-died/1031579.md?page=3)