'S.W.A.T.' star Steve Forrest dies

‘S.W.A.T.’ star Steve Forrest dies

By Patrick Kevin Day

May 23, 2013 12:07 PM PT

Actor Steve Forrest, best known as the star of the 1970s action drama “S.W.A.T.,” has died.

Forrest passed away at his home in Thousand Oaks on Saturday, his family announced. He was 87.

“S.W.A.T.,” which aired on ABC for two seasons in 1975 and 1976, was a spinoff of the Aaron Spelling and Leonard Goldberg-produced series “The Rookies.” Forrest played Lt. “Hondo” Harrelson, the tough-yet-tender leader of the S.W.A.T. team in a Southern California city. He was best known for his catchphrase, “Let’s roll.”

Born as William Andrews in Huntsville, Texas, Forrest served in the Army during World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge before attending college at UCLA. He was the younger brother of actor Dana Andrews, who starred in “Laura” and “The Best Years of Our Lives.”

Forrest’s acting career began with a series of uncredited roles in the early 1940s, in such films as “Sealed Cargo” and “The Ghost Ship.” He was later discovered by Gregory Peck while performing in a play at the La Jolla Playhouse and given a sceen test. He went on to make appearances in multiple movies and TV shows, including many westerns such as “Gunsmoke,” “Bonanza” and “The High Chaparral.”

He also appeared in “Mommie Dearest,” “North Dallas Forty” and “The Longest Day.”

In his later years, he was able to spoof his tough guy image in the John Landis-directed comedies “Spies Like Us” and “Amazon Women on the Moon.” Forrest’s last screen credit was a cameo in the big-screen version of “S.W.A.T.” in 2003.