Kent McCord Age, Net Worth, Family, Career ,height and weight 2025
The name of Kent McCord is familiar to a lot of classic television fans. In decades, he was glorifying small and big screens with his talent and devotion. As a character, his performance as the Vice Policeman, Jim Reed in the show Adam-12 was enough to make an indelible impression on police shows. However, his life story encompasses of initial stages, later screen action, service to unions and influence in acting circles.
The story of Kent McCord is explained in this article in a coherent manner. You will get to know his life, his career breakthroughs, his roles, and contribution in the world of entertainment. Such secondary terms as Adam-12, television series, acting career and filmography will be raised naturally.
Who Is Kent McCord?
Early Life and Background Kent McCord was born on September 26, 1942 in Los Angeles, California to parents of Bertha and Laura McWhirter. He grew up in the Los Angeles region where he studied at school.
When he was a boy, he used to take part in sports. Actually, he was first aiming at being a physical education teacher or a football coach.However, his career changed direction to the field of arts and screen productions instead of sports.
Kent McCord biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Kent Franklin McWhirter |
| Stage Name | Kent McCord |
| Date of Birth | September 26, 1942 |
| Place of Birth | Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, Union Leader |
| Years Active | 1962 – Present (semi-retired) |
| Famous For | Role as Officer Jim Reed in Adam-12 (1968–1975) |
| Notable TV Roles | Adam-12, Galactica 1980, SeaQuest DSV, Farscape |
| Notable Film Roles | Airplane II: The Sequel (1982), Predator 2 (1990), Return of the Living Dead III (1993) |
| SAG Involvement | National Board Member (1972–1983); First National Vice President; Recipient of Ralph Morgan Award (1999) |
| Acting Style | Realistic, composed, professional demeanor—often in authority or law enforcement roles |
| Legacy | Known for portraying disciplined and dependable characters; respected for union service and longevity in television |
| Status | Alive; semi-retired, active in interviews and retrospectives |
Entry into Acting
The first television performances which McCord did were under his real name Kent McWhirter. He also appeared in films in mid 1960s uncredited, usually as a background or extra.
It sparked off a turning point when he was given roles in the then popular TV show The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. He became friends with Ricky Nelson, who was also a star on that show and the friendship paved way to early screen work on the part of McCord. He went on to appear in early episodes of Dragnet (1967) in minor roles either using
Rise to Fame: Adam-12 and Beyond
Becoming Jim Reed on Adam-12 Kent McCord was best known as the cast of Adam-12 in 1968 when he played the role of an officer called James A. “Jim” Reed in a 1968 series of police dramas produced by Jack Webb. The series centered on the routine of the patrol officers in Los Angeles.
The character of McCord was a rookie at the time the series started, and the actor was in partnership with Pete Malloy, a character of Martin Milner. The show lasted to 1975 and McCord was exposed and well known to the audience. He appeared in 174 episodes.
Since Adam-12 tried to depict the police procedure in more realistic fashion (with the assistance of LAPD), the role of Reed played by McCord
Subsequent Television and Film Performances.
Kent McCord worked on a number of television and film projects after Adam-12. Here are some highlights:
He also starred in Galactica 1980 in 1980 as Captain Troy in a spin-off of Battlestar Galactica.
>In 1982, he shot Airplane II: The Sequel (1982) playing the role of Mr. Unger.
>In 1990, he appeared in a part in Predator 2 as Captain Pilgrim.
>He appeared as a guest star in SeaQuest DSV (19941995), JAG and in McGyver, Murder, She Wrote, Silk Stalkings, and others.
>His later roles were more interesting, such as in Farscape, where he appeared in multiple seasons (19992003), as two characters, Jack Crichton, human and alien.
Some of his outstanding cinema and television
1968–1975 Adam-12 Officer Jim Reed
1980 Galactica 1980 Captain Troy
1982 Airplane II: The Sequel Mr. Unger.
1990 Predator 2 Captain Pilgrim
19941995 SeaQuest DSV Scott Keller (recurring)
1999 2003 Farscape Jack Crichton / the Ancient, Jack.
This choice indicates that he transferred to science fiction and other genres after the police drama genre, which is range.
Making Contributions Off and in the Industry.
Experience with Screen Actors Guild. In addition to acting, Kent McCord participated in Screen Actors Guild (SAG). He became a member of the national board of directors in 1972, which he served a total of 11 years. During his term, he served as the First National Vice President too.
In his work in SAG, it was evident that his concerns were with the well being of the actors and the standards of the profession.
Honors and Recognitions
In 1999 McCord was awarded the Ralph Morgan Award of SAG as a positive contributor to the community.
He also continued to make himself publicly active through interviews and retrospectives, and how his roles influenced the way people saw them.
Acting Style and Legacy
The acting pattern of Kent McCord was solid and stable. His roles tended to be law enforcing characters or characters of authority, adding some calm professionalism. Since Adam-12 desired a procedural realism, the delivery by McCord was restrained and believable, and not demonstrative.
The legacy he left behind is seen in Adam-12 that still has an impact in police working as it is depicted in the television. Recent years, media report that McCord is among the few original main cast members of that show left.
Moreover, his presence in SAG and his commitment to his job is what makes him respected by contemporaries and television historians.
The Problems, Transitions, and Old Age.
Transitioning Through Eras McCord has a career that goes back decades and the entertainment world has evolved a lot during the period. After Adam-12 he had difficulties in securing long-term lead roles, yet he accommodated by accepting guest roles and recurring roles in other genres.
He is also flexible and moved to science fiction in his later years (e.g. Farscape).
Legacy Work and Semi-Retirement.
McCord has over the past pivoted out of consistent acting roles. Nevertheless, he has not forgotten the entertainment world, providing interviews, and thoughts.
To give an example, one of the 2023 articles states that he was proud to use a Screen Actors Guild card throughout the last 70 years.
Impact on Television, Genre and Fandom.
The influence of the work that Kent McCord did was not limited to his own positions. Adam-12 was among a series of police shows that form the popular perception of law enforcement on television. That mold was part of the contribution he made through his character of Officer Reed. makes him affiliated with various fandoms – Galactica, Farscape – which value genre- crossing veteran actors
The fact that he has had more guest appearances than any other actor in series including MacGyver, JAG, Silk Stalkings, SeaQuest means that there are a lot of his fans who would never know his name but would certainly recognize his face.
An example of typical guest/recurring roles
Genre Series / Project Role / nature of role.
Crime / Police Adam-12, dragnet Main lead (Reed), minor police roles.
Science Fiction / Fantasy Galactica 1980, Farscape Captain / alien / duality.
Cinema (Action, Thriller) Predator 2, Airplane II Supporting parts in big movies.
Procedural / Drama JAG, SeaQuest, MacGyver, Silk Stalkings Guest or recurring appearances
Film Highlights
Seven Days in May (1964) – uncredited
Viva Las Vegas (1964) – extra
Airplane II The Sequel (1982) Mr. Unger.
Predator 2 (1990) – Captain Pilgrim
Return of the Living Dead III (1993) Colonel John Reynolds.
Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001)
Phantom Below (2005) – vice-admiral Sommerville.
Television Highlights
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1962 1966)
Dragnet (1967, 1968)
Adam-12 (1968–1975)
Galactica 1980 (1980)
Unsub (1989)
SeaQuest DSV (1994–1995)
The Timeless Attraction of Kent McCord
strong>Classic Role -His Jim Reed will always be the standard of a classic police drama.
Longevity – Not many actors can have a career lasting a number of decades; McCord did it having changed with the industry trends.
Diversity – He made a move to sci-fi, drama and film, although frequently in law enforcement roles.
Industry Contribution– His performance on the board of SAG demonstrates that he is committed to his colleagues and professional ethics.
Cultural Memory – To those who loved Adam-12 and the old TV, McCord is an act of reminiscence of the
past
Summary
Kent McCord or Kent Franklin McWhirter, a 1942, was a young actor that grew up to b
e a recognizable face on TV, which b
<p>egan as a player in minor ro
les. His greatest impact was Adam-12; a series that he appeared in as Office
r Jim Reed between the years 1968 and 1975. That part made his name and provided access to genres. Gradually, he appeared in movies such as Predator 2, in science fiction shows such as Farscape
Outside of acting, McCord served many years in the Screen Actors Guild, working in positi
ons of leadership and receiving service awa
His style was natural, believable and rooted; he never sought flamboyance but reliability and rapport with the characters he portrayed.
Conclusion
His career is an illustration of an acting career that was achieved by a dedicated actor who achieved a legacy by doing a bit of work, serving in the background, and adjusting to cha
nge. He is still viewed by fans of classic television as a representation of quality during that period.</p>
Know him as Adam-12, Farscape, or a cameo in a movie, Kent McCord is a person whose career provides insight into what can be gained through dedication, professional integrity, and the diversity one can get in a long life in act
ing.
FAQs
1.Who is Kent McCord and why is he famous?</h4>
Born in 1942, Kent McCord is an American actor, who was known as Office Jim Reed of Adam-12. His fame is bec
ause of his constant acting in television and film over decades, as well as his involvement in SAG.
2.What were some of the other significant roles of Kent McCord?</h4>
He has played in G
alactica 1980 as Captain Troy, Predator 2 as Captain Pilgrim and in Farscape as Jack Crichton, in a dual r
ole. He has also appeared as a guest in several television programs such as JAG, SeaQuest, MacGyver and Silk Stalkings.
3.When and when did Kent McCord quit acting?
In recent years, he has mostly retired to the background of regular acting parts, still indulging in interviews and retrospectives. It is not announced that he is fully retired.
4.What has Kent McCord done to Screen Actors Guild?
In 1972 McCord became a SAG national board of directors with 11 years of service including First National Vice President. In 1999, he also won the Ralph Morgan Awards of SAG on the community input.
5.Is Kent McCord active and alive in the media?
Yes, the last thing I heard he is alive. Although he rarely takes leading roles in the present times, he takes part in interviews and remains known in the media regarding television history.
About the Author
