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Harvey Lee Yeary (born April 23, 1939), known professionally as Lee Majors, is an American actor. He portrayed the characters of Heath Barkley on the American television Western series The Big Valley (1965–1969), Colonel Steve Austin on the American television science-fiction action series The Six Million Dollar Man (1973–1978), and Colt Seavers on the American television action series The Fall Guy (1981–1986).
Majors participated in track and football at Middlesboro High School. He graduated in 1957, and played football at Indiana University in 1957–1958. Majors transferred to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky in 1959. He played in his first football game the following year, but suffered a severe back injury which left him paralyzed for two weeks and ruined his college athletic career. Following his injury, he turned his attention to acting and performed in plays at the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville, Kentucky. Majors graduated from Eastern Kentucky in 1962 with a degree in history and physical education. He planned to be a football coach.Archived at Ghostarchive and the
After college, he received an offer to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals football team. Instead, he moved to Los Angeles and found work at the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department as the recreation director at the North Hollywood Park. In Los Angeles, Majors met many actors and industry professionals, including Dick Clayton, who had been James Dean's agent, and Clayton suggested he attend his acting school. After one year of acting school, Clayton felt that Majors was ready to start his career. At this time, he picked up the stage name Lee Majors as a tribute to childhood hero Johnny Majors who was a player and future coach for the University of Tennessee. Majors also studied at Estelle Harman's acting school at MGM.
Majors got his big break when he was chosen out of over 400 young actors, including Burt Reynolds, for the co-starring role of Heath Barkley in a new ABC/ Four Star Western series, The Big Valley, which starred Barbara Stanwyck. Also starring on the show was another newcomer, Linda Evans, who played Heath's younger sister, Audra. Richard Long and Peter Breck, (who himself had previously starred in Black Saddle for Four Star) played his brothers Jarrod and Nick, respectively. One of Heath's frequently used expressions during the series was "Boy howdy!" During the series, Majors co-starred in the 1968 Charlton Heston film Will Penny, for which he received an "Introducing" credit, and landed the lead role in The Ballad of Andy Crocker (1969), a made-for-television film which was first broadcast by ABC. The film was one of the first films to deal with the subject matter of Vietnam veterans "coming home". That same year, he was offered the chance to star in Midnight Cowboy (1969), but when The Big Valley was renewed, he declined the role (which later went to Jon Voight). When The Big Valley was cancelled in 1969, he signed a long-term contract with Universal Studios. In 1970, Majors appeared in William Wyler's final film The Liberation of L.B. Jones, and joined the cast of The Virginian for its final season when the show was restructured as The Men from Shiloh featuring four alternating leads. Majors played new ranch hand Roy Tate.
Majors was called a "blond Elvis Presley" because of his resemblance to Elvis during this period of his career.
Majors's co-starring role on Owen Marshall led him to a starring role as United States Air Force Colonel Steve Austin, an ex-astronaut with Bionics implants in The Six Million Dollar Man, a 1973 television film broadcast on ABC. In 1974, the network decided to turn it into a weekly series. The series became an international success, being screened in over 71 countries, turning Majors into a pop icon. Majors also made his directorial debut in 1975, on an episode called "One of Our Running Backs Is Missing" which co-starred professional football players such as Larry Csonka and Dick Butkus.
In 1977, with The Six Million Dollar Man still a hit series, Majors tried to renegotiate his contract with Universal Television. The studio in turn filed a lawsuit to force him to report to work due to stipulations within his existing contract that had not yet expired. It was rumored that Majors was holding out for more money, but his manager denied this: according to him, Majors was fighting to have his own production company, Fawcett Majors Productions, brought on as an independent producer in association with Universal in order to make the company viable. After Majors did not report to work that June, studio executives ultimately relented. However, ratings began to decline and The Six Million Dollar Man was cancelled on ABC in 1978. The companion show, The Bionic Woman, was also cancelled at around the same time on NBC.
The Six Million Dollar Man was revived for three TV movies in the 1980s. In November 2010, Time-Life released a 40-DVD set featuring every episode and bonus features from the show. "The Six Million Dollar Man: The Complete Collection" . Time-Life. Retrieved September 17, 2011.
During the 1970s, while working on The Six Million Dollar Man, Majors also appeared in various movies: the television film Francis Gary Powers: The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident (1976, as Francis Gary Powers), the Viking film The Norseman (1978) co-starring Cornel Wilde, the horror thriller Killer Fish (1979), and the drama Steel (1979), which he produced, co-starring Jennifer O'Neill and Art Carney.
His 1980s films include the political thriller Agency (1980), starring Robert Mitchum, the made-for-TV sequel (1980), playing Gary Cooper's original role, the science fiction film The Last Chase (1981), and the disaster film (1983). Majors also made cameo appearances in Circle of Two (1980), and as himself in the 1988 holiday comedy Scrooged.
Between 1987 and 1994, Majors, with co-stars Lindsay Wagner and Richard Anderson, made three The Six Million Dollar Man/ The Bionic Woman television films.
Majors played Coach Ross on the CW Network television series The Game, which ran from October 1, 2006, to May 20, 2009.
Majors appeared in the role of God in "Jim Almighty", a 2008 episode of According to Jim. He later returned to the role in that show's 2009 series finale, "Heaven Opposed to Hell". Also in 2008, Majors played a member of the Minutemen (dedicated to preventing illegal border crossings) in season four of the Showtime series Weeds, where he recruits Kevin Nealon's character. Majors reprised his role (voice only) as Col. Steve Austin in the "Bionic Woman" segment of the Robot Chicken season four episode "Love, Maurice" (2009).
In March 2010, Majors played the crusty sailing instructor in the Community episode "Beginner Pottery". In April 2010, he appeared as the mentor of the series lead in "Christopher Chance", the 12th episode of Human Target. Later that year, he provided the voice of General Abernathy in . He later reprised the role in a 2011 episode. In 2011, he appeared as "Rockwell" in Jerusalem Countdown. From 2011 to 2014 he appeared in three episodes of the Fox comedy Raising Hope, as Burt's father, Ralph. On February 1, 2013, it was announced that Majors would appear in a two-episode guest spot in season two of TNT's Dallas as Ken Richards, an old flame of Sue Ellen's. In 2015, he appeared as J.D. in the faith-based drama Do You Believe? and the hip-hop dance-themed series Avengers of eXtreme Illusions. Majors appeared in the second and third seasons of Ash vs Evil Dead as Brock Williams, the father of Ash Williams (Bruce Campbell). In late 2018, Majors voiced an animated Six Million Dollar Man action figure in an advertisement for Honda's "Happy Honda Days" sale event. In 2019, Majors voiced Jeff Tracy in Thunderbirds Are Go. In 2024, Majors reunited with Heather Thomas, his co-star from The Fall Guy TV series, for cameo appearances in the movie version of The Fall Guy, in which Ryan Gosling played Majors' TV series character Colt Seavers.
In the 1994 The Simpsons episode "Burns' Heir", Marge Simpson fantasizes about running off with Majors.
The title of the Beastie Boys song "Lee Majors Come Again" is a reference to Majors.
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Career
Early roles
Majors landed his first, although uncredited, role in Strait-Jacket (1964), in a flashback sequence as Joan Crawford's cheating husband. After appearing in a 1965 episode of Gunsmoke, he starred later that year as Howard White in an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, "The Monkey's Paw – A Retelling", based on the short story by W. W. Jacobs.
1970s: The Six Million Dollar Man
In 1971, he landed the role of Arthur Hill's partner, Jess Brandon, on , which garnered critical acclaim during its three seasons on ABC.
1980s: The Fall Guy
In 1981, Majors returned in another long-running television series. Producer Glen A. Larson (who had first worked with Majors on Alias Smith and Jones, in which Majors guest starred, and later on The Six Million Dollar Man) asked him to star in The Fall Guy. Majors played Colt Seavers, a Hollywood stuntman who moonlights as a bounty hunter. Majors also sang its theme song, the self-effacing The Unknown Stuntman. The show was a hit, and as one of the producers, Majors invited many of his former co-stars, including Linda Evans, Peter Breck, Lindsay Wagner, Richard Anderson, Stewart Granger, Doug McClure, James Drury, and Buddy Hackett to appear in various episodes. The series ran for five seasons and ended in 1986.
1990s–present
In 1990, he starred in the film Keaton's Cop, and had recurring roles in Tour of Duty and the short-lived 1992 series, Raven. He also had supporting roles in the films Trojan War (1997), Out Cold (2001), Big Fat Liar (2002), and The Brothers Solomon (2007). He voiced the character of "Big" Mitch Baker in the 2002 video game . He played Jaret Reddick's disconnected father in Bowling For Soup's 2007 video, "When We Die". That same year, he played Grandpa Max in , and voiced a character on the APTN animated children's program that was named "Steve from Austin".
Personal life
Marriages
Health
In 2003, Majors had heart bypass surgery.
Los Angeles Express
In April 1983, Majors became part owner of the LA Express of the United States Football League.
Popular culture
The song "Midnight Train to Georgia" was inspired by Lee Majors and Farrah Fawcett. Songwriter Jim Weatherly phoned his friend Majors one day, and the call was answered by Fawcett. Weatherly and Fawcett chatted briefly and she told him she was going to visit her mother and was taking "the midnight plane to Houston." Although Majors and Fawcett were both successful by that time, Weatherly used them as "characters" in his song about a failed actress who leaves Los Angeles, and is followed by her boyfriend who cannot live without her. Eventually the genders were swapped, the plane became a train, and Houston was changed to Georgia. The recording by Gladys Knight & the Pips went to number one in 1973.
Filmography
Film
1964 Strait-Jacket Frank Harbin Uncredited 1967 Clambake Man in Restaurant Uncredited 1968 Will Penny Blue 1969 The Ballad of Andy Crocker Andy Crocker 1970 The Liberation of L.B. Jones Steve Mundine 1970 Weekend of Terror Larry 1976 The True Story of the U-2 Spy Incident Francis Gary Powers 1977 Just a Little Inconvenience Frank Logan 1978 The Norseman Thorvald 1979 Killer Fish Lasky 1979 Steel Mike Catton 1980 Agency Philip Morgan 1980 Will Kane 1981 Circle of Two Theatre Patron Cameo 1981 The Last Chase Franklyn Hart 1983 Captain Cody Briggs 1988 Scrooged Lee Majors 1990 Keaton's Cop Mike Gable 1991 Deputy Chief Sterling 1992 Herman 'Ski' Jablonski 1994 Bionic Ever After? Colonel Steve Austin 1997 Trojan War Officer Austin 1998 The Protector Austin 1998 Musketeers Forever Ben O'Connor 2000 Primary Suspect Lieutenant Blake 2001 Out Cold John Majors 2002 Big Fat Liar Vince 2003 Fate Oscar Ogden 2004 Arizona Summer Mr. Travers 2005 Dr. Jack Lee Deleted scenes 2005 Hell to Pay Marshal Boone 2006 When I Find the Ocean Thomas 2006 Lightspeed Tanner 2006 Waitin' to Live Bucko Cassidy 2006 Dr. Lakin 2007 The Brothers Solomon Ed Solomon 2007 Max Tennyson 2009 The Adventures of Umbweki Police Captain Richard 2010 Johnny Dr. Miller 2010 Corruption.Gov Jim Lawrence 2011 Jerusalem Countdown Rockwell 2013 Matt's Chance The Figure 2014 The Legend of Darkhorse County Sheriff McElroy 2015 Do You Believe? J.D. 2015 Toxin: 700 Days Left on Earth President Austin 2016 Almosting It Chet 2016 Wild Bill Hickok: Swift Justice Grandpa Hickok 2016 Jean Spiritual Stone 2017 Victory by Submission Sam Jordan 2021 Narco Sub Dallas Chapman 2022 Renegades Carver 2024 The Fall Guy Police Officer Cameo
Television
1965 Gunsmoke Dave Lukens Episode: "Song for Dying" 1965–1969 The Big Valley Heath Barkley 112 episodes 1965 The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Howard White Episode: "The Monkey's Paw–A Retelling" 1970 Bracken's World Frank Carver Episode: "Super-Star" 1970–1971 The Virginian Roy Tate 24 episodes 1971 Marcus Welby, M.D. Jess Brandon Episode: "Men Who Care" 1971–1974 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Jess Brandon 53 episodes 1972 Alias Smith and Jones Joe Briggs Episode: "The McCreedy Bust: Going, Going, Gone" 1972 The Sixth Sense Clayton Ross Episode: "With This Ring, I Thee Kill!" 1973–1978 The Six Million Dollar Man Colonel Steve Austin 99 episodes
TV Land Award for Superest Super Hero (2003)
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama (1976)1974 ABC Funshine Saturday Sneak Peek Lee Majors / Steve Austin Television film 1976 The Bionic Woman Colonel Steve Austin 6 episodes 1981–1986 The Fall Guy Colt Seavers Lead role
113 episodes1983 Trauma Center Colt Seavers Episode: "Notes About Courage" 1983 The Love Boat Robert Richards 2 episodes 1984 The Cowboy and the Ballerina Bob Clayton (aka Clay) Television film 1986 A Smoky Mountain Christmas Mountain Dan Television film 1987 The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman Colonel Steve Austin Television film 1988 Dolly Harold "Chance" Coleman Episode: "#1.14" 1988 Danger Down Under Reed Harris Television film 1989 Steve Austin Television film 1989 CBS Summer Playhouse Jesse Pruitt Episode: "Road Show" 1990 Tour of Duty "Pop" Scarlet 5 episodes 1992–1993 Raven Herman "Ski" Jablonski 20 episodes 1993 The Cover Girl Murders Rex Kingman Television film 1994 Bionic Ever After? Steve Austin Television Film 1995 Woodrow F. Call Episode: "Ties That Bind" 1995 Achilles Peleus Television film 1995 The Pinocchio Shop Howard Hughes Episode: "Air Tristan" 1996 Promised Land Jim Walker Episode: "The Secret" 1996 Daytona Beach Owen Travers Television film 1997 Lost Treasure of Dos Santos Roy Stark Television film 1998 Walker, Texas Ranger Sheriff Bell Episode: "On the Border" 1999 Soldier of Fortune, Inc. Tom Winters Episode: "Critical List" 2000 Family Guy Himself Voice, episode: "Running Mates" 2000 V.I.P. Jed Irons Episode: "Ride of the Valkyries" 2000 The War Next Door Kennedy Smith Sr. Episode: "Father Knows Death" 2000 Too Much Sun Scott Reed 6 episodes 2001 Hotel! President of the U.S.A. Television film 2001 Hard Knox Darrell Knox Television film 2002 Son of the Beach Colonel Seymore Kooze 3 episodes 2003 Jake 2.0 Richard Fox Episode: "Double Agent" 2004 The Trail to Hope Rose Marshall Toll Television film 2005 Will & Grace Burt Wolfe Episode: "It's a Dad, Dad, Dad, Dad World" 2007 The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman Governor of California Episode: "Good Times and Great Oldies" 2007–2009 The Game Coach Ross 6 episodes 2007 Wapos Bay Steve from Ausin Voice, episode: "Guardians" 2007 Me & Lee? Television film 2008 Wainy Days David's Dad Episode: "Rebecca" 2008–2009 According to Jim God Episodes: "Jim Almighty" and "Heaven Opposed to Hell" 2008 Weeds Minute-Man Leader 3 episodes 2008 Cold Case Dean London '08 Episode: "Wings" 2009 Robot Chicken Various Voice; Episode: "Love, Maurice" 2010 Community Admiral Lee Slaughter Episode: "Beginner Pottery" 2010 Human Target Christopher Chance Episode: "Christopher Chance" 2010–2011 General Abernathy Voice; 3 episodes 2011 $h*! My Dad Says Don Reger Episode: "Well Suitored" 2011 Grey's Anatomy Chuck Cain Episode: "Poker Face" 2012 Crash & Burn Boss McCoy Television film 2012 Paul Burton Episode: "Flash Pop" 2013 Dallas Ken Richards 3 episodes 2013–2014 Raising Hope Ralph Episodes: "Burt Mitzvah: The Musical" and "Hot Dish" 2015 The AXI: The Avengers of Extreme Illusions Steve the Mechanic Episode: "The Mechanic" 2016–2018 Ash vs. Evil Dead Brock Williams 8 episodes
Nominated – Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2016)2017 Eat, Play, Love Dr. Isaac Monroe Television film 2018 Fuller House James Episode: "Angels' Night Out" 2018 Bicycle Jan Television film 2019 Magnum P.I. Russell Harlan Episode #27: "The Man in the Secret Room" 2019–2020 Thunderbirds Are Go Jeff Tracy Voice, 3 episodes 2021 Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Himself Episode: "Meat and Heat" (guest appearance) 2022 Guy's Grocery Games Himself Episode: "Craziest Day in Flavortown" (special guest appearance)
Video games
2002 Mitch Baker
External links
Categories: 1939 Births, Living People, 20th-century American Male Actors, 21st-century American Male Actors, American Adoptees, American Male Film Actors, American Male Soap Opera Actors, American Male Television Actors, American Male Voice Actors, Eastern Kentucky University Alumni, Male Actors From Detroit, Male Actors From Kentucky, People From Middlesboro, Kentucky, People From Richmond, Kentucky, People From Wyandotte, Michigan, Pseudonymous Actors
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