'Knots Landing' star Kevin Dobson, who starred in 'Kojak,' dies at 77: 'Thank a Vet'

Kevin Dobson, the actor best known for playing Mack in "Knots Landing," Detective Bobby Crocker on "Kojak" and Mickey Horton in "Days of Our Lives," died Sunday. He was 77.

The United Veterans Council of San Joaquin County announced the actor’s death on its official Facebook page. The Army veteran served as chairman of the San Joaquin County group and kicked off the 4th of July Virtual Parade with a video.

"I was in the Army, I really enjoyed serving," Dobson said in the video.

Born in Queens, New York, on March 18, 1943, Dobson was a brakeman and conductor on the Long Island Railroad, a semi-professional baseball player and served as an MP during the Vietnam era before breaking into acting.

His big break came as Gov. Harrison Brooks in TV's "One Life to Live" in 1968. In 1976, he appeared as Ensign George Gay in director Jack Smight's star-studded "Midway."

'Knots Landing' at 40: 'Remembering TV's soapy spinoff that outlasted 'Dallas'

Starring on TV's "Kojak," from 1973 to 1978, Dobson played Telly Savalas' eager young partner Crocker.

In the 1990 TV movie "Kojak: It's Always Worth Something," Crocker had moved up to Assistant District Attorney.

Video: ‘Cocoon’ actor and Quaker Oats spokesman Wilford Brimley dies at 85

Dobson starred for 11 years as powerful attorney M. "Mack" Patrick MacKenzie in CBS’ popular drama "Knots Landing" alongside screen wife Michele Lee. Dobson insisted that his character be a VA volunteer. He appeared on the long-running series, originally a "Dallas" spin-off, from 1982 to 1993 and won five Soap Opera Digest awards for the role.

Paul Carafotes, who played Harold Dyer on "Knots Landing," called Dobson a "gracious, open-minded" actor.

"I remember him for his friendship," Carafotes tweeted. "We had fun."

From 1996 to 1997, Dobson starred as Detective Leo McCarthy in TV's "F/X: The Series," and he starred as Judge Devin Owens in the daytime drama "The Bold and the Beautiful" from 2006 to 2007.

In 2008 he played Mickey Horton in the long-running character's final appearances on "Days of Our Lives."

Dobson was married to producer Susan Dobson for more than five decades, since 1968. The couple have three children – daughter Mariah and sons Patrick and Sean – and grandchildren Brady, Stella, Marlowe, Tiegan and Rylan.

Dobson's official death notice stated that, in lieu of flowers, "as Kevin would prefer and always said 'If you love America, Thank a Vet.' "

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Knots Landing,' 'Kojak' star Kevin Dobson dies at 77: 'Thank a Vet