'Emergency!' star Randolph Mantooth dies at 80

'Emergency!' star Randolph Mantooth dies at 80

Randolph Mantooth, the actor best known for his role as firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on NBC's Emergency!, has passed away at the age of 80.

His brother, Donald Mantooth, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter.

"He had been ill for a number of years and kept getting thinner and thinner," Donald said.

The cause of death hasn't been revealed yet.

Early life and career beginnings

Born as Randy DeRoy Mantooth on September 19, 1945, in Sacramento, California, he was the son of Buck and Sadie Mantooth.

His father's job as a pipeline construction engineer took the family to 24 different states before he turned 18.

Mantooth began his acting career in the early 1970s with guest appearances on popular shows like The Virginian and McCloud.