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Ex-NFL Star Dryer's Tough Cop Role Ignited '80s TV
11 Aug
Summary
- Fred Dryer starred as Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter in the '80s NBC series.
- The show ran for seven seasons, concluding in 1991.
- Dryer's salary demand reportedly contributed to the show's cancellation.
For seven seasons, former NFL defensive end Fred Dryer embodied the tough-as-nails Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter on NBC's popular '80s crime drama. The series, which premiered in September 1984, featured Dryer as a physically imposing officer navigating the streets of Los Angeles. Comparisons to iconic tough-guy movie characters were frequent, though Dryer felt his character possessed a greater sense of humor. 'Hunter' aired its final episode in 1991. Reports from the era indicated that Dryer's request for a substantial salary increase contributed to the network's decision to end the show. Despite the series' conclusion, the character of Rick Hunter remained a memorable presence on television.
