Kevin Dobson gives television policemen the air of people who know their work. We value his practical confidence in Kojak, though he is part of what makes the programme convincing, not its main attraction.
Fi1m perspective
Watch Kevin Dobson alongside Telly Savalas in Kojak (1973): Bobby Crocker belongs in the job even when the programme's attention is elsewhere. A forceful lead can leave everyone around him looking as though they have been brought in for the day. Dobson gives Crocker enough practical confidence to make the partnership convincing. The programme's street-level New York atmosphere helps, but a convincing location would count for less if the men doing the work seemed merely to be waiting for their cues. We enjoyed the programme more because he helped its police work feel like something several people were doing, rather than a succession of instructions from the star.
His tools are straightforward: a convincing New York accent, physical assurance and an ease with professional authority. The recurring policemen, prosecutors and judges make sense as casting choices. In Kojak, Dan Frazer as Frank McNeill and George Savalas as Sgt. Stavros share the work of making the police force credible. Some of the programme's police drama has dated, and Dobson does not change that. Nor does he displace Telly Savalas, who remains its principal attraction.
Television gave that dependable presence room to develop beyond a supporting role. After the short-lived Shannon (1981–82), he joined Knots Landing in 1982 as federal prosecutor M. Patrick 'Mack' MacKenzie, opposite Michele Lee's Karen, and stayed until 1993. It was another man with legal authority, now with a central place in an ensemble. Film parts such as Ensign George Gay in Midway (1976) and a priest in 1408 (2007) offer a less sustained view of his work.
Dobson returned to Crocker in Kojak: It's Always Something (1990). He was often asked to play a solid professional, though a familiar job description is not a reason to seek out every appearance. Our recommendation rests on the original Kojak, where his contribution is clear. Start with Savalas, but pay attention to the men he works with.
Biography
Kevin Dobson was an American actor best known for playing Detective Bobby Crocker, the young partner of Lieutenant Theo Kojak, in the CBS series Kojak (1973–1978). He later starred as M. Patrick 'Mack' MacKenzie in the prime-time soap opera Knots Landing (1982–1993).
Born in New York City, Dobson began his career with small roles in films such as Klute (1971) and guest appearances on series including The Mod Squad, Emergency! and Cannon. After signing with Universal Studios in 1972, he was cast in Kojak following multiple auditions. He remained with the series for its full five-season run and reprised the role in the 1990 television film Kojak: It's Always Something.
Dobson appeared in other television films and series, including Midway (1976) and Shannon (1981–1982). He died on 6 September 2020.
