Jack Webb
Biography
John Randolph Jack Webb, also known by the pen name John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter. Born on April 2, 1920, in Santa Monica, California, he grew up in the Bunker Hill section of Los Angeles as the child of a single mother after his father left home before he was born. During World War II, Webb enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, washed out of flight training, and was granted a hardship discharge to care for his family. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet and was the founder of his production company, Mark VII Limited. He passed away on December 23, 1982.
Career overview
John Randolph Jack Webb, who also used the pen name John Randolph, was born on April 2, 1920, in Santa Monica, California, and died on December 23, 1982, at the age of 62. Webb grew up in the Bunker Hill section of Los Angeles as the child of a single mother after his father left home before he was born. During World War II, Webb enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces, but he washed out of flight training and was granted a hardship discharge to care for his family.
Webb established a prominent career as an American actor, television producer, director, and screenwriter. He achieved his greatest fame for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet. In addition to his creative and performing work in the entertainment industry, Webb was the founder of his own production company, Mark VII Limited.
Throughout his career in television and film, Webb accumulated 66 known acting credits according to archival records from The Movie Database. His work spanned multiple entertainment mediums, solidifying his legacy in both radio and television broadcasting through his signature law enforcement character and his behind-the-scenes production efforts.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- O.J.: Made in America (2016) as Sgt. Joe Friday (archive footage)
- Greenboy: Prescription for Death (2013) as Joe Friday (archive footage)
- L.A. Dragnet (2003) Creator
- The New Adam-12 (1990) Creator
- The New Dragnet (1989) Creator
- Little Mo (1978) Executive Producer
- Project U.F.O. (1978) Producer
- Project U.F.O. (1978) Creator
- Sam (1978) Producer
- Mobile One (1975) Producer
- The Log of the Black Pearl (1975) Executive Producer
- Mobile Two (1975) Executive Producer
- Sierra (1974) Producer
- Sierra (1974) Creator
- Chase (1973) Director
- Chase (1973) Producer
- Chase (1973) Producer
- Escape (1973) Producer
- Escape (1973) Creator
- Emergency! (1972) Director
- Emergency! (1972) Producer
- Emergency! (1972) Creator
- Hec Ramsey (1972) Producer
- Emergency! (1972) Director
- Emergency! (1972) Executive Producer
- The Century Turns (1972) Executive Producer
- The Partners (1971)
- O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971) Producer
- O'Hara, U.S. Treasury (1971) Creator
- The D.A. (1971) Producer
- The D.A.: Conspiracy to Kill (1971) Executive Producer
- O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra (1971) as Narrator
- O'Hara, United States Treasury: Operation Cobra (1971) Director
- The Selling of the Pentagon (1971) as Self (archive footage)
- Your Tour In Vietnam (1970) as Narrator
- The D.A.: Murder One (1969) Executive Producer
- Dragnet (1969) as Joe Friday
- Dragnet (1969) Producer
- Dragnet (1969) Director
- Adam-12 (1968) Director
- Adam-12 (1968) Producer
- Adam-12 (1968) Executive Producer
- Adam-12 (1968) Creator
- Star Spangled Salesman (1968) as Security Man
- Dragnet (1967) as Joe Friday
- Dragnet (1967) Director
- Dragnet (1967) Writer
- Dragnet (1967) Creator
- A Day in Vietnam (1967) as Narrator
- Greyhounds of the Sea (1967) as Narrator
- Temple Houston (1963) Creator
- The Man from Galveston (1963) Executive Producer
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- General Electric True (1962) as Self - host
- General Electric True (1962) Director
- General Electric True (1962) Producer
- General Electric True (1962) Creator
- Red Nightmare (1962) as On-Camera Narrator
- The John Glenn Story (1962) as Narrator
- The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) as William 'Bill' Bowers
- The Last Time I Saw Archie (1961) Director
- A Force in Readiness (1961)
- The D.A.'s Man (1959) Producer
- The D.A.'s Man (1959) Creator
- -30- (1959) as Sam Gatlin
- -30- (1959) Director
- -30- (1959) Producer
- Pete Kelly's Blues (1959) Producer
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) Producer
- Tonight Starring Jack Paar (1957) as Self
- The D.I. (1957) as Gunnery Sgt. Jim Moore
- The D.I. (1957) Director
- Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) as Pete Kelly
- Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) Director
- Pete Kelly's Blues (1955) Producer
- 24 Hour Alert (1955) as Himself
- Dragnet (1954) as Sergeant Joe Friday
- Dragnet (1954) Director
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) Story
- This Is Your Life (1952) as Self
- Dragnet (1951) as Joe Friday
- Dragnet (1951) Director
- Dragnet (1951) Producer
- Dragnet (1951) Creator
- You're in the Navy Now (1951) as Ens. Anthony 'Tony' Barbo
- Halls of Montezuma (1951) as Correspondent Dickerman
- The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950) as Self
- The Jack Benny Program (1950) as Jack Webb
- Sunset Boulevard (1950) as Artie Green
- The Men (1950) as Norm
- Appointment with Danger (1950) as Joe Regas
- Dark City (1950) as Augie
- He Walked by Night (1949) as Lee Whitey
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Hollow Triumph (1948) as Bullseye (uncredited)
- Three on a Match (1932) as Boy in Schoolyard (uncredited)