Randolph Mantooth, known for playing paramedic Johnny Gage in “Emergency!” Television series from the 1970s, died on July 9 in Ventura. He was 80 years old.

Mantooth rose to fame in 1972 when he was cast in “Emergency!”, which introduced audiences to the paramedic profession. He co-starred with Kevin Tighe on the popular NBC series that ran for six seasons and performed most of his own stunts.

His brother said he died in hospice after a long illness, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

He played his “Emergency!” character Johnny Gage on other shows such as “Adam-12” and remained an advocate for firefighters, paramedics and EMTs throughout his life.

After guest starring on shows like “Dallas,” “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Love Boat,” Mantooth had a notable second act in soap operas. He joined “Loving” in 1987 as Clay Alden, then spent two years on “General Hospital” as Richard Halifax. Then he returned to “Loving” for two more years. Among the other soap operas in which he appeared were “The City,” “As the World Turns” and “One Life to Live,” as well as other shows such as “Criminal Minds,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “Sons of Anarchy.”

Mantooth was born in Sacramento; his father was of Cherokee and Seminole descent. He studied at Santa Barbara City College and won a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
After he was discovered on the New York stage and signed a contract with Universal, he began appearing on television shows such as “Ironside,” “The Virginian,” “Marcus Welby, MD” and “The Bold Ones.”

He had been diagnosed with cancer in 2015.

Mantooth is survived by his wife Kristen and siblings Donald and Tonya.