Road to fame was as Officer Poncherello on CHiPs.
Inspired by a family friend, he originally wanted to become a New York police officer.
He has worked as a deputy sheriff in Virginia in real life after acting on a Police television series for several years.
He married third wife Nanette Mirkovich in 1997.
He starred in the TV series CHiPs, which also briefly featured the one and only Bruce Jenner.
