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Dana Elcar is best remembered for his role as Pete Thornton, MacGyver's supervisor at the Phoenix Foundation in the ABC adventure series MacGyver (1985-1992). In a poignant real-life parallel, Elcar's character gradually lost his sight over the course of the series, mirroring the actor's own battle with glaucoma, which eventually left him legally blind. The storyline was written into the show with great sensitivity.

...Elcar had a long career in film and television before MacGyver, appearing in numerous productions throughout the 1960s and 1970s. He was known as a reliable and versatile character actor who could bring depth to supporting roles. After MacGyver concluded, he retired from acting. He passed away in June 2005, remembered for his dignified handling of his real-life disability and his long association with the beloved adventure series.