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Lee Majors, born Harvey Lee Yeary in Wyandotte, Michigan, emerged in the American television landscape during the 1960s and 1970s and became an enduring action-hero presence into the 1980s. After college and a string of small-screen appearances, he broke through in The Big Valley, establishing a rugged lead with a blend of laconic charm. The breakthrough role as Colonel Steve Austin in The Six Million Dollar Man (the 1970s TV film that became a monster hit) propelled him to international stardom. In the 1980s he anchored The Fall Guy, a stylish, high-energy series that paired stunt-work with light humour and crafted a distinctive brand of stoic charisma. Majors carried his hero persona across television films, guest spots and later voice work, maintaining a recognisable presence on screen. His career helped define a generation of television action-heroes, and his work remains synonymous with 1970s–1980s genre television.

... Originating in Michigan, Majors shifted from athletic ambitions to acting after a back injury curtailed his college career. He trained in Los Angeles, adopting the name Lee Majors as a tribute to his childhood hero. His early screen work included uncredited parts and guest turns on shows such as Gunsmoke and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, but his first major break arrived with The Big Valley alongside Barbara Stanwyck, Linda Evans and Richard Long. The subsequent The Six Million Dollar Man established him as a global icon of 1970s television, while Majors directed an episode of the series and oversaw crossovers that cemented his public persona. The Fall Guy (1981–1986) fused action with wit and earned him enduring recognition. Across the 1990s and beyond, Majors appeared in TV films and guest roles, often returning to the Steve Austin legacy in reunion telefilms. His longevity and cross-medium work—live-action roles, voice work and cameos—have left a lasting imprint on popular culture and the shape of American television heroes. Then & Now The 1980s In the 1980s Lee Majors anchored The Fall Guy, a stylish, high-energy series that combined stunt-driven action with light humor and reinforced his stoic, laconic hero persona; the show sustained his international profile and broadened his appeal beyond the Steve Austin icon. Throughout the decade he also took television-film leads, guest spots and occasional voice work, keeping him a recognizable presence on screens and in pop-culture discussions. Majors’ blend of toughness and charm in the 1980s helped cement the era’s action-hero archetype and ensured his continued association with genre television. Now (2026) As of 2026 Majors is largely retired from regular acting but remains a cultural icon whose career is celebrated through syndication, retrospectives, convention appearances and interviews; his image and roles continue to be rediscovered by new audiences. The Steve Austin persona and the stunt-driven charisma of The Fall Guy remain touchstones in pop culture, frequently referenced in retrospectives and by creators inspired by 1970s–1980s television. His legacy endures in reruns, fan communities and the ongoing influence his work exerted on action casting and television production. Career timeline 1965–1969 Appeared in The Big Valley as Heath Barkley. 1973–1978 Appeared in The Six Million Dollar Man as Colonel Steve Austin. 1981–1986 Appeared in The Fall Guy as Colt Seavers. 1970–1971 Appeared in The Virginian as Roy Tate. 1987–1989 Appeared in The Return of the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman as Colt Seavers. 1988 Appeared in Scrooged as Lee Majors. 2000 Appeared in Family Guy as Himself. 2007 Appeared in The Brothers Solomon as Ed Solomon. 1965 Appeared in Gunsmoke as Dave Lukens (Guest). Memorable screen quotes “Boy howdy!”The Big Valley (Heath Barkley) (1965–1969) Public reference sources Public biography and credit reference.Lee Majors - Wikipedia Public biography and credit reference.The Fall Guy - Wikipedia Public biography and credit reference.The Fall Guy - Wikiquote Biographical and credit details were checked against Lee Majors - Wikipedia, The Fall Guy - Wikipedia, The Fall Guy - Wikiquote, The Six Million Dollar Man - Wikipedia.