Iconic 70s TV show star still looks youthful - can you guess who? (2024)

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A television icon was seen looking youthful on a rare outing in LA decades after he starred in one of the biggest series toward the end of the 1970s into the beginning of the next decade.

The actor did not look like he had aged much since his heyday where he was one of the two main stars of an iconic crime drama franchise which has spun off into different shows and even films.

The original series ultimately ran for 139 episodes over six seasons in addition to a reunion television film in October 1998.

The talented thespian has maintained a steady career in Hollywood with nearly 60 credits to his name in addition to racing cars and working as a private pilot.

Can you guess who the actor is?

A television icon was seen looking youthful on a rare outing in LA decades after he starred in one of the biggest series toward the end of the 1970s into the beginning of the next decade

The actor did not look like he had aged much since his heyday where he was one of the two main stars of an iconic crime drama franchise which has spun off into different shows and even films

Read More Erik Estrada, 73, swaps CHiPs character Ponch's famous Harley Davidson for a much smaller electric bike as he cruises around LA

It is CHiPs star Larry Wilcox!

The 77-year-old American actorwas recently seen driving his Dodge Ram truck around LA before heading to a mechanic.

He is best known for portraying straight laced California Highway Patrol officer Jonathan Andrew Baker alongside Erik Estrada who played his macho and rambunctious partner Officer Francis Llewellyn 'Ponch' Poncherello.

Ponch was the more trouble-prone of the pair as Wilcox's character was more level-headed and tried to keep them out of trouble from their supervisor Sergeant Joseph Getraer (played by Robert Pine).

After CHiPs, Wilcox kept up a solid acting career as he starred as Tommy Wells in made-for-TV World War II epic The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission in 1985.

More recently he has had roles in 2021's Forgiven This Gun4hire, a guest spot on series Bromance in 2020, and 2019 film Wish Man.

After leaving CHiPs in 1982 Wilcox showcased his ability to be forward-thinking as he formed his own production company - named Wilcox Productions - which produced the award-winning TV series The Ray Bradbury Theater for HBO over five years.

The actor wore several hats as he was a Vietnam veteran who enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1967 and served during the Tet Offensive.

It is CHiPs star Larry Wilcox! as the talented actor is seen on the series in the late 1970s series (right)

He is best known for portraying straight laced California Highway Patrol officer Jonathan Andrew Baker alongside Erik Estrada who played his macho and rambunctious partner Officer Francis Llewellyn 'Ponch' Poncherello; the two are pictured on the series in the late 1970s

Ponch was the more trouble-prone of the pair as Wilcox's character was more level-headed and tried to keep them out of trouble from their supervisor Sergeant Joseph Getraer (played by Robert Pine)

The 77-year-old American actor was recently seen in LA before heading to a mechanic

The talented star seemed in good spirits

After leaving CHiPs in 1982 Wilcox showcased his ability to be forward-thinking as he formed his own production company - named Wilcox Productions - which produced the award-winning TV series The Ray Bradbury Theater for HBO over five years

The actor wore several hats as he was a Vietnam veteran who enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1967 and served during the Tet Offensive

He was seen hopping into his Dodge Ram truck

He was ultimately honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant in 1973.

As if that already wasn't enough, the San Diego native also races cars and works as a private pilot.

Despite playing a man of the law in his biggest on-screen role, he did find himself in some legal trouble back nearly a decade and a half ago.

Wilcox was sentenced to three years probation on a securities fraud conviction back in January 2011.

At the time a federal judge in Fort Lauderdale ordered him to serve 500 hours of community service.

As if that already wasn't enough, the San Diego native also races cars and works as a private pilot

Despite playing a man of the law in his biggest on-screen role, he did find himself in some legal trouble back nearly a decade and a half ago; he is pictured in Thousand Oaks in May

The Securities and Exchange commission had said that Wilcox was involved in one of several kickback operations run by more than a dozen small-company stock promoters.

They were eventually caught in an FBI undercover sting operation as they offered to compensate kickbacks to pension-fund managers or stockbrokers for using client funds to buy penny stocks.

In November 2010 Wilcox had pled guilty to securities fraud conspiracy and had faced a maximum of five years in prison.

Wilcox was sentenced to three years probation on a securities fraud conviction back in January 2011; he is pictured in Laguna Beach back in August 2019

Iconic 70s TV show star still looks youthful - can you guess who? (2024)

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