Lee Majors (born April 23, 1939) is an American actor, primarily known for his roles in movies, sitcoms and television who also starred in four long-running ABC TV series over four decades.
The naturally blond Majors is best known for his roles as Barbara Stanwyck's husband's illegitimate son, Heath Barkley, on The Big Valley (1965-1969), as Arthur Hill's law partner/friend, Jess Brandon, on Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (1971-1974), as Colonel Steve Austin, on The Six Million Dollar Man (1974-1978), and as Colt Seavers on The Fall Guy (1981-1986). He also had a recurring role as Col. Seymour Kooze in Son of the Beach.
Son, with Robinson, Lee Majors II.
Children, with Velez; daughter Nikki and twin sons Dane and Trey
Turned down the Mac Davis (I) role in North Dallas Forty (1979) in favor of an independent production that never got off the ground.
Suffered three separate whippings in "Big Valley, The" (1965). In a Mexican jail in "Legend of a General" shown 9-19-66. In a penal camp in "The Iron Box" shown 11-28-66. At the hands of a religious sect in "Journey into Violence" shown 12-18-67.
Landed the role of Joe Buck in Midnight Cowboy (1969) but "Big Valley, The" (1965) was picked up for another year and was contractually obligated to pass on the role, which was then made famous by Jon Voight.
Starred concurrently in two TV shows at the same time - Playing Jess Brandon in "Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law" (1971) and Colonel Steve Austin in Six Million Dollar Man, The (1973) (TV) TV movies.
His cousin Johnny Majors was the 1956 Heisman Trophy runner-up at Tennessee, and became a great college football coach; from 1968-96 he coached at Iowa State, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee, winning the 1976 national championship with Pittsburgh.
Signature exclamation as Heath in The Big Valley was 'Boy Howdy!'
His hometown is Middlesboro, Kentucky.
In 1976 Lee Majors (I) and Farrah Fawcett made TV history - a husband and wife each starring in separate top rated shows.
Prior to getting his big break, Lee Majors (I) was the limo driver for producer Jim Barnett, the man who created the TV show "World Championship Wrestling."
Graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky.
Was one of the judges in 1981 Miss Universe pageant.
Was a star athlete in high school and is a member of the Middlesboro High School sports hall of fame; the school later named their football field Lee Majors Field.
Was played by Ben Browder in Behind the Camera: The Unauthorized Story of 'Charlie's Angels' (2004) (TV).
He entered Indiana University on a football scholarship but was expelled two years later for his involvement in a fraternity fight. After transferring to Eastern Kentucky University, a game injury paralyzed him from the waist down for two weeks. That revealed a condition of congenital spondylolisthesis, an alignment defect of the spine, and he was forced to leave what was beginning to look like a great football career.
