RIP Dick Butkis

[Kevin M.]

Football player turned actor. Had memorable guest roles in Night Court, MacGyver, My Two Dads, and of course who can forget the TV series based on the movie Blue Thunder.

It’ll be a miracle if his name doesn’t send this thread of messages into everyone’s Spam folder. 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/dick-butkus-dead-chicago-bears-linebacker-turned-actor-1235610551/

Did Blue Thunder beget Airwolf or did Airwolf beget Blue Thunder? 

[Steve Timko]

His best TV work was probably his commercials. People loved seeing brutish guys with a sense of humor.

https://youtu.be/MPoI5BnKzuc?si=jkksIOpBvTjGJNUY

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[Brad Beam]

“Blue Thunder” was a 1983 movie; Dana Carvey was subbed in for the TV show. That’s probably why “Airwolf” (1984-7) lasted longer.

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 5, 2023, at 19:40, Kevin M. <drunkba...@gmail.com> wrote:

Did Blue Thunder beget Airwolf or did Airwolf beget Blue Thunder? 

[M-D November]

Butkis is credited for all 11 episodes of the "Blue Thunder" TV series (per IMDB).

[Kevin M.]

Yes, the movie presented the technology of a surveillance and attack helicopter as dystopian in the hands of the LAPD. The TV series presented the helicopter as fun-loving and friendly, and the LAPD as honorable and whimsical, with Butkus and Bubba Smith playing off each other like an old married couple while Dana Carvey (whose character was killed in the movie) sat in the back of the helicopter doing funny voices. In short, the movie and TV series were very different animals. 

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