Len Wayland

Len Wayland is the classic definition of a no-nonsense working actor. His credits span from the '50s to the '80s. He is also somewhat famous for his fanatical love of golf. He played the sport assiduously in retirement, leading his pals to hold his 2001 memorial service on the links. His actor scorecard peaked in the '60s with recurring roles on "Dr. Kildare," "Dragnet 1967," "Felony Squad," and more. In Hollywood, actors are usually typecast on TV as good guys or villains, and for Wayland it was definitely a matter of the former with an unending series of roles as cops, lawyers, and such. In fact, in '78, Wayland had the distinction of playing the co-lead as a cop alongside Mark Harmon in "Sam," one of the future "NCIS" star's earliest TV series gambits. Unlike that juggernaut, this CBS drama lasted only a half-dozen episodes. Wayland's last credit was as Lefty Simmons for a pair of "Dallas" episodes.