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But I was still hoping to be able to coach and teach.
Acting is a tough business, and the percentage of people who make it is very low - it's about 1 percent.
Those shows were all action shows. They involved a lot of tough, physical activity.
I think the business has changed tremendously, as far as I can see, because in the '60s, '70s, 80s, I don't think it was - there was some politicking going on within the industry.
For 40 years, I put my body through a tremendous amount of work.
I never thought my wish would come true that I would be able to reclaim the active life I thought I was losing.
So it's like starting over again, but I look forward to the challenge.
My fiancee and I recently eloped. We went on a fabulous honeymoon to Europe, and I was able to see and do everything I wanted without worrying about taking it easy.
I've never minded my kids watching any of the series I did. That's important to me.
I have twin boys, 12, and a daughter, 17.
And about in the late '80s, I got kind of burned out a little bit.
I have done a series in the '60s, '70s and '80s.
The Six Million Dollar Man was one thing, but I wanted to keep my own parts.
It pays, because once you've got the lines in your head, you can concentrate on movement or doing things with your props.
I worked for the recreation and parks department for a year.
I'm a very conservative guy, yes.
I learn the whole script before I show up.
Doing a series, every week you work with a new star.
I did a few more plays, and then I went to L.A., because I knew I could get a coaching job there.
But those sitcoms - they're stealing money.
Later on, I did some training with a lady there in L.A., and then I went in to get an agent and saw this really good one, Dick Clayton.
I just turned 66, and I'm starting to work again.
I was younger and a little more agile than Peter Breck, and Richard Long didn't like horses. So I'd put my foot in the stirrup, but I'd look and make sure they were both swinging up before I'd swing up - because once you swing on a horse, it wants to go.
I've never seen a schedule where you just go in two hours almost every day of the week and then all day on one day. Then you shoot it at night with an audience and you're out of there.
I had no idea how big the show was at the time we were doing it because I was always working.
Clint Eastwood's a good friend, too - he and I used to play in softball games together.
I got kind of burned out, so I moved to Florida. I was down there for 10 or 12 years, raising children.
I think I've known just everybody that's worked in Hollywood. If I didn't work with them, I knew them really well.
Then I got a bad back injury, and they thought I wasn't going to have any feeling in my legs.
I've tried to pass that on to other actors - make sure you know your words way ahead of time.
I've worked with some of the best.
I mean, I campaigned for Humphrey.
Even when I was young, playing college football, and I injured my knee, I bounced right back.
I started to slow down. And I couldn't do all the things that I love to do - like play golf two or three times a week.
I have a wife now who's been with me for more than 10 years. Her name is Faith, and she's been great - I keep the Faith
I figured my body always would be able to repair itself. I think all of us believe that - until you begin to age and get hit with deteriorating joints.
I also had a wonderful relationship with Paul Newman, and with Steve McQueen. He was one of my all-time favorites, but I never got to work with him.
It's being in the right place at the right time and taking advantage of your opportunities.
Diane Ladd did a wonderful job, and Amy Redford, Richard Tyson and George Lindsey are terrific.
I'm from Middlesboro, Ky., a little town on the Tennessee and Virginia border.
I started out wanting to coach football.
I think I've got one more series in me, and I don't care what it is.
I've had disappointments and heartbreaks and setbacks and roles I didn't get, but something always came along that either made me better or was an even better role.
But when two people want a career, it's just - it's hard. I probably saw Farrah in one year maybe two weeks out of the year.
Knee replacement is serious stuff. And it actually could have made me worse.
Some of the stunt guys would come to the park, and I started doing some stuntwork. I kind of got in that way.
I thought I'd gone to heaven, because I grew up watching Roy and Gene Autry.
My wife and I have tried to do it all, from the Helen Keller home to the W.C. Handy museum and the music hall of fame. We hit antique stores and pawnshops and all the restaurants.
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