Mike Stoker
Encyclopedia
Charles Michael "Mike" Stoker (born June 25, 1941, in Los Angeles
CA
) is a retired firefighter
, engineer
and captain
with the Los Angeles County Fire Department
(LACoFD). He was an actor on the NBC
/ Universal
TV series Emergency!
. He used his real name for the series (which ran from 1972–1977).
Stoker was cast in the role partially because he had a Screen Actors Guild
card, and also because the producers wanted an actual, qualified firefighter
/engineer to drive and operate the fire apparatus
as opposed to having a regular actor
operate the expensive equipment.
Stoker was an engineer on Engine 69 out of LACoFD Station 69 in Topanga Canyon
during the time Emergency! was in production. As an engineer, it was Stoker's responsibility to safely drive Engine 69 to the scene of the call, and operate Engine 69's pump to provide water to crews fighting the fire.
During the show's run, there were two other actors who used their real names as their character names. One was Marco Lopez
(a Jack Webb
stock actor), and the other was LACoFD Captain Dick Hammer
, who portrayed the Station 51 Captain during part of the first season of Emergency!.
During the seven years the show was on the air, Stoker was perhaps one of the least seen on camera, perhaps due to his firefighting shift work schedule. However, he became the production's face for public safety, making several commercials for fire prevention and awareness, mostly shot on the Emergency! set.
When Emergency! ended in 1978, Stoker's acting career ended as well. Stoker was later promoted to Captain
within the LACoFD. Stoker's last assignment was out of Station 106 in Rolling Hills
prior to his retirement from LACoFD in 1996.
Stoker later invested in real estate, buying several condos and homes in the Western United States, both for his use, and as rental properties.
Stoker has two sons and one daughter. His daughter was named Miss Teen Montana 1998.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
CA
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) is a retired firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
, engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
and captain
Fire captain
Captain is a rank in various fire services.In most American and Canadian fire services, a captain ranks above a lieutenant and below a Battalion Chief. This varies, though, between departments – in the Boston Fire Department, the captain is the officer in overall charge of a fire company...
with the Los Angeles County Fire Department
Los Angeles County Fire Department
The Los Angeles County Fire Department , serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including La Habra. It should not be confused with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which serves the city of...
(LACoFD). He was an actor on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
/ Universal
NBC Universal
NBCUniversal Media, LLC is a media and entertainment company engaged in the production and marketing of entertainment, news, and information products and services to a global customer base...
TV series Emergency!
Emergency!
Emergency! is an American television series that combines the medical drama and action-adventure genres. It was produced by Mark VII Limited and distributed by Universal Studios...
. He used his real name for the series (which ran from 1972–1977).
Stoker was cast in the role partially because he had a Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
card, and also because the producers wanted an actual, qualified firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
/engineer to drive and operate the fire apparatus
Fire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
as opposed to having a regular actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
operate the expensive equipment.
Stoker was an engineer on Engine 69 out of LACoFD Station 69 in Topanga Canyon
Topanga, California
Topanga is a census-designated place in western Los Angeles County, California, USA. It is located in the Santa Monica Mountains. Occupying Topanga Canyon, it is often referred to by that name. Topanga is bounded on three sides by State Park or conservancy lands, and on the south by the Pacific...
during the time Emergency! was in production. As an engineer, it was Stoker's responsibility to safely drive Engine 69 to the scene of the call, and operate Engine 69's pump to provide water to crews fighting the fire.
During the show's run, there were two other actors who used their real names as their character names. One was Marco Lopez
Marco Lopez (actor)
Marco Antonio Lopez , also credited as Marco Antonio, Antonio Lopez, and Marco Lopez, is an American actor who was known for his roles in Jack Webb-produced television series, such as Adam-12, where he played the recurring character of Officer Sanchez, and Dragnet, where he was credited as Marco...
(a Jack Webb
Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
stock actor), and the other was LACoFD Captain Dick Hammer
Dick Hammer
Richard B. Hammer was a retired Captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and played the role of Captain Hammer in the first season of the Jack Webb produced television show Emergency!...
, who portrayed the Station 51 Captain during part of the first season of Emergency!.
During the seven years the show was on the air, Stoker was perhaps one of the least seen on camera, perhaps due to his firefighting shift work schedule. However, he became the production's face for public safety, making several commercials for fire prevention and awareness, mostly shot on the Emergency! set.
When Emergency! ended in 1978, Stoker's acting career ended as well. Stoker was later promoted to Captain
Fire captain
Captain is a rank in various fire services.In most American and Canadian fire services, a captain ranks above a lieutenant and below a Battalion Chief. This varies, though, between departments – in the Boston Fire Department, the captain is the officer in overall charge of a fire company...
within the LACoFD. Stoker's last assignment was out of Station 106 in Rolling Hills
Rolling Hills, California
Rolling Hills is a city in the Palos Verdes Hills, in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,860, down from 1,871 at the 2000 census...
prior to his retirement from LACoFD in 1996.
Stoker later invested in real estate, buying several condos and homes in the Western United States, both for his use, and as rental properties.
Stoker has two sons and one daughter. His daughter was named Miss Teen Montana 1998.