A number of cast members had played or would play TV cops or detectives for many seasons, and all of them played police officers here:
Mike Connors played detective Joe Mannix for 9 years on Mannix (1967). His last appearance was just two years earlier.
Martin Milner played LAPD Officer Pete Malloy for 8 years on Adam-12 (1968). In 1991, he reprised the role, albeit as a Captain, in Crack House (1991).
Shelly Novack played a LAPD Sergeant for 2 years on Most Wanted (1976), which ran at the same time as many of his 7 Police Story appearances. Prior to that he played an FBI special agent for 2 years on The F.B.I. (1965).
James Darren would go on to play Officer Jim Corrigan for 5 years on T.J. Hooker (1982).
Michael Warren would go on to play Officer Bobby Hill for 7 years on Hill Street Blues (1981).
In addition, Eddie Egan was a real-life NYPD officer before going into acting. He appeared in this series a total of 6 times and was usually otherwise cast as a police officer or detective. This was his final original Police Story appearance.
In addition, Eddie Egan was a real-life NYPD officer before going into acting. He appeared in this series a total of 6 times and was usually otherwise cast as a police officer or detective. This was his final original Police Story appearance.
In a reversal of roles, Mike Connors plays an LAPD officer suffering from stress after his partner is killed. Martin Milner plays his replacement partner. When Adam-12 (1968) began, Milner played LAPD Officer Pete Malloy, who had recently lost his partner.