MacGyver
MacGyver
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MacGyver

"His mind is the ultimate weapon."

7.7
Yr 1985
Rt 45m
Status Ended
Drama Action & Adventure Crime
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Series Brief

Overview

He's everyone's favorite action hero... but he's a hero with a difference. Angus MacGyver is a secret agent whose wits are his deadliest weapon. Armed with only a knapsack filled with everyday items he picks up along the way, he improvises his way out of every peril the bad guys throw at him. Making a bomb out of chewing gum? Fixing a speeding car's breaks... while he's riding in it? Using soda pop to cook up tear gas? That's all in a day's adventures for MacGyver. He's part Boy Scout, part genius. And all hero.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 65 /100

Critically, MacGyver is viewed as a definitive 1980s television touchstone, remembered fondly for its iconic theme and the undeniable charisma of Richard Dean Anderson. The show occupies a unique space in pop culture, having achieved the rare feat of influencing the English language by turning the protagonist's name into a verb for resourceful improvisation.

Modern reappraisals of the series are mixed. While some appreciate its clever focus on intellect over brute force, others warn that contemporary viewers may find the show dated compared to its peers. Ultimately, the consensus is that the show is a product of its time—an adventurous, nostalgic series that maintains a legacy grounded in its innovative lead character.

“There are few TV shows that have actually changed the English language, but ABC’s MacGyver gave us not only a new verb.”

“MacGyver was better than The A-Team but worse than Quantum Leap, and anyone approaching the show with today’s standards is apt to come away disappointed.”

“Almost immediately popular with audiences for its international locales, adventure, and the undeniable charisma of star Richard Dean Anderson.”

Why fans love it

Angus MacGyver occupies a peculiar corner of the 1985 espionage landscape. While most action heroes of the era relied on standard-issue firepower to stop terrorism, this secret agent prioritizes unconventional engineering. Richard Dean Anderson portrays a protagonist who views a paperclip or a piece of chewing gum with the same seriousness others reserve for a service pistol. The show functions less as a typical crime drama and more as a demonstration of high-stakes improvisation.

There is a comforting predictability to the mayhem. Perilous situations arise, yet the solution always rests in a combination of everyday household items and calm, calculated logic. By eschewing brute force for cleverness, the series offers a brand of heroism rooted in problem solving rather than aggression. This focus on ingenuity creates a distinct rhythm where the spectacle comes from watching the improbable outcome of a simple, improvised gadget.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 2
Longest run 139 eps
Richard Dean Anderson
Richard Dean Anderson
as Angus MacGyver
139 episodes
Dana Elcar
Dana Elcar
as Pete Thornton
126 episodes
Kaj-Erik Eriksen
Kaj-Erik Eriksen
as Jacob Miller
2 episodes
Teri Hatcher
Teri Hatcher
as Penny Parker
6 episodes
Ron Halder
Ron Halder
as Cop
2 episodes
Robin Curtis
Robin Curtis
as Kate Connelly
2 episodes
Cleavon Little
Cleavon Little
as Frank Colton
2 episodes
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik
as Lisa Woodman
3 episodes
Show 67 more
Shane Meier as Boy 2 episodes John Anderson as Harry Jackson 5 episodes Bruce McGill as Jack Dalton 18 episodes Henry Gibson as Pinky Burnette 2 episodes Leslie Bevis as Tanya Lyaschenka 2 episodes David Ackroyd as Lucien Trumbo 2 episodes Richard Lawson as Jesse Colton 3 episodes James Sloyan as Henry Colter 2 episodes Kimberly Scott as Mama Lorraine 3 episodes Roger Aaron Brown as General Mabuto 2 episodes Kim Zimmer as Kate Murphy 3 episodes Tia Carrere as Lisa Chan 2 episodes Kristian Alfonso as Deborah 2 episodes Cuba Gooding Jr. as Billy Colton 4 episodes Alvin Sanders as Ryan 3 episodes Dick Butkus as Earl Dent 3 episodes Michael Ensign as Professor Wycliff 3 episodes Bruce Harwood as Willis 5 episodes George Josef as Karel 3 episodes Roxanne Reese as Cynthia Wilson 3 episodes Charles Payne as Breeze 3 episodes James Hong as Commissioner Chu 4 episodes Elyssa Davalos as Nicole Carpenter 8 episodes Robin Mossley as Wilt Bozer 8 episodes Robert Donner as Milt Bozer 4 episodes Time Winters as Merlin 3 episodes Blu Mankuma as Lt. Rhome 3 episodes Madison Mason as Matthew 'Matt' Webber 3 episodes Garry Chalk as Tony Ellis 3 episodes Frank Ferrucci as Major 3 episodes Anthony De Longis as Nicolai Kosoff 3 episodes Christopher Neame as Erich von Leer 4 episodes Dale Wilson as Erik Dunlop 5 episodes Susan Chapple as Helen Wilson (uncredited) 7 episodes Kai Wulff as Nicolas Von Leer 4 episodes Claire Vardiel as Eunice 5 episodes Gregory Sierra as Captain Diaz 3 episodes Jerry Wasserman as Maddox 3 episodes Jackson Davies as Mike Kiley 5 episodes Joe Lambie as Eric Woodman 3 episodes John Considine as Aaron Sandler 3 episodes Ken Camroux-Taylor as Jerry 3 episodes George Cheung as Toy 3 episodes Michael MacRae as Ghant 3 episodes Allan Lysell as Walker 4 episodes Gerry Bean as Harris 4 episodes Linda Darlow as Mrs. Juarez 3 episodes John Novak as Lyle Hoggart 3 episodes Charles Andre as Delaney 4 episodes Paul Batten as Pettigrew 4 episodes Barry Greene as Ringe 3 episodes Paul Bittante as Security Cop 4 episodes Bill Croft as Rote 4 episodes Michael Des Barres as Murdoc 7 episodes Kevin Hayes as Vince King 6 episodes Vince Deadrick Jr. as Woody 4 episodes Gordon Patrick White as Kennan 3 episodes Frank C. Turner as News 3 episodes Antony Holland as Vincent Battaglia 3 episodes Michael Francis Kelly as Hockey Player 4 episodes Anthony Stamboulieh as Hakim / Anubis 3 episodes Richard Jamison as Ralph 3 episodes Herb Edelman as Bart Riggins 3 episodes Tim Rossovich as Willard 3 episodes R. Nelson Brown as Smiley 3 episodes Steve Blalock as Hood #1 3 episodes Rob Roy as Akers 3 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Set Decoration
Mary Swanson Bryan Thetford Dominique Fauquet-Lemaitre
Post Production Supervisor
Michael Eliot Randy Nelson
Property Master
Michael Casey Peter McWade
Wardrobe Supervisor
Thomas Welsh
Art Direction
William Hiney Charles Leitrants
Hairstylist
Diana Alouise Lynn Del Kail Michael Pachal
Special Effects Manager
Robert W. King
Stunts
Walter Robles Jim Lau Curt Bonn Gene Hartline
First Assistant Camera
John C. Moulds
Makeup Artist
David Dittmar
Special Effects
Steve Galich
Director of Photography
Jules Brenner
Costumer
Rudolph Garcia Sharlene Williams
Stunt Double
Norman Howell
Stunt Coordinator
Vince Deadrick Jr.
Assistant Camera
Gary Baum
Catering
Tana Tocher
Administrative Assistant
Delia Circelli
Stand In
Robert Milicevic
Signal Match

Similarity

Where MacGyver overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

spy crime fighter hero secret agent espionage vigilante escape terrorism one man army calm good versus evil inspirational comforting
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 29, 1985
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
45 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
911