From Gridiron Star to Television Detective
Long before he patrolled the fictional television streets of Southern California, Dryer built a formidable reputation on the professional football gridiron during the 1970s. That athletic background translated directly into the physical presence required for his signature television role.
On Hunter, Dryer played a detective who grew up navigating the underworld of organized crime before choosing a career in law enforcement. The series immediately drew heavy comparisons to Clint Eastwood’s iconic Dirty Harry films. However, Dryer rejected the notion that the characters were identical. According to TV Guide, Dryer noted that Dirty Harry operated as a straight-ahead hardass week after week, whereas Detective Sergeant Rick Hunter balanced the grit with a distinct sense of humor regarding difficult situations.
Salary Disputes and the End of an Era
By 1991, the original run of Hunter came to an unceremonious close. Newspaper reports from that period indicated that Dryer bore partial responsibility for the show’s cancellation. According to those reports, Dryer requested a substantial salary increase, pushing his compensation from $150,000 to $350,000 per episode. NBC ultimately rejected the demand, leading to the show’s initial conclusion.
Despite the cancellation, television audiences had not seen the last of Rick Hunter. Dryer continued building an extensive acting resume that featured appearances in Land’s End, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and the animated Justice League series. Notably, television lore notes that Dryer also nearly secured the iconic role of Sam Malone in Cheers before Ted Danson took the part.
The O.J. Simpson Parallels and Later TV Movies
Four years after the series concluded, Dryer brought his signature character back for an NBC television movie titled The Return of Hunter: Everyone Walks in L.A. The plot followed Hunter investigating the murder of his fiancée, with her ex-boyfriend—a famous basketball coach—serving as the prime suspect.
As Variety pointed out ahead of the broadcast, the storyline bore an uncanny resemblance to real-world headlines involving another famous football player-turned-actor. The high-profile O.J. Simpson murder trial was actively ongoing when the movie premiered, fueling widespread speculation that the television project capitalized on Simpson’s cultural shadow. Rumors circulated that NBC’s West Coast president, Don Ohlmeyer—a known friend and defender of Simpson—pushed for a narrative centered on an athlete falsely accused of murder. However, a network spokesperson maintained that the storyline originated entirely as Dryer’s own idea.
Dryer’s attachment to the character persisted into the next decade. NBC aired two additional TV movies, Hunter: Return to Justice in 2002 and Hunter: Back in Force in 2003, with Dryer reprising his lead role. The network subsequently attempted a formal series revival, producing five new episodes and airing three of them in 2003, though the project was ultimately abandoned for good.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many seasons did the TV show Hunter run?
The NBC crime drama Hunter ran for seven seasons, premiering in September 1984 and concluding its original run in 1991.
Why was the original run of Hunter canceled?
According to newspaper reports from 1991, the show ended after network executives declined Dryer’s request to increase his per-episode salary from $150,000 to $350,000.
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