Lee Majors (born Harvey Lee Yeary; April 23, 1939) is an American
film, television and voice actor. Majors is best known for portraying
the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western
series The Big Valley (1965â€"1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the
American television science fiction action series The Six Million
Dollar Man (1973â€"1978), and Colt Seavers in American television
action seriesThe Fall Guy (1981â€"1986).Majors was born in Wyandotte,
Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. His parents, Carl and Alice Yeary, were
both killed in separate accidents (prior to his birth and when he was
one year old, respectively). At age two, Majors was adopted by an
uncle and aunt and moved with them to Middlesboro, Kentucky.He
participated in track and football at Middlesboro High School. He
graduated in 1957, and earned a scholarship to Indiana University,
where he again competed in sports. Majors transferred to Eastern
Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, in 1959. He played in his
first football game the following year but suffered a severe back
injury which left him paralyzed for two weeks and ended his college
athletic career. Following his injury, he turned his attention to
acting and performed in plays at the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville,
Kentucky. Majors graduated from Eastern Kentucky in 1962 with a degree
in History and Physical Education.After college, he received an offer
to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals football team. Instead, he
moved to Los Angeles and found work at the Los Angeles Park and
Recreation Department as the Recreation Director for North Hollywood
Park. In LA, Majors met many actors and industry professionals,
including Dick Clayton, who had been James Dean's agent, and Clayton
suggested he attend his acting school. After one year of acting
school, Clayton felt that Majors was ready to start his career. At
this time, he picked up the stage name Lee Majors as a tribute to
childhood hero Johnny Majors who was a player and future coach for the
University of Tennessee. Majors also studied at Estelle Harman's
acting school at MGM.
film, television and voice actor. Majors is best known for portraying
the characters of Heath Barkley in the American television Western
series The Big Valley (1965â€"1969), Colonel Steve Austin in the
American television science fiction action series The Six Million
Dollar Man (1973â€"1978), and Colt Seavers in American television
action seriesThe Fall Guy (1981â€"1986).Majors was born in Wyandotte,
Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. His parents, Carl and Alice Yeary, were
both killed in separate accidents (prior to his birth and when he was
one year old, respectively). At age two, Majors was adopted by an
uncle and aunt and moved with them to Middlesboro, Kentucky.He
participated in track and football at Middlesboro High School. He
graduated in 1957, and earned a scholarship to Indiana University,
where he again competed in sports. Majors transferred to Eastern
Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, in 1959. He played in his
first football game the following year but suffered a severe back
injury which left him paralyzed for two weeks and ended his college
athletic career. Following his injury, he turned his attention to
acting and performed in plays at the Pioneer Playhouse in Danville,
Kentucky. Majors graduated from Eastern Kentucky in 1962 with a degree
in History and Physical Education.After college, he received an offer
to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals football team. Instead, he
moved to Los Angeles and found work at the Los Angeles Park and
Recreation Department as the Recreation Director for North Hollywood
Park. In LA, Majors met many actors and industry professionals,
including Dick Clayton, who had been James Dean's agent, and Clayton
suggested he attend his acting school. After one year of acting
school, Clayton felt that Majors was ready to start his career. At
this time, he picked up the stage name Lee Majors as a tribute to
childhood hero Johnny Majors who was a player and future coach for the
University of Tennessee. Majors also studied at Estelle Harman's
acting school at MGM.
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