Actor Randolph Mantooth, best known for playing firefighter-paramedic John “Johnny” Gage on NBC’s 1970s drama “Emergency!,” dies at 80. NBC News reports that his family announced his death following a long illness. Multiple outlets credit the series with bringing the paramedic profession to a broad television audience, and describe Mantooth’s breakout in 1972 when he joined “Emergency!” and gained national recognition for his role alongside co-star Kevin Tighe, who played Roy DeSoto. After “Emergency!,” Mantooth continued working in television, appearing in a range of shows that included daytime soap operas and other series. Several entertainment and news outlets also note his later screen work, including appearances tied to soap opera productions. He died in Ventura, according to Variety, with other outlets focusing on his legacy as the face of the show’s emergency medical response team. Mantooth’s death is widely covered as the passing of a longtime television figure associated with “Emergency!” and its public profile of paramedics.