Editing Robert Urich (section)

===1970s–1980s===
[[File:Robert Urich Maureen Reagan and Jack Hogan.jpg|right|thumb|Urich, [[Maureen Reagan]], and [[Jack Hogan]] pose for a publicity photo for the TV series ''The Specialists'', 1974]]

Urich made his television debut in a guest starring role in ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]'', in 1972. The following year, he won a lead role in ''[[Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice (TV series)|Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice]]''. It was a television adaptation of the [[Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice|1969 film of the same title]]. It struggled in the ratings and was canceled after six episodes. He made his film debut later that same year opposite [[Clint Eastwood]] in the Dirty Harry film ''[[Magnum Force]]'' playing a vigilante motorcycle-patrol police officer. In 1975, Urich was cast in the action/crime drama series ''[[S.W.A.T. (1975 TV series)|S.W.A.T.]]''. According to the executive producer [[Aaron Spelling]], [[Burt Reynolds]] convinced Spelling to allow Urich to read for the part. Spelling was impressed with his reading and cast him in the role of "Officer Jim Street".<ref>{{cite book| last1=Spelling| first1=Aaron| last2=Graham| first2=Jefferson| title=Aaron Spelling: A Prime-Time Life| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IzKcIV1UufoC&q=Urich| year=1996| publisher=St. Martin's Press| isbn=978-0312313449| page=86}}</ref> A [[mid-season replacement]], it earned high enough ratings to warrant a second season. However, it was canceled in 1976 due to its violent content.<ref>{{cite book| last=McNab| first=Chris| title=Deadly Force: Firearms and American Law Enforcement, from the Wild West to the Streets of Today| year=2009| publisher=Osprey Publishing| isbn=978-1-846-03376-6| page=[https://archive.org/details/deadlyforcefirea0000mcna/page/126 126]| url=https://archive.org/details/deadlyforcefirea0000mcna/page/126}}</ref>

Urich's next role was on the sitcom ''[[Soap (TV series)|Soap]]'' as Peter the Tennis Player in 1977. That same year he was cast as Paul Thurston, a handsome, ego-driven talk show host in the ''[[Bewitched]]'' spin-off series ''[[Tabitha (TV series)|Tabitha]]'', starring [[Lisa Hartman Black|Lisa Hartman]]. Its ratings were initially strong, but schedule changes caused ratings to drop, and the show was canceled in 1978 after 13 episodes.<ref>{{cite book| last=Leszczak| first=Bob| title=Single Season Sitcoms, 1948-1979: A Complete Guide |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LaUqwWnpHLwC&q=tabitha| year=2012| publisher=McFarland| isbn=978-0786493050| page=178}}</ref> Shortly after, he was cast in another Aaron Spelling produced series, called ''[[Vegas (1978 TV series)|Vega$]]''. Urich portrayed the series' lead character, Dan Tanna, a private detective who solves various crimes in [[Las Vegas]]. ''Vega$'' was a hit for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and he received two [[Golden Globe Award]] nominations for his work on it. By the third season, ratings had started to decline, and with little network support, ''Vega$'' was canceled at the end of the third season in June, 1981. Shortly after, Urich signed with [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] (MGM) and focused on film roles. His first film for MGM was ''[[Endangered Species (1982 film)|Endangered Species]]'' (1982), a science fiction film directed by [[Alan Rudolph]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eu9DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1403,3390998&dq=robert+urich+vegas+canceled&hl=en| title=Snubbing TV Offers...Robert Urich Wants Movies Only| last=Scott| first=Vernon| date=February 19, 1982| work=The Durant Daily Democrat| agency=[[United Press International]]| page=7| access-date=January 4, 2013}}</ref>

After filming ''Endangered Species'', Urich returned to television and starred in ''[[Gavilan (TV series)|Gavilan]]''. He played the title character who was a former [[CIA]] agent turned [[Oceanography|oceanographer]]. The series, however, was canceled after seven episodes. In 1984, he starred in two more films ''[[The Ice Pirates]]'', and [[Wes Craven]]'s ''[[Invitation to Hell (1984 film)|Invitation to Hell]]''. In 1985, Urich co-starred in the film ''[[Turk 182]]'', although it was not a commercial success. In 1985, Urich returned to episodic television as the title character in ''[[Spenser: For Hire]]''. It was a hit and aired for three seasons. He also reprised the role in several television films after it was canceled: ''Spenser: Ceremony'' (1993), ''Spenser: Pale Kings and Princes'' (1994), ''Spenser: The Judas Goat'' (1994), and ''Spenser: A Savage Place'' (1995). In 1988, he hosted the documentary series ''[[National Geographic Explorer]]''. He won a [[CableACE Award]] for his work on the series. In 1989, he portrayed Jake Spoon in the acclaimed television miniseries ''[[Lonesome Dove (miniseries)|Lonesome Dove]]'', a role for which he received many positive reviews.