Whatever Happened to Richard Dean Anderson, the Original MacGyver? (Exclusive Photos)
No one could solve a world problem with duct tape better than Richard Dean Anderson, the original MacGyver. The 1980s heartthrob masterfully played Mac on ABC’s original seven-season run of MacGyver (1985-92); for sci-fi fans, he’s just as beloved as Colonel Jack O’Neill from Stargate SG-1. However, while the actor has largely stepped away from the spotlight in recent years, Anderson remains deeply connected to the fans who helped make him a star and regularly attends conventions.
Credit: Coleman-Rayner
As recently as April 25, 2025, the 75-year-old shared a short update on his website, letting his fans know that despite a toothache, he was still boarding a flight to the South Texas Comic Con to meet the fans this weekend. Cameras also captured the somewhat reclusive star outside the Cie Salon in Malibu, where he playfully posed for photographers.
Credit: Coleman-Rayner
After MacGyver, Anderson appeared in over 200 episodes of Stargate SG-1 and continued his work in the franchise through appearances in Stargate Atlantis, Stargate Universe, and several TV movies.
Credit: Coleman-Rayner
Anderson’s most recent acting role was in 2013 when he made a brief and humorous guest appearance as himself in the sitcom Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, which paid tribute to his legacy of films. In 2022, he also participated in a virtual table read for Stargate A.I. 2.0, which was a unique project in which an AI wrote a new Stargate script that was read by Anderson and his co-stars Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks. It was a lighthearted reunion that delighted fans across the world.
Paramount Television/Everett Collection
Though he hasn’t taken on new acting projects, Anderson remains active on the fan circuit. In 2024 alone, he appeared at several conventions around the world, including GalaxyCon Richmond, Comic Con France, Comic Con Holland, and the German Film & Comic Con. Fans were thrilled to meet him, and he often took part in panels, photo ops and Q&A sessions. He also reunited with Tapping and Stargate co-creator Brad Wright at Basingstoke Comic Con in the UK and joined Tapping again in Washington for a fan event.
MGM Television/Everett Collection
He closed out the year with a final appearance at SpaceCon San Antonio in October 2024 as part of a special Stargate: Legends and Legacies panel. He’s scheduled to appear alongside more Stargate alumni at FedCon 33 in Bonn, Germany, in May 2025.
There may be a reason he scaled back on his acting gigs. In September 2024, Anderson shared on his official website that he’d been experiencing chronic headaches and was undergoing medical tests. He ultimately canceled a planned appearance in Australia to focus on his health, and fans have been very supportive of him putting his health first.
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