Whatever Happened to the Cast of ‘Black Sheep Squadron’?
Lack of brains and having a talent for trouble were two of the job requirements according to World War II flying ace Gregory ‘Pappy’ Boyington in NBC’s Black Sheep Squadron. The series debuted as Baa Baa Black Sheep on Sept. 21, 1976, and was renamed Black Sheep Squadron for its second and final season. The dramedy followed Pappy, played by Robert Conrad, as he tried to assemble his squadron and make them a respectable unit. “They’re gonna be the best damn squadron in the South Pacific,” Pappy tells his general. “I’m going to call them just what they are: the Black Sheep.” He also promises to bag plenty of Zeros, the legendary fighter aircraft flown by the Japanese Navy.
The one-hour dramedy followed the World War II adventures of Pappy and his U.S. Marine attack squadron of misfits. It was known for its high-stakes drama and comedic timing thanks to Conrad and the supporting cast, including Dana Elcar as Pappy’s hot-headed commanding officer, and Dirk Blocker (son of Bonanza‘s Dan Blocker), W.K. Stratton, James Whitmore Jr. and Robert Ginty as the squadron’s men. Placed on NBC’s Tuesday night lineup, the series was pitted against ABC’s Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. Black Sheep Squadron launched careers and created lifelong friendships. Let’s take a look at our favorite fighter pilots and their lives before and after Black Sheep Squadron.
Robert Conrad as Maj. Greg ‘Pappy’ Boyington
Richard Hewett/TV Guide/NBC/courtesy Everett Collection
Not only was Conrad the lead, but he was also the most known prior to the show’s premiere. Prior to Black Sheep Squadron, he was a cabaret singer in Chicago, recording songs under the name Bob Conrad. His performance as Capt. James ‘Jim’ West in The Wild Wild West from 1965-69 made him a household name. Black Sheep Squadron only catapulted him further. He starred in more hit films and series such as A Man Called Sloane (1979), Jingle All the Way (1996) and High Mountain Rangers (1987-88), which costarred his two sons and was executive produced by one of his daughters. Conrad began a new career path in 2008 when he launched a national radio show called The PM Show With Robert Conrad. Conrad passed away from heart failure on February 8, 2020, at the age of 84.
Dana Elcar as Col. Thomas A. Lard
Prior to Black Sheep Squadron, Elcar did stage work and had a few small TV roles. Col. Thomas A. Lard was his breakout role that led to him starring in MacGyver as Pete Thornton beginning in 1985. He went on to work behind the scenes, directing episodes of The Rockford Files and MacGyver. He also returned to theater, performing as Vladimir in the Santa Paula Theater Center’s 1992 production of Waiting for Godot and assisting in the founding of the Ann Arbor Theatre. Elcar appeared in guest roles on Law & Order and ER. He retired from acting in 2002 due to his progressing glaucoma. Elcar passed away June 6, 2005, at the age of 77 due to complications from pneumonia.
Simon Oakland as Gen. Thomas Moore, Robert Conrad as Maj. Greg ‘Pappy’ Boyington, Dana Elcar as Col. Thomas Lard Don Christy/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Simon Oakland as Maj. Gen. Thomas Moore
Oakland started as a violinist but pivoted to acting after succeeding on Broadway. He was known for his previous roles as Dr. Fred Richman in Psycho, Lt. Schrank in West Side Story, and episodes of The Twilight Zone. His role in Black Sheep Squadron led him to guest-star on more diverse projects like Charlie’s Angels, The Rockford Files and CHiPs. The last show he guest-starred on was Tucker’s Witch, which aired just months before his death from colon cancer on August 29, 1983, at the age of 68.
James Whitmore Jr. as Capt. James ‘Jim’ Gutterman
Now 77 years old, Whitmore is more known for his directing abilities as he strayed away from acting in the ’80s. He has directed episodes of NCIS, Quantum Leap, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Good Wife and Beverly Hills, 90210. Before Squadron, he guest-starred on few shows but was mainly known because of his father, James Whitmore. Whitmore also appeared in The Rockford Files and Hunter. He is currently still working, notably directing for the NCIS franchise.
Dirk Blocker as 1st Lt. Jerome ‘Jerry’ Bragg
Blocker, now 68, went from guest appearances on shows like Marcus Welby, M.D. and Little House on the Prairie and only being known as the son of legendary actor Dan Blocker to starring in Brooklyn Nine-Nine as beloved character Detective Michael Hitchcock. Following roles in Poltergeist (as Jeff Shaw) and Prince of Darkness (as Mullins), Blocker returned to school to get his bachelor’s degree to teach and even published a children’s book, Master and the Little Monk. His credits include dozens of guest spots and other roles until landing on Brooklyn Nine-Nine for eight seasons.
John Larroquette as 2nd Lt. Robert ‘Bob’ Anderson
NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images
Black Sheep Squadron launched Larroquette, now 78, into well-known roles like Capt. Stillman in Stripes and Dan Fielding on Night Court. He won four consecutive primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series from 1985 to 1988 for Night Court. His openness about his battle with alcoholism and his sobriety journey has led into his professional career and inspired him to produce and star in The John Larroquette Show, a sitcom that borrows from his life. He recently starred in a three-season revival of Night Court on NBC, from 2023-25.
W.K. Stratton as 1st Lt. Lawrence ‘Larry’ Casey
Before he was 1st Lt. Lawrence ‘Larry’ Casey, Stratton was making guest appearances on shows like Starsky and Hutch and The Love Boat. After the show ended he appeared in JAG, Quantum Leap, The Great Santini and Tequila and Bonetti. In the aughts, Stratton got into voicework, appearing in titles as varied as Spy Kids 4 and Machete Kills. Stratton’s friends and family threw him a retirement party in 2024. He just celebrated turning 76 on August 2.
Robert Ginty as 1st Lt. Thomas Joseph ‘T.J’ Wiley
Before he was on the silver screen, Ginty worked in regional theater and then dabbled in minor TV and film roles. Black Sheep Squadron led him to become a leading man in 1980 action films like The Exterminator (1980) as John Eastland, and crime drama Hawaiian Heat (1984) as Mac Riley. Ginty began writing and directing, working on The Bounty Hunter, Woman of Desire and Charmed, among others. He returned to theater and became an artistic director of the Irish Theatre Arts Center in West Hollywood, which brought him to Canada, France, Ireland and Italy. Ginty passed away on September 21, 2009, at 60 years old from cancer.
Larry Manetti as Lt. Bob Boyle
Richard Hewett/TV Guide/NBC/courtesy Everett Collection
Before Manetti was on Black Sheep Squadron, he guest-starred on several popular crime dramas — including Mannix, Barnaby Jones, The Streets of San Francisco, and Starsky and Hutch — but Bob Boyle was his real breakout role. Black Sheep Squadron led him to land the role of Orville ‘Rick’ Wright on Magnum, P.I., which he became known for. He then guest-starred on various shows like JAG, Hawaii Five-0, Las Vegas, and Walker, Texas Ranger. Switching from the screen to writing, he penned a memoir about his experience on Magnum, P.I. titled Aloha Magnum. The Larry Manetti Show on CRN Digital Talk Radio found Manetti interviewing celebrities from classic television. He turned 80 on July 23.
Jeff MacKay as 1st Lt. Donald French
MacKay starred in a couple of projects prior to Squadron, like The Krofft Supershow and Dr. Shrinker where he played Gordie, but after the show his career took off. He landed roles in Battlestar Galactica, The Wild Wild West Revisited, Tales of the Gold Monkey, JAG and Airwolf. He also dabbled in voice acting for the original Transformers animated series. MacKay passed away on August 22, 2008, at age 59 due to liver failure.
Joey Aresco as Sgt. John David ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson
Prior to the show, Aresco only had small background roles in shows like Kolchak: The Night Stalker, Target Risk and Cannon. Even though Hutch was killed off in the first season, it was plenty of airtime to get Aresco’s career going. After Season 1 ended, Aresco starred as Johnny Bonnaro in Swing Shift, Carlo in Santa Barbara and Frank Falucci in The Big Year. Now 76, his most recent work is as an executive producer for the upcoming film Night Comes.
From left: Jeff McKay, John Larroquette (rear), Larry Manetti, Robert Conrad, Robert Ginty, Dirk Blocker, W.K. Stratton, James Whitmore Jr. NBC/courtesy Everett Collection
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