Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb born April 2, 1920 to December 23, 1982 actor, television producer, director, and
writer who is most famous for his role as Detective Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet. Born in
Santa Monica, California, Jack Webb grew up poor in the Bunker Hill slum section of Los Angeles.
John Randolph "Jack" Webb born April 2, 1920 to December 23, 1982 actor, television producer, director, and
writer who is most famous for his role as Detective Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet. Born in
Santa Monica, California, Jack Webb grew up poor in the Bunker Hill slum section of Los Angeles.
He was a sickly child and studied art as a young man. One of the tenants in the rooming house run by his mother was an ex-jazzman who started
Jack Webb with a lifelong interest in jazz when he gave him a recording of Bix Beiderbecke's "At the Jazz Band Ball." After serving as a
crewmember of a B-26 Marauder in World War II he starred in a radio show about a private detective, Pat Novak for Hire. Other radio shows
include Johnny Modero Pier 23, Jeff Regan Investigator, Murder and Mr. Malone, and One Out of Seven. Jack Webb had a role in the 1948 film
He Walked by Night about the murder of a California Highway Patrolman. The film was made in docudrama style with technical advisors Capt.
Harry Didion and Detective Marty Wynn of the Los Angeles Police Department. It was this film that gave Jack Webb the idea for Dragnet. After
getting assistance from, and riding along with, Los Angeles police personnel, Jack Webb produced Dragnet which premiered in 1949 on the NBC
radio network. Sponsored by Fatima cigarettes, Dragnet starred Jack Webb as Joe Friday and Barton Yarborough as Ben Romero. Walter
Schumann composed the theme music for the show. Jack Webb narrated the show in first person as the character Joe Friday and maintained
almost fanatical attention to detail. He often mentioned in interviews that he was angry about the "ridiculous" amount of abuse that they were often
subjected to. He said that he wanted to perform a service for the police by showing them as heroes and perhaps "make their life a little easier".
During the run of the Dragnet on Radio, Sergeant Joe Friday had a variety of partners. His first partner was Ben Romero played by Barton
Yarborough. After Yarborough's death in 1951, Friday's received a new partner, Ed Jacobs, played by Barney Phillips. After Jacobs, Friday's
was partnered with Officer Frank Smith who was played by a string of actors including Harry Bartell, Herb Ellis, Vic Perrin and Ben Alexander.
Alexander took over the role of Frank Smith in 1952, and retained this role for the remainder to the radio run of the show. Alexander also played
Officer Frank Smith on the Dragnet Television series. At the end of each show, the results of the trial of the suspect and severity of sentence were
announced by Hal Gibney.
Jack Webb's personal life was better defined by his love of jazz than his interest in police work. His life-long interest in the cornet and racially
tolerant attitude allowed him to move easily in the jazz culture, where Webb met singer and actress Julie London. They married in 1947 and raised
two children. They later divorced and Webb married three more times.
Jack Webb died of a heart attack in 1982 at the age of 62. He was interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills
Jack Webb with a lifelong interest in jazz when he gave him a recording of Bix Beiderbecke's "At the Jazz Band Ball." After serving as a
crewmember of a B-26 Marauder in World War II he starred in a radio show about a private detective, Pat Novak for Hire. Other radio shows
include Johnny Modero Pier 23, Jeff Regan Investigator, Murder and Mr. Malone, and One Out of Seven. Jack Webb had a role in the 1948 film
He Walked by Night about the murder of a California Highway Patrolman. The film was made in docudrama style with technical advisors Capt.
Harry Didion and Detective Marty Wynn of the Los Angeles Police Department. It was this film that gave Jack Webb the idea for Dragnet. After
getting assistance from, and riding along with, Los Angeles police personnel, Jack Webb produced Dragnet which premiered in 1949 on the NBC
radio network. Sponsored by Fatima cigarettes, Dragnet starred Jack Webb as Joe Friday and Barton Yarborough as Ben Romero. Walter
Schumann composed the theme music for the show. Jack Webb narrated the show in first person as the character Joe Friday and maintained
almost fanatical attention to detail. He often mentioned in interviews that he was angry about the "ridiculous" amount of abuse that they were often
subjected to. He said that he wanted to perform a service for the police by showing them as heroes and perhaps "make their life a little easier".
During the run of the Dragnet on Radio, Sergeant Joe Friday had a variety of partners. His first partner was Ben Romero played by Barton
Yarborough. After Yarborough's death in 1951, Friday's received a new partner, Ed Jacobs, played by Barney Phillips. After Jacobs, Friday's
was partnered with Officer Frank Smith who was played by a string of actors including Harry Bartell, Herb Ellis, Vic Perrin and Ben Alexander.
Alexander took over the role of Frank Smith in 1952, and retained this role for the remainder to the radio run of the show. Alexander also played
Officer Frank Smith on the Dragnet Television series. At the end of each show, the results of the trial of the suspect and severity of sentence were
announced by Hal Gibney.
Jack Webb's personal life was better defined by his love of jazz than his interest in police work. His life-long interest in the cornet and racially
tolerant attitude allowed him to move easily in the jazz culture, where Webb met singer and actress Julie London. They married in 1947 and raised
two children. They later divorced and Webb married three more times.
Jack Webb died of a heart attack in 1982 at the age of 62. He was interred in the Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills
| William Barton Yarborough and Jack Webb |
This a parody starring Bob Hope and
Jack Webb. It is from The Bob Hope
Show.
Jack Webb. It is from The Bob Hope
Show.
| Cemetery in Los Angeles. Jack Webb was given a funeral with full police honors (including the chief of police announcing that the badge number 714 that Webb used in Dragnet would be retired) although he had never actually served on the force. Not only did the LAPD use Dragnet episodes as training films for a time, they also named a police academy auditorium after him. |
| Barney Phillips |
| Welcome to Jack Webb's Dragnet |
49-06-10 Nickel Plated Gun
49-06-17 The Werewolf
49-06-24 Quick-Trigger Gun Men
49-07-07 Helen Corday Murder
49-07-14 The Impostor
49-07-21 Attempted City Hall Bombing
49-07-28 Missing Person: Juanita Lasky
49-08-04 Narcotics: Benny Trounsel
49-08-11 Maniac Murderer
49-08-18 Master Jewel Thief
49-08-25 Police Academy Blitz Bandits
49-09-01 Auto Burglaries
49-09-03 Missing Women
49-09-10 The Sullivan Kidnapping
49-09-17 James Vickers Cop Killing
49-09-24 Brick Bat Slayer
49-10-01 Truck Hijackers
49-11-24 Mother-In-Law Murder
49-12-01 Spring Street Gang
49-12-08 George Quan: The Jade Thumb Rings
49-12-15 The Garbage Chute Murder
49-12-22 22 Rifle for Christmas
49-12-29 The Roseland Roof Murder
50-01-05 The Big Escape
50-01-12 Big Man Part 1
50-01-19 Big Man Part 2
50-02-02 Claude Jimmerson, Child Killer
50-02-09 The Big Girl
50-02-23 The Big Grifter
50-03-02 The Big Kill
50-03-09 The Big Thank You
50-03-16 The Big Boys
50-03-23 The Big Gangster Part 1
50-03-30 The Big Gangster Part 2
50-04-06 The Big Book
50-04-13 The Big Watch
50-04-27 The Big Job
50-05-04 The Big Badge
50-05-11 The Big Knife
50-05-18 The Big Pug
50-05-25 The Big Key
49-06-17 The Werewolf
49-06-24 Quick-Trigger Gun Men
49-07-07 Helen Corday Murder
49-07-14 The Impostor
49-07-21 Attempted City Hall Bombing
49-07-28 Missing Person: Juanita Lasky
49-08-04 Narcotics: Benny Trounsel
49-08-11 Maniac Murderer
49-08-18 Master Jewel Thief
49-08-25 Police Academy Blitz Bandits
49-09-01 Auto Burglaries
49-09-03 Missing Women
49-09-10 The Sullivan Kidnapping
49-09-17 James Vickers Cop Killing
49-09-24 Brick Bat Slayer
49-10-01 Truck Hijackers
49-11-24 Mother-In-Law Murder
49-12-01 Spring Street Gang
49-12-08 George Quan: The Jade Thumb Rings
49-12-15 The Garbage Chute Murder
49-12-22 22 Rifle for Christmas
49-12-29 The Roseland Roof Murder
50-01-05 The Big Escape
50-01-12 Big Man Part 1
50-01-19 Big Man Part 2
50-02-02 Claude Jimmerson, Child Killer
50-02-09 The Big Girl
50-02-23 The Big Grifter
50-03-02 The Big Kill
50-03-09 The Big Thank You
50-03-16 The Big Boys
50-03-23 The Big Gangster Part 1
50-03-30 The Big Gangster Part 2
50-04-06 The Big Book
50-04-13 The Big Watch
50-04-27 The Big Job
50-05-04 The Big Badge
50-05-11 The Big Knife
50-05-18 The Big Pug
50-05-25 The Big Key
50-06-01 The Big Fake
50-06-08 The Big Smart Guy
50-06-15 The Big Press
50-06-22 The Big Mink
50-06-29 The Big Grab
50-07-06 The Big Frame
50-07-13 The Big Bomb
50-07-20 The Big Gent Part 1
50-07-27 The Big Gent Part 2
50-08-03 The Big Dare
50-08-10 The Big Actor
50-08-17 The Big Youngster
50-08-24 The Big Chance
50-08-31 The Big Check
50-09-07 The Big Poison
50-09-14 The Big Make
50-09-21 The Big Pair
50-09-28 The Big Death
50-10-05 The Big 38 Caliber
50-10-12 The Big Quack
50-10-19 The Big Grandma
50-10-26 The Big Meet
50-11-02 The Big Church
50-11-09 The Big Mother
50-11-16 The Big Parrot
50-11-23 The Big Betty
50-11-30 The Big Car
50-12-07 The Big Picture
50-12-14 The Big Break
50-12-21 22 Rifle for Christmas
50-12-28 The Big Family
51-01-04 The Big Holdup
51-01-11 The Big Jump
51-01-18 The Big Dance
51-01-25 The Big Tomato
51-02-01 The Big Children
51-02-08 Big Cast
51-02-15 The Big Crime
51-02-22 The Big Couple
51-03-01 The Big Partner
51-03-08 Big New Years
50-06-08 The Big Smart Guy
50-06-15 The Big Press
50-06-22 The Big Mink
50-06-29 The Big Grab
50-07-06 The Big Frame
50-07-13 The Big Bomb
50-07-20 The Big Gent Part 1
50-07-27 The Big Gent Part 2
50-08-03 The Big Dare
50-08-10 The Big Actor
50-08-17 The Big Youngster
50-08-24 The Big Chance
50-08-31 The Big Check
50-09-07 The Big Poison
50-09-14 The Big Make
50-09-21 The Big Pair
50-09-28 The Big Death
50-10-05 The Big 38 Caliber
50-10-12 The Big Quack
50-10-19 The Big Grandma
50-10-26 The Big Meet
50-11-02 The Big Church
50-11-09 The Big Mother
50-11-16 The Big Parrot
50-11-23 The Big Betty
50-11-30 The Big Car
50-12-07 The Big Picture
50-12-14 The Big Break
50-12-21 22 Rifle for Christmas
50-12-28 The Big Family
51-01-04 The Big Holdup
51-01-11 The Big Jump
51-01-18 The Big Dance
51-01-25 The Big Tomato
51-02-01 The Big Children
51-02-08 Big Cast
51-02-15 The Big Crime
51-02-22 The Big Couple
51-03-01 The Big Partner
51-03-08 Big New Years
