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Known for:	Pete Kelly's Blues, Dragnet, Adam-12
Birth name:	John Randolph Webb
Birthday:	2 April 1920, Santa Monica, California, USA
Height:	5' 10" (1.78 m)

Performed charity work related to widows and orphans of police officers killed in duty. Upon his death, the badge number 714, used by his character Joe Friday in the "Dragnet" TV shows, was officially retired by the Los Angeles Police Department. Was buried with full honors befitting an LAPD detective, including a 17-gun salute. Not only did the LAPD use "Dragnet" episodes as training films for a time, they also named a police academy auditorium after Webb. Contrary to popular belief, his character, Joe Friday, never said, "Just the facts, ma'am" in any episode of "Dragnet". The actual line was, "All we want [or "need"] are the facts, ma'am." Starred as the title character on ABC Radio's "Pat Novak for Hire" (1946 and 1949). Had just over 6,000 jazz albums in his private collection. Portrayed the title character (AKA The Lion's Eye) on CBS Radio's "Jeff Regan, Investigator" (1948). Portrayed the title character on NBC Radio's "Pete Kelly's Blues" (1951). He turned down the role of the Dean in Animal House because he felt it would be poking fun at his straight-laced, law-and-order image; he was cloosely identified with law and order, in particular police officers, and he felt that the film would be making fun of that, although he claimed he was willing to poke fun at himself - and, in fact, did just that in a famous skit on "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The" (1962)_ . Was a close friend of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry. Was the basis for the "Brett Chase" character in L.A. Confidential. At the height of "Dragnet's" popularity, people would actually call the LAPD wanting to speak to Webb's character, Sgt. Joe Friday. The Department eventually came up with a stock answer to the large volume of calls: "Sorry, it's Joe's day off." Was part of the investigation of the Black Dalia which was in turn some of his inspiration for "Dragnet".

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