Mike Stoker

Charles Michael "Mike" Stoker (born June 25, 1941) is a retired firefighter, engineer, actor, and captain with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD).

Life and career

Mike Stoker was born Charles Michael Stoker on June 25, 1941, in San Francisco, California.

As an actor, Stoker appeared as "Fireman Mike Stoker" in Robert A. Cinader and Harold Jack Bloom's NBC/Universal TV series Emergency! (1972–1978), alongsinde Randolph Mantooth, Kevin Tighe, Julie London, and Bobby Troup.

Stoker was cast in the role primarily because he was an actor with a Screen Actors Guild card, and a qualified firefighter specialist engineer able to drive and operate the fire engine. During the time Emergency! was in production, he was an engineer at Los Angeles County Fire Department Station 69 in Topanga Canyon, which is about 20 miles from Universal Studios, where the series was filmed. As an engineer, it was Stoker's responsibility to drive Engine 69 to the scene of the call, and operate Engine 69's pump to provide water to crews fighting the fire – exactly as his character did in the television series. Of the main characters, Stoker's was perhaps one of the least seen on camera, ostensibly due to his firefighting shift work schedule. However, he became the production's face for public safety, making several commercials for fire prevention and awareness, mostly shot on the Emergency! set.

After Emergency! ended in 1978, Stoker opted to continue in his firefighting career as opposed to acting, eventually achieving the rank of Captain with the LACoFD. His last assignment was out of Station 106 in Rolling Hills prior to his retirement in 1996.

Stoker later invested in real estate, buying several condos and homes in the Western United States, both for his use and as rental properties.

Personal life

Stoker has two sons and one daughter. His daughter, Maggie Stoker, was named Miss Teen Montana in 1998.