Mike Connors, standing at an imposing 6ft 1 (185.4 cm), brought his athletic height from college basketball—where he played guard—to his commanding presence as private detective Joe Mannix in the CBS series Mannix (1967-1975).
In 1976, he reflected, 'I'm 6 feet 1. That was pretty good for a guard in my day, now I would be a midget,' underscoring how his stature suited the era's sports and enhanced his tough-guy image on screen.
Earning a Golden Globe in 1970 and four straight Emmy nominations, Connors' towering frame amplified his rugged roles across a six-decade career.