Anecdotes

When he started going blind, his character Peter Thornton on MacGyver (1985) was also written with the same affliction. His blindness was also written into his guest appearance on New York district (1990), resulting from Diabetic Retinopathy.

Befriended Richard Dean Anderson on the set of "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" in 1982. Anderson remembered Elcar when production on "MacGyver" started, and recommended Elcar for the part of Pete Thornton, MacGyver's friend and director of operations at The Phoenix Foundation. Elcar appeared in almost every episode of the show, only backing out when becoming ill in his later years.

Went blind due to Glaucoma c. 1991 and required special computer equipment to read printed text for the rest of his life.

His body double on MacGyver (1985) was Don S. Davis who would later star on La porte des étoiles (1997) with Elcar's co-star Richard Dean Anderson.

Dana drove taxicab in New York City in the early 1960s prior to making the move to Los Angeles and Hollywood.

Attended University of Michigan. Founded Ann Arbor Theater, while in college.

Joined the U.S. Navy in 1948: Was stationed in Newfoundland, Canada.

Parents were Danish immigrants. Father was a butcher; mother was a nanny.

He made guest appearances on both of the longest running prime time dramas in US television history: Le justicier (1955) and New York district (1990).

Founded L.A. Actors' Theater in mid-1970s. Founded Santa Paula Theater Center in 1987.

Died the same day as Anne Bancroft.

At the time of his death in 2005, he was survived by his companion, Thelma M. Garcia, one son, Dane, and three daughters, Nora, Chandra and Marin.

Did not appear in either of the two MacGyver (1985) TV-movies: MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis (1994) and MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (1994)

He was awarded the 1986 Drama Logue Award for Outstanding Direction for "Rat in the Skull," at the Mark Taper Too Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

The second season of MacGyver (1985), on which he played the role of Peter Thornton, was released on DVD in the United States on June 7, 2005, only one day after his death.

Bald and beefy American character actor from the off-Broadway stage, a noticeably gruff presence in scores of 1970s TV crime shows and action adventure.

Married and divorced three times. Was long-time companion of Thelma M. Garcia, at the time of his death.