During the height of the show's popularity, Edward Woodward was often approached on the street by people in need, with situations similar to those depicted in the show. He began carrying flyers with the phone numbers of social services organizations and legal clinics for them to contact.
Edward Woodward suffered a heart attack in the summer of 1987. Accordingly, the producers needed to find a quick replacement while Woodward recuperated. Robert Mitchum was brought on as an old friend of Robert McCall, who helped McCall's son search for his missing father in the two-part episode, "Mission: McCall". Richard Jordan was also brought on as embittered former operative Harley Gage, and stayed for eight more episodes.
Edward Woodward revealed in an interview he met Arnold Schwarzenegger and that Arnold Schwarzenegger told him that he was a fan of The Equalizer and that Arnold Schwarzenegger got the death stare from him for his action movies.
Edward Woodward was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series five years in a row even though the show aired for four years. The final two episodes were burned off in August 1989, which made him eligible to be nominated in 1990 for the 1989-1990 season. Even though the show ran for four seasons, it started in 1985, and ended in 1989. Therefore, his nominations were for 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, and 1989. A total of one nomination per year.
The theme song for this show was written by Stewart Copeland, former drummer with the band The Police.