Best Action TV Series of 1980s

I grew up in the mid 1980s. Like many other kids from the same generation, I spent much time in front of TV and became familiar with many popular action characters, from The A Team's strong man "Bad Attitude" Barracus to smart secret agent MacGyver, from the loner military chopper pilot Capt. Stringfellow Hawke in Airwolf to the stylish urban Miami detective Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice.

Below is a list of - in my opinion - 8 notable and iconic action series which aired (original run) from 1980s to early 1990s.

MacGyver series created by Lee David Zlotoff, aired on ABC and many other networks from September 29, 1985 to May 21, 1992. It was starred by Richard Dean Anderson who play Angus MacGyver, brainy and resourceful secret agent who prefer non-violent conflict resolution wherever possible and refuses to carry or use firearms. Actor Dana Elcar play Pete Thornton, MacGyver's boss and best friend. MacGyver series was filmed in Los Angeles during Seasons 1, 2 and 7, and in Vancouver, Canada from Seasons 3-6.

The A Team has original run on NBC during January 23, 1983 to March 8, 1987, and has achieved cult status through U.S. and international syndications. The A Team series portray a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces while being on the run from the military for "a crime they didn't commit", and now on their mission as soldiers of fortune.

The A Team leader was Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (George Peppard), with his team member Lt. Templeton "Faceman" Peck (Dirk Benedict) a smooth-talking con-man who serves as the team's appropriator of vehicles and other useful items, Capt. H.M. "Howling Mad" Murdock (Dwight Schultz) the insane team's pilot, and the team's strong man and mechanic, Sgt. B.A. "Bad Attitude" Baracus (Mr. T).

The A-Team series was created by writers and producers Frank Lupo and Stephen J. Cannell.

Often recognized as one of the most influential television series of all time, Miami Vice notable for its heavy impact on popular culture, fashion (Don Johnson costume as Det. Sonny Crockett: Italian sport coat, T-shirt, white linen pants, and slip-on sockless loafers heavily imitated by male audiences), boats, cars, firearm and accessories, and nice integration of soundtrack and effects to tell each of story.

Miami Vice produced by Michael Mann and ran for five season from 1984 - 1989 on NBC, and on USA Network on January 25, 1990 (an unaired episode during its syndication). Currently Miami Vice show still airs on many worldwide TV network such as Viasat 4 in Norway, the Sleuth network in the United States, MBC Action in the Arab World, and Iris in Italy.

Miami Vice starred Don Johnson as Detective Sergeant James "Sonny" Crockett and Phillip Michael Thomas as Detective Ricardo "Rico" Tubbs, two Metro-Dade Police detectives working undercover in Miami. Other main characters are Edward James Olmos as Lieutenant Martin Castillo, Saundra Santiago as Detective Gina Navarro Calabrese, John Diehl as Detective Lawrence "Larry" Zito, Olivia Brown as Detective Trudy Joplin. Beside its main characters, Miami Vice also featured many notable celebrities and public figures as guest stars, including Bruce Willis, Phil Collins, James Brown, Willie Nelson, Julia Robert, Roberto Duran, Chrysler executive Lee Iacocca, and many more.

Michael Mann went on to direct a film adaptation of the television series, which was released on July 28, 2006.

Written by Donald P. Bellisario, Glen A. Larson, and Chris Abbott, Magnum P.I. series relates the life of Thomas Sullivan Magnum (Tom Selleck), a retired U.S. NAVY official that have been in the Vietnam war. He lives and resides in 200-acre (0.81 km2) beachfront estate, known as Robin's Nest, in Hawaii and working as a Private Investigator ("P.I.").

Magnum P.I. also shows Theodore "TC" Calvin (Roger E. Mosley), a helicopter pilot who operates a tourist charter business called Island Hoppers, and Orville Wilbur Richard “Rick” Wright (Larry Manetti), manager of the King Kamehameha Club, an exclusive beachfront members-only club. Both are Magnum friends that met him in the Navy.

Tom Selleck won an Emmy in 1984 for his portrayal, followed by co-star John Hillerman three years later.

Knight Rider story centered to Michael Knight, a high-tech lone ranger who drove KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand), a smart, artificial intelligence computer equipped car. The series was broadcast on NBC and originally ran from September 26, 1982, to August 8, 1986.

Knight Rider starred David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight. William Daniels casted to voice the smooth-talkin' car KITT.

Airwolf series was created by Donald Bellisario and starred by starred Jan-Michael Vincent as Stringfellow Hawke (Captain, U.S Army), Ernest Borgnine as Dominic Santini, Alex Cord as Michael Coldsmith-Briggs III, a Deputy Director of CIA division with code-name: Archangel, and Jean Bruce Scott as Caitlin O’Shannessy for the first three seasons. The series ran from January 22, 1984 – August 7, 1987.

Airwolf concerned a high-tech military helicopter, code named Airwolf. It is an advanced supersonic helicopter with stealth capabilities and a formidable arsenal.

Mission: Impossible originally aired on the CBS network from September 1966 to March 1973 and returned for two seasons on ABC, from 1988 to 1990. Mission: Impossible opening theme - composed by Lalo Schifrin - considered to be one of the most iconic themes, accompanied with scene shows Jim Phelps receiving instructions on a self-destructs tape.

Casts for revival Mission: Impossible including Peter Graves as Jim Phelps, Thaao Penghlis as Nicholas Black, Phil Morris as Grant Collier, and Bob Johnson as Voice on Disc.

21 Jump Street created by Patrick Hasburgh and Stephen J. Cannell and was produced by Stephen J. Cannell Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series aired from April 12, 1987 to April 27, 1991.

21 Jump Street focused on a squad of police officers investigating crimes in high schools and other teenage venues. It starred prominent actors and actresses at the time: Johnny Depp as Officer Tom Hanson, Dustin Nguyen as Officer Harry Truman, Richard Grieco as Officer Dennis Booker, and Holly Robinson as Officer Judith "Judy" Anne/Marie/Esther Hoffs.