Mike Stoker, the genuine Los Angeles County firefighter who portrayed a fictionalized version of himself on the 1970s NBC series Emergency!, remains alive at 85 years old as of August 2026. After a 30-year career with the LACoFD and a brief acting stint, Stoker chose a private retirement split between Mexico and Montana, occasionally emerging for fan conventions.
Who Is Mike Stoker?
Charles Michael Stoker, known professionally as Mike Stoker, was born on June 25, 1941, in Los Angeles, California. He is a retired firefighter and actor best known for playing Fireman Mike Stoker on Emergency! from 1972 to 1978. Unlike most castmates, Stoker was a real firefighter first—he already held a Screen Actors Guild card and knew how to operate a fire engine, which earned him the role. The show used his actual name, job, and skills.
What Is Mike Stoker's Age?
As of 2026, Mike Stoker is 85 years old. He was born on June 25, 1941, making his zodiac sign Cancer.
Is Mike Stoker Still Alive?
Yes, Mike Stoker is alive as of August 2026. He continues to make occasional public appearances at nostalgia events, including a scheduled appearance in mid-July 2026 at the Flashback Film & TV Festival in Olive Branch, Mississippi, where he signed autographs and shared stories from Emergency!
Is Mike Stoker from Santa Barbara?
No. Searches for "Mike Stoker from Santa Barbara" refer to a different person—a Santa Barbara County attorney and Republican politician who served as county supervisor and later headed EPA's Region 9 office under the Trump administration. That Mike Stoker is unrelated to the retired firefighter and actor.
Mike Stoker's Early Life and Family
Stoker's older brother, Patrick, was already a Los Angeles County firefighter and inspired Mike to join the department. Before that, Mike enlisted in the Navy two days after graduating high school in 1959, training as an electronics technician at the Naval Air Station in Millington, Tennessee. He officially joined the LACoFD on July 1, 1966.
Career: Real Firefighter and TV Star
Mike Stoker worked as a fire truck engineer for the Los Angeles County Fire Department before becoming a television star. He later featured in Emergency!, which ran from 1972 to 1977 (with a TV movie in 1978). The show centered on early first responders and ER doctors at fictional Fire Station 51 and Rampart General Hospital. After Emergency!, Stoker never acted again but remained with the fire department for over 30 years, retiring as Captain from Station 106 in Rolling Hills Estates, California, in 1996.
Was Mike Stoker a Real Fireman on Emergency!?
Yes. Mike Stoker was a genuine on-duty Los Angeles County firefighter throughout Emergency!'s entire run. Because NBC did not pay his firefighting salary, he personally arranged shift trades with other firefighters to cover filming days, paying them back double the hours he owed. It was common for him to be in uniform on duty nearly every day, splitting time between the firehouse and the studio.
In a 2009 interview with Geocities, Stoker reflected: "I spent 30 years as a fireman, and it was very important in the progress. That's very rewarding. Seeing the great turnout (in DC and Hyattsville, MD) and all the firemen coming up to me telling me we had such an impact on them -- to be a part of that is so rewarding and fun."
How Long Has Mike Stoker Been a Firefighter?
Mike Stoker spent roughly 30 years with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, from 1966 until his retirement in 1996. During filming of Emergency!, he worked out of LACoFD Station 69 in Topanga Canyon. His final assignment was Station 106 in Rolling Hills Estates, where he held the rank of Captain for the last 18 years of his career.
Is Mike Stoker Married?
Yes, Mike Stoker is married. He met his wife while working on Emergency!—she was one of the original paramedic instructors for the City of Los Angeles. In the same 2009 interview, Stoker said: "My wife was a paramedic instructor - one of the original paramedic instructors for the city of Los Angeles. I met her on the set." He added: "So I was always working. I was single the first five years of the show - only in the last one was I married."
Who Are Mike Stoker's Children?
Mike Stoker has three children: two sons and one daughter. His daughter, Maggie Stoker, was crowned Miss Teen Montana in the late 1990s and competed in the Miss Teen USA pageant. One of his grandsons later became a Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter, continuing a family tradition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the real fireman on Emergency!? Mike Stoker is the cast member most accurately described as the real fireman, because he held an active LACoFD position throughout filming. Castmate Marco Lopez shared his real name with his character but was not a real-life firefighter.
Is Mike Stoker married? Yes, he is married to a former paramedic instructor he met on the set of Emergency!
Who is Mike Stoker? He is a retired Los Angeles County firefighter best known for playing a version of himself on the 1970s NBC series Emergency!
How long has Mike Stoker been a firefighter? Mike served with the LACoFD for about 30 years, from 1966 until his retirement in 1996, reaching the rank of Captain.
How old is Mike Stoker? The Emergency! actor is 85 years old as of 2026.
What happened to Mike Stoker from Emergency!? After Emergency!, Mike Stoker returned to firefighting, retired as a captain, and now lives a quiet life with his family away from the spotlight.
