Honestly, it feels like a fever dream when you look back at 1985. We had a talking car, a high-tech helicopter, and for thirteen glorious weeks on ABC, we had a motorcycle that could hit 300 miles per hour in the middle of Los Angeles traffic. Street Hawk was supposed to be the next big thing. It had the Tangerine Dream soundtrack, the sleek black suit, and a bike that made every kid in the neighborhood want to glue a flashlight to their BMX. But the cast of Street Hawk is where the real story lives. While the show was a "one-season wonder," the people behind those helmets and computer consoles went on to have some of the most bizarrely successful and varied careers in Hollywood history.
You probably remember Rex Smith. He was the face of the show, playing Jesse Mach—a motorcycle cop who got sidelined by a leg injury only to become a secret vigilante. But did you know he was a massive teen idol before he ever touched that Honda XR500? Or that his co-star, Joe Regalbuto, would eventually become one of the most recognizable faces in 90s sitcom history? It’s a weird mix.
Rex Smith: From Teen Heartthrob to Broadway Royalty
Rex Smith didn't just appear out of nowhere. Before he was Jesse Mach, he was a gold-record-selling singer with "You Take My Breath Away." He was basically the Harry Styles of 1979. When he took the lead in Street Hawk, he brought this earnest, boyish energy that worked surprisingly well against the show's dark, "urban crime" aesthetic.
After the show was canceled in May 1985, Rex didn't exactly go hungry. He pivoted hard back to his roots: the stage. If you’re a musical theater geek, you know him as Frederic from The Pirates of Penzance. He actually won a Theatre World Award for that. He spent decades on Broadway and in national tours, starring in everything from Grease (as Danny Zuko, obviously) to Sunset Boulevard.
Fast forward to 2026, and Rex is still a bit of a legend in the nostalgia circuit. He’s nearing 70 now but still looks like he could jump a bike over a fruit stand. He’s been incredibly open about his life, including the wild story of finding out he had a grown son he didn't know about until the late 90s. He’s less about the Hollywood red carpets these days and more about the "Confessions of a Teen Idol" one-man show, which is part musical, part therapy session. He’s proud of the show, too. He’s even pushed for a reboot over the years, though whether the world is ready for a 2020s Hyperthrust is still up for debate.
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Joe Regalbuto: The Tech Genius Who Found "Murphy Brown"
Then there’s Norman Tuttle. Every 80s hero needed a "guy in the chair," and Joe Regalbuto was the quintessential version. As the prickly, obsessive federal engineer who designed the bike, he provided the perfect foil to Rex Smith’s impulsive Jesse.
If you feel like you've seen him everywhere since 1985, you’re right. Regalbuto is a character actor powerhouse. Most people recognize him as Frank Fontana from Murphy Brown, a role he played for ten seasons (and returned to for the 2018 revival). He’s the kind of actor who just never stops working.
He’s cropped up in:
- The Kominsky Method
- What We Do in the Shadows (hilarious guest spot)
- Goliath
- Wednesday (Season 2 on Netflix)
Joe’s career is the perfect example of how the cast of Street Hawk didn't let a "failed" show define them. While the bike went into a museum (and then disappeared), Joe just kept booking gigs. He’s also a director, having helmed dozens of episodes of television. He’s essentially the elder statesman of the original crew.
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The Supporting Players and the "What If" Factor
Jeannie Wilson played Rachel Adams, the public relations officer who always seemed just one step away from figuring out Jesse’s secret. Jeannie was a staple of 80s TV, appearing in Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote. She eventually stepped away from the limelight, but her role in Street Hawk remains a favorite for fans who appreciated that she wasn't just a damsel in distress—she was a competent professional in a show that, let’s be real, was often a bit of a "boys' club."
Then there’s Richard Venture. He played Commander Leo Altobelli. Venture was a classic "that guy" actor. You saw him in Scent of a Woman and All the President's Men. Sadly, he passed away in 2017 at the age of 94. He gave the show its much-needed authoritative weight, playing the grumpy boss who (unknowingly) hated his own secret weapon.
The Guest Star Goldmine
The most insane thing about the cast of Street Hawk isn't the main leads—it’s the people who did one-off episodes before they were famous.
- George Clooney: Yes, that George Clooney. In the episode "A Second Self," he plays Jesse’s old friend who turns out to be a car thief. The producers actually wanted him for the lead, but the studio nixed it. Imagine a world where Clooney was the "Man, the Machine, Street Hawk."
- Christopher Lloyd: Right before Back to the Future made him a household name, he played a drug kingpin in the pilot. He was terrifying.
- Bryan Cranston: He had a tiny role. Watching it now is like seeing a glitch in the Matrix.
Why We’re Still Talking About Them in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss the show as a Knight Rider clone. It kinda was. But the chemistry of the cast of Street Hawk gave it a soul that other clones lacked. They took the ridiculous premise—a motorcycle that could "liquefy" people with a laser—and played it straight.
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The show failed because of its time slot. ABC put it up against Dallas on Friday nights. That's like sending a paper boat into a hurricane. By the time the network realized they had a cult hit on their hands, the sets were already struck.
What to Do Next If You’re Feeling Nostalgic
If you want to revisit the world of Jesse Mach and Norman Tuttle, don't just look for blurry clips on YouTube.
- Check the High-Def Remasters: Several boutique labels have released the full 13-episode run on Blu-ray. The Tangerine Dream score sounds incredible in modern surround sound.
- Look for the Toys: If you have an original Kenner Street Hawk bike in the box, hold onto it. Collectors in 2026 are paying upwards of $500 for mint-condition pieces.
- Follow Rex Smith on Socials: He’s surprisingly active and loves interacting with fans of the "Hawk."
The show might have been a "failure" by 1985 network standards, but for those of us who grew up watching Jesse Mach engage Hyperthrust, it’s a permanent part of our DNA. The cast moved on, but the legend of the all-terrain attack motorcycle is still idling in the back of our minds.