Finding the right cast of The Return of Hunter isn't just about matching faces to a script. It’s about capturing that weird, grit-under-the-fingernails energy that fans of the original expected. When rumors first started swirling about a revival or a continuation of the Hunter mythos—specifically the projects surrounding the 2003 TV movies and the short-lived revival series—people weren't just looking for Rick Hunter. They wanted the soul of the 80s brought into a modern, slightly more cynical world.
Honestly, the chemistry between Fred Dryer and Stepfanie Kramer is one of those lightning-in-a-bottle situations. You can't just manufacture it. If you look back at The Return of Hunter (the 2003 television movie that served as a backdoor pilot for the brief NBC revival), you see a cast trying to balance nostalgia with a legitimate police procedural vibe. It worked. Sorta.
The Core Duo: Why Rick and Dee Dee Still Matter
Fred Dryer returned as Rick Hunter, and he didn't miss a beat. Dryer, a former NFL defensive end for the Los Angeles Rams, always brought a physicality to the role that felt authentic. He wasn't some polished Hollywood actor playing a cop; he felt like a guy who had actually walked a beat. By the time we get to the "Return" era, Hunter has been promoted. He’s a Lieutenant now. He’s older, maybe a bit more tired, but the edge is still there.
Then there’s Stepfanie Kramer as Sgt. Dee Dee McCall.
Their dynamic is the whole show. Period. In the 2003 TV movie The Return of Hunter, we see McCall living in London. She's engaged to someone else. It creates this immediate, palpable tension that the cast of The Return of Hunter had to navigate. Kramer brings a certain softness that counters Dryer’s rigidity. It’s the "classic" partner trope, but they did it first and, arguably, better than most modern procedurals.
Breaking Down the Supporting Players
It wasn't just the big two, though. The cast expanded to include fresh faces meant to bridge the gap between the old-school fans and a new audience.
- Captain Terence Keyes (played by Charles Hallahan in the original, but absent here): One of the biggest shifts in the "Return" era was the absence of the late Charles Hallahan. His character, Captain Devane, was the moral compass. Without him, the dynamic shifted.
- The New Blood: In the 2003 revival series that followed the TV movies, we were introduced to younger detectives like Richie Guzman (played by Sid Sham) and Randall Skylar (played by Gregory Scott Cummins). * The Antagonists: Every Hunter story needs a villain that feels dangerous. In the specific Return of Hunter NBC movie, the plot centered around a killer from Hunter’s past. This required a cast that could handle heavy, dramatic weight without veering into "villain of the week" territory.
Sid Sham’s portrayal of Guzman was particularly interesting. He represented the "new" LAPD—tech-savvy, following the rules (mostly), and providing a foil to Hunter’s more... "instinctive" methods. It's that classic generational clash.
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Why This Cast Worked (And Why It Struggled)
The cast of The Return of Hunter faced an uphill battle. You're competing with a legacy.
When the original Hunter aired in the 80s, it was a Top 10 show. It was gritty. It was L.A. noir under the bright California sun. Bringing that back in the early 2000s meant the actors had to contend with a different television landscape. Shows like The Shield or The Wire were starting to redefine what a cop show could be.
Dryer and Kramer stayed true to their characters. That’s the nuance here. They didn't try to make Hunter "dark and edgy" in a fake way. They just let him be an older version of himself.
The Missing Pieces
One thing many people forget is that the cast of The Return of Hunter actually varied depending on which "Return" you’re talking about. Are we talking about the 2002 movie Hunter: Return to Justice? Or the 2003 Hunter: Back in Force?
In Return to Justice, we see the return of Bruce Davison as Captain Jack Small. Davison is an incredible character actor (you might know him from X-Men or Oz). He brought a level of gravitas to the precinct that the show desperately needed to feel "real" again. He played the bureaucratic obstacle perfectly—the guy who respects Hunter but has to keep him on a leash.
The San Diego Shift
Later in the revival's life, the setting moved. This changed the cast again. We saw more of the San Diego police force. This shift was jarring for some fans who associated Hunter exclusively with the grimy streets of Los Angeles.
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The casting directors had to find actors who felt like they belonged in a coastal city but still carried the weight of a serious crime drama. It’s a tough balance. You don't want it to look like Baywatch, but it can't be NYPD Blue either.
Real-World Impact and Behind-the-Scenes Reality
Fred Dryer wasn't just the star; he was a driving force behind the scenes. He had a specific vision for what Rick Hunter should be in the 21st century. This meant the casting process was rigorous. He wanted actors who could handle the "dry" humor.
The dialogue in Hunter was always a bit clipped. Short. To the point.
"Got him?"
"Yeah."
"Good."
That takes a specific kind of timing. Stepfanie Kramer was the queen of the meaningful look. She could say more with a sigh than most actors could with a page of dialogue. That’s why the cast of The Return of Hunter feels so cohesive despite the years between the original run and the revival. The DNA was the same.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Revival Cast
There's a common misconception that the revival failed because the cast was "too old."
That's a lazy take.
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The real issue was the writing and the network's lack of commitment. The cast itself was solid. Watching Dryer and Kramer fall back into their rhythm was like watching two jazz musicians who haven't played together in a decade suddenly find the groove in the first three notes.
The supporting cast, particularly Mike Gomez as Captain Roberto Gallardo, added a much-needed modern perspective. Gallardo wasn't just a "boss" character; he was a bridge between the old guard and the new regulations of the 2000s-era LAPD.
Practical Insights for Fans and Researchers
If you're looking to dive back into this era of the show, you have to look at it as a piece of transition history. It’s the bridge between the 80s action hero and the modern procedural lead.
- Watch the 2002/2003 TV Movies First: These are the real "Return" projects. They feature the core cast in their most authentic revival form.
- Look for the Chemistry: Pay attention to how Dryer and Kramer use space. They rarely stand close to each other, yet they feel completely connected. It's a masterclass in screen presence.
- Check the Guest Stars: The revival often used veteran character actors in "perp" roles, which gave the episodes more weight than your average daytime rerun.
The cast of The Return of Hunter proved that some characters are timeless. You can change the cars, the phones, and the precinct wallpaper, but if the people at the center of the story feel real, the audience will follow. Rick Hunter and Dee Dee McCall didn't need a gritty reboot. They just needed a reason to get back in the car and start the engine.
To get the most out of your rewatch, start with the TV movie Hunter: Return to Justice. It sets the stage for everything that follows and re-establishes the stakes for the characters. Pay close attention to the way the veteran actors handle the shift from film to high-definition digital—it was a major turning point for the production style of the franchise.