Trivia – Greg Evigan

Back in the late ’70s and ’80s, Greg Evigan wasn’t just a star—he was a certified TV heartthrob. Whether he was cruising the highways in his hit action-comedy “B.J. and the Bear”—driving that shiny red-and-white truck with his sidekick Bear the chimpanzee—or charming audiences in the feel-good ’80s sitcom “My Two Dads” alongside a then-rising star Paul Reiser, Greg had America swooning. (And let’s be honest, Bear probably stole a few hearts too.)

At the height of his fame, you couldn’t pass a newsstand without seeing Greg’s face plastered on every magazine cover. His career rolled on for decades, jumping from juicy primetime soaps like “Melrose Place” and Aaron Spelling’s “Pacific Palisades” to sci-fi cult favorites like “DeepStar Six” and William Shatner’s “TekWar.” He even lit up the small screen in beloved TV movies like “Deadly Family Secrets” with Loni Anderson and “Lies Before Kisses” with Jaclyn Smith—because why stop at just being a heartthrob when you can also solve crimes, keep secrets, and occasionally save the world?

So, in honor of my brand-new episodes of Hollywood Obsessed Podcast (Episodes 135 & 136) featuring the man himself, Greg Evigan, I’ve put together a fun and nostalgic Trivia Challenge. From his TV stardom to his film roles to his musical side gigs (yes, he’s got pipes!), this quiz will test even the most devoted fans.

So buckle up, polish that Kenworth chrome, and get ready to relive the charm, the laughs, and the hunkilicious glory of one of TV’s most iconic stars. Let the trivia fun begin!

*************************************************

Greg Evigan was born in South Amboy and raised in Sayreville, New Jersey.

He began studying classical piano at age 8 and later learned organ and saxophone. As a teenager, he played in several rock bands.

His career began in theater with Broadway’s “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

Between 1972 and 1973, he starred as Danny Zuko in the Broadway production of “Grease,” reprising the role for the show's residency in Chicago, alongside Marilu Henner.

Evigan teamed up with Paul Shaffer (bandleader of “Late Night with David Letterman”) to record original music for the TV series “A Year at the Top.” Signed to Casablanca Records, the duo released an album as Greg & Paul.

He made his feature film debut in “Scorchy” (1976) with Connie Stevens.

In the TV series “Fame” (1982), he played the love interest of Valerie Landsburg. He sang a duet with her which he composed himself. The title of the duet was "Lucky Enough for Two", which appeared on the album "The Kids From 'Fame' Sing For You".

In 1978, Evigan guest-starred on “Dallas” as Willie Guest, a flashy con man who lures Lucy Ewing into a crime spree in the episode “Runaway.”

He became a household name as B.J. McKay in “B.J. and the Bear” (1979–1981) and later as Joey Harris in “My Two Dads” (1987–1990).

“B.J. and the Bear,” created by Glen A. Larson and Christopher Crowe, was inspired by the CB radio and trucking craze of the late 1970s. Evigan’s character drove a red-and-white Kenworth K-100 Aerodyne and traveled with his pet chimpanzee, Bear—named after famed football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant.

Sheriff Elroy P. Lobo (Claude Akins), a frequent guest on “B.J. and the Bear,” spun off into the series “The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo.” Both shows were later packaged for syndication as “The B.J./Lobo Show.”

Fun fact: Dennis Quaid was considered for the role of B.J. McKay.

BJ's red and white Kenworth K-100 truck can still be seen at truck shows around the country.

The final season of ”BJ and the Bear” saw a change as BJ was teamed with seven female truckers, who all became regulars or semi-regulars.

After “B.J. and the Bear,” Evigan starred in numerous television projects including “Masquerade” with legendary star Rod Taylor (“The Birds”) and Kirstie Alley. He later guest starred in two episodes of Kirstie’s sitcom “Veronica’s Closet” in 1999

Between 1996 and 1997, Evigan guest-starred as Dr. Dan Hathaway on the soap opera “Melrose Place,” followed by a main role on on the Aaron Spelling primetime soap “Pacific Palisades,” in which he portrayed one of several friends who relocate from the Midwest to California.

“Pacific Palisades” was cancelled after thirteen episodes despite a last-minute attempt to increase ratings by casting Joan Collins.

He starred in “P.S. I Luv U “ with Connie Sellecca that aired on CBS from September 15, 1991 to January 4, 1992

He starred in the Scifi film “DeepStar Six”(1989). He later starred in and executive produced the SyFy movie “Phantom Racer” (2009).

“DeepStar Six” was the first release of several underwater-monster-themed feature films released during 1989-90, including “The Abyss,” “Leviathan,” “The Evil Below,” and “Lords of the Deep,” and “The Rift.” With the exception of “The Abyss,” none of these films were box office hits.

Evigan had a lead role in Joey Travolta's directorial debut, the drama “Mel “(1998). He reunited with director Joey Travolta, appearing in his family drama “Arizona Summer” (2004).

In the 1990s, he headlined William Shatner’s “TekWar “as Jake Cardigan, a framed ex-cop navigating a futuristic world. The franchise began as four TV films before becoming a series.

The 1995 TV movie “Deadly Family Secrets” co-starring Greg and Loni Anderson was basically a remake of the 1950 Warner Brothers film noir drama, "Storm Warning" starring Ginger Rogers, Doris Day, Ronald Reagan and Steve Cochran

Evigan is also known for his singing. He performed the theme songs for many of his shows, including “B.J. & the Bear.” He co-wrote and sang “You Can Count On Me” (the theme from “My Two Dads”) and recorded a duet with Sheryl Crow for the “P.S. I Love You” soundtrack.

He initially turned down the role of Joey on “My Two Dads” because he wasn’t looking to do sitcoms at the time.

“My Two Dads” had crossovers with another NBC show, “Night Court.” Judge Margaret W. Wilbur, played by Florence Stanley, appeared on “Night Court.” In turn, Richard Moll guest starred as his “Night Court” character Bull Shannon in the “My Two Dads” episode "Playing with Fire", protecting Judge Wilbur from a recently released criminal that she had sent to prison years before.

Evigan returned to the stage in 2008, starring in “Mask“ at the Pasadena Playhouse.

In 2015, Evigan had a supporting role in the Hallmark Channel film “Once Upon a Holiday,” co- starring his daughter Briana.

He has his own recording studio in Woodland Hills, California, where he produced his pop album Slow Down. He also recorded at Abbey Road Studios with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Greg is a multi-instrumentalist, playing piano, drums, and saxophone, and writing in multiple musical styles.

In Britain, Evigan is especially well known for the humorous and educational film clips under the name of “When Insects Attack,” which he fronted and were shown as part of BBC schools programming during “This Morning With Richard Not Judy” in the 1990s.

He was inducted in the 2007 Sayreville War Memorial High School Alumni Hall of Fame for his contributions to the arts.

In 2018, he guest-starred in a multi-episode arc as Jim Harvey on the soap opera “General Hospital.”

His son, Jason Evigan, is a Grammy-winning musician and songwriter who has worked with Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, and Madonna. Jason also fronted the band After Midnight Project and performed at Coachella.

Greg and his son Jason also co-wrote the song titled “Mirror Image” that landed on the first “Osbourne Family Album”. The Album went Gold.

**************************************************

Some facts in this post were sourced from IMDb and Wikipedia - because let’s face it, even a superfan needs a little backup when it comes to a career as packed (and fabulous) as Greg Evigan’s.

But why stop at trivia when you can hear the stories straight from the man himself? Don’t miss my brand-new two-part interview with Greg Evigan on the latest episodes of Hollywood Obsessed Podcast! These episodes are packed with exclusive stories, behind-the-scenes gems, and yes—plenty of laughs. Think of it as trivia night with the ultimate answer key.

Listen now and get inspired:

Episode 135 – HERE

Episode 136 – HERE