30 Years Later: The cast of 'T.J. Hooker'

Before “Walker, Texas Ranger”... before “Southland”... before "Blue Bloods"...

There was “T.J. Hooker.”

The popular mid '80s police drama followed LCPD detective Thomas Jefferson Hooker and his junior officers as they fought crime and learned about life while patrolling the man streets on the job.

After having witnessed the death of his partner, T.J. Hooker vowed to take down the kinds of criminals that led to his partner’s demise, leading to five seasons worth of rough and tumble case solving! Our friends at Snakkle.com take a look at where are the stars are today, 30 years after the show’s TV debut in 1982.

NOW & THEN PHOTOS: See all the TJ Hooker stars at Snakkle.com.

William Shatner as Sgt. T.J. Hooker

Shatner was T.J. Hooker, the veteran cop hardened by his life fighting bad guys, a bitter divorce, and the traumatic shooting of his partner. In the season opener, Hooker is faced with the task of training a bunch of snot-nosed kids who end up graduating to be his fellow officers. Hooker teaches his rookies how to survive the streets with his own hard-earned methods that don’t necessarily, you guessed it, go by the book.

Best known for his earlier career role as Captain James T. Kirk in “Star Trek,” Shatner continues to star in TV series, films, commercials, iPhone apps -- you name it. In 2004, he scored yet another hit show as Denny Crane on “Boston Legal.” Shatner also wrote and published an autobiography in 2008 titled “Up Till Now.” Shatner spends his free time showing and breeding horses on his Versailles, Kentucky farm named Belle Reve with fourth wife, Elizabeth Anderson Martin.

Adrian Zmed as Officer Vince Romano

Zmed played the rookie-turned-officer Vince Romano, who became partnered with Hooker. The attractive and hot-tempered academy graduate tackled his job with enthusiasm, sometimes inciting stern lecture from mentor Hooker. But Romano always has Hooker’s back, literally taking bullets for him. More than one for that matter!

Zmed’s most notable role outside of T.J. Hooker was as Johnny Nogerelli in the film “Grease 2” and in the Broadway production of “Grease.” Zmed has two sons from his first marriage to high school sweetheart, Barbara Fitzner, and could recently be seen performing as Nick in “Surf The Musical” at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas until, sadly for his fans, the show closed after just a six week run.

Heather Locklear as Officer Stacy Sheridan

Ever the beautiful costar, Heather Locklear played Officer Stacy Sheridan, the Academy captain’s tenacious daughter. Sheridan’s move from a desk job to the streets meant she was eager to prove herself as more than the captain’s daughter. Sheridan wore many hats with the force, mothering traumatized rape victims and even going so far as to volunteer to go undercover as a prostitute and exotic dancer, much to the chagrin of partner Jim Corrigan.

After "T.J. Hooker," Locklear enjoyed an immensely successful career on a string of hit TV shows including “Dynasty,” “Melrose Place,” and “Spin City.” The L.A. native was a sex symbol and golden girl at the peak of her career in the late’90s and early 00's, which may explain some of her personal struggles, which include arrests and even a suicide scare. The beautiful blonde recently played her character Amanda Woodward in the “Melrose Place” revamp, and will appear in the fifth installment of the “Scary Movie” series in 2013.

NOW & THEN PHOTOS: See all the TJ Hooker stars at Snakkle.com.