Jack Webb: The Heart Behind The Badge

Let me tell you a story about a guy who wasn’t just a legend on TV but also a pretty amazing father. Lisa Breen, daughter of the iconic Jack Webb and Julie London, was only three months old when her parents split in 1953. But despite the early separation, she stayed incredibly close to her dad. "He was a good dad," Lisa shares with Closer. You probably know Jack as the no-nonsense L.A. cop Joe Friday from Dragnet, but Lisa reveals a softer side of the man behind the badge. "If there was ever anything I wanted or needed, he was there for me," she says, painting a picture of a devoted father who always had her back.

Jack Webb: The Man Behind the Tough Cop Persona

Now, let’s talk about Joe Friday. On screen, he was all business, rarely showing emotion. But in real life? Jack Webb? Oh, he could be a total softy, especially when it came to his furry friends. "He was a great animal lover," Lisa recalls fondly. Picture this: Jack had a Great Dane named Friday and a standard poodle named Mister. These dogs absolutely adored him. "He’d walk into the room, and they’d freeze, like, ‘Oh, he’s here! The king!’" Lisa says, laughing as she remembers those moments. It’s a side of Jack Webb that most people never got to see, and it’s a beautiful reminder that even the toughest guys have a tender heart.

One of Lisa’s most vivid memories involves a childhood birthday party at her mom’s house. Their German shepherd puppy, David, got hit by a car, and it was a pretty traumatic moment. "My dad was there, and he was so great," Lisa remembers. "I was completely hysterical, and I just remember how he held me and let me cry. He was the rock I needed in that moment." It’s these little moments that really define a person, don’t you think?

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Jack Webb’s Sense of Humor and Heart

Now, let’s talk about Jack’s sense of humor. Joe Friday may have been all business, rarely smiling, but Jack? He could be a real crack-up. "He was brilliant and funny," Lisa says with a smile. "If you really got to him and said something funny, oh, he had a great laugh." It’s a testament to his personality that even though he was such a serious presence on screen, in real life, he could light up a room with his wit and charm.

Jack and Julie remained on good terms after their divorce. In fact, he even cast her and Lisa’s stepfather, Bobby Troup, on the '70s hit Emergency!, another series he produced, just like Dragnet. "The three of them got along beautifully," Lisa says. She believes Jack’s workaholism led to his four marriages, but she has "no doubt" Julie was the love of his life. "I just know," she adds with conviction. It’s a touching reminder of the lasting bond they shared.

Tragically, Jack passed away from a heart attack at the age of 62 in 1982. "I miss him and think of him all the time," Lisa says. "He never met my daughter, but I know he would just adore her. Someday, I hope I’ll see him up there." It’s a beautiful sentiment, and it shows just how much Jack meant to Lisa and how much she cherishes the memories they shared.