I know he was an actor but I wonder as host if he really got into these cases or was he mostly doing this for a paycheck? Were there any interviews with him about it?

I know he was an actor but I wonder as host if he really got into these cases or was he mostly doing this for a paycheck? Were there any interviews with him about it?

Although there were countless interviews with Robert Stack on the matter, you will have to do some digging to find one (or more) in which he specifically talked about it. In the meantime, however, here is an excerpt from a recent interview that the Channel Nonfiction web site conducted with UM producer John Cosgrove early this year. Below the excerpt is the link to the interview.

CF: Did Robert Stack really enjoy working on the show or was it just work for him?

JC: He enjoyed it very, very much. He was very proud of the show, and he was proud of the fact that cases got solved. He was very closely aligned with law enforcement after (portraying) Eliot Ness (on the Untouchables). He liked the idea that we did stories that would help law enforcement get cases solved.

He was just a wonderful guy to work with. He had a great sense of humor, and wonderful behind-the-scenes stories of the old Hollywood. So I think he had a great time, and you know he did it for 11 years.

https://www.channelnonfiction.com/interview-with-john-cosgrove-co-creator-of-unsolved-mysteries-series-a-show-headed-to-netflix/

He was the BEST one on Unsolved Mysteries!!!

He probably did it for the money more or less, but still had fun.

Acting jobs were drying up for him throughout the 80s and UM was a good way to kind of reinvent himself at an old age.

He probably did it for the money more or less, but still had fun.

Acting jobs were drying up for him throughout the 80s and UM was a good way to kind of reinvent himself at an old age.

X2.

Hollywood is not kind to the elderly. Even Jack Nicholson was mostly only getting roles as dying geriatrics starting around 2002.

I think it was a twilight of his life thing for Robert Stack. And he did an excellent job with it.

There is no doubt in my mind that Stack really had a passion for Unsolved Mysteries. He was simply too authentic, especially when it came to updates on cases.

There is no doubt in my mind that Stack really had a passion for Unsolved Mysteries. He was simply too authentic, especially when it came to updates on cases.
It really stood out when they updated the Gail Delano segment. He mentioned how they all felt sadden to hear she committed suicide and wished the best to her family. If he wasn't being sincere Robert Stack was the world's best actor.

It really stood out when they updated the Gail Delano segment. He mentioned how they all felt sadden to hear she committed suicide and wished the best to her family. If he wasn't being sincere Robert Stack was the world's best actor. Saw that segment not long ago. He seemed somewhat phony, but decent enough for TV.

Saw that segment not long ago. He seemed somewhat phony, but decent enough for TV.

I did not have that opinion at all.

I did not have that opinion at all.
I think a lot of criticism has to do with the fact he is not a very expressive person: there is nothing wrong with that as my wife is the same way, at least publically. He is definitely not John Walsh from America's Most Wanted. As a father of a baby boy I do totally understand why Mr. Walsh is so passionate about stopping criminals but I do think it took away from the show and preferred Stack's calm demeanour.

You pose a good question OP, and to be honest, I'm not sure we'll ever really know the answer one way or the other. (Though I was really happy to see the snippet that Kane posted up thread).

While I'd prefer to think that Stack was truly invested in UM rather than just looking for a paycheck, I'll always enjoy his work on the show regardless. I'm sure that I'm biased, but IMO Stack's superb reporting was part of what made UM as great as it was.