Dana Elcar continued despite health problems

Although Dana Elcar was diagnosed with glaucoma in 1991 - which lead to blindness - the producers were determined to keep the actor in the role of Peter Thornton, MacGyver's boss and best friend.

Eventually, it was decided that for the rest of the show, starting in the sixth season episode ‘Blind Faith’, the character would also be diagnosed with the condition, with Peter remaining a part of the program until it came to an end in 1992.

Looking back at the decision, Dana said that the producers told him: “The fact that you are losing your eyesight does not mean you have forgotten how to act.”

Sadly, the actor passed away in 2005 at the age of 77.