Who played Buz Murdock in the early seasons of the television series Route 66?

George Maharis played Buz Murdock in the early seasons of the television series Route 66.

Maharis starred alongside Martin Milner, who played Tod Stiles. The two characters traveled across the United States in a Chevrolet Corvette, giving the series its recurring road-story format and allowing episodes to be filmed in varied real-world locations.

Maharis left the series during its third season after a dispute connected with his availability and production responsibilities. Glenn Corbett then joined the cast as Lincoln “Linc” Case, a new traveling companion for Milner’s character. This change is why viewers sometimes associate multiple male leads with the program.

Buz Murdock is a fictional character, not a historical Route 66 traveler. The show’s connection to the highway comes from its title, its mobile plot structure, and its use of American roads and communities as episode settings.