Edward Woodward as Robert McCall: A veteran operative of The Company who becomes disillusioned with sacrificing ordinary people for the perceived greater good. He quits and takes out a newspaper advert offering his services to those who need it as The Equalizer. McCall himself is divorced, a "lost dad '' long estranged from his son, Scott (William Zabka). Scott comes back into his life as a young adult who is at first bitterly critical of his father 's world, but then becomes drawn into that world to the dismay of both of his parents. McCall also lost a woman he was in love with, a fellow operative named Manon Brevard, and discovers that she had secretly given birth to his daughter Yvette. McCall appears to be independently wealthy, as although he almost never takes payment for his work, he owns a high - end apartment, is always well dressed and drives a Jaguar XJ6 car (registered 5809 - AUG). He enjoys classical music (playing the piano himself), fine wine and dining and is occasionally seen dating and trying to live a "normal '' life, only for work or his past to get in the way. His Father, William, was a British Army officer, killed in Egypt in 1952 when McCall was 19 and also an Army Officer. His mother was American, a working class entertainer and his father was disinherited by his family and shunned by his regiment for seen to be marrying beneath himself. Woodward was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Drama series four years in a row for his performance, but never won.
who played the equalizer in the original tv series
Edward Woodward