But perhaps MacGyver's most famous stunt involved the gleeful spy escaping armed soldiers in East Berlin by being dropped off a bridge in a coffin that turns into -- yes -- a jet ski.
When MacGyver ended in 1992 after 139 episodes, Anderson went on to star in the similarly celebrated sci-fi shows Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis and SGU Stargate Universe, in a recurring role as Colonel Jack O'Neill.
He'll be the major drawcard alongside a long list of famous faces at Auckland's Armageddon Expo, which is being held at the ASB Showgrounds from October 24 to 27.
Now 64, it's Anderson's first time in New Zealand, and in a rather confusing statement issued to TimeOut, the actor said he was looking forward to it.
"Never been to New Zealand! Looking forward to rectifying that situation in October as I make my way westward, WAY westward in continuing my lifelong search for Old Zealand.
"So if you see me on the side of the road, don't follow me, because I'll be lost!"
Other stars to appear at Armageddon include Michael Hogan, Jacqueline Samuda, Graham McTavish, AJ Buckley, Travis Wester, Kelly Hu, David Hewlett, Suanne Braun, Peter Williams, Helen Slater, Cliff Simon, Matt Frewer and DJ Qualls.
See the video announcement of Richard Dean Anderson's Armageddon appearance here:
Armageddon tickets go on sale from August 1 through iTicket.co.nz.
Meanwhile, some real television clever blokes are coming to town. Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of the Discovery Channel's MythBusters are bringing their live science show Behind the Myths to Vector Arena for two appearances on Saturday, September 6.
The show promises "a fantastical evening of on-stage experiments, audience participation, rocking video and behind-the-scenes stories". Tickets are on pre-sale from 9am tomorrow and on public sale on Monday.
More of what we want
They got Womad punters dancing like they never have before when playing at the festival in 2008, sweated up a storm when they returned to the Powerstation in Auckland in 2010, and now Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings look set to offer up possibly the best concert of the winter when they return to our shores to play a show at the Bruce Mason Centre on Thursday, September 4.
The irrepressible 58-year-old Ms Jones has not only released her sixth excellent album (Give The People What They Want) in the interim, but also been through a battle with pancreatic cancer.
She did however recently make a post to her Facebook followers, telling them she's been given the all-clear by her doctors in time for her world tour, so she will undoubtedly be celebrating, and her fans can expect the complete joy-fuelled, hip-shimmying, explosively soulful show that she and the Dap-Kings have become known for.
The triumphant tone of Give The People What They Want seems perfect for such an occasion, and certain songs will have extra poignancy no doubt, while also delivering that wonderfully heartfelt Detroit soul sound.
Though Jones and the Dap-Kings may seem like ubiquitous globetrotting performers these days, they remained somewhat undiscovered until the early 2000s. Jones, who was (somewhat astoundingly) a back-up singer, had previously worked in all sorts of jobs to make ends meet, including as a prison guard in New York - she even recently gave Rolling Stone a rundown on the accuracy of hit Netflix show Orange Is The New Black.
It's this kind of worldly experience that gives her songs and performance such integrity and warmth. And the Dap-Kings have proved themselves her perfect band time and again, with equal gravitas coming from a group that has worked with the likes of Mark Ronson and Rufus Wainwright.
Tickets on sale through Ticketmaster on Tuesday July 15. Don't miss out.
Flume signs for festival
Last week TimeOut announced some of this summer's biggest tours, headliners and festivals - and we're not done yet.
This week we have the first line-up announcement for BW Summer Festival, a sort-of side festival to Rhythm and Vines in Gisborne that offers beachside camping and its very own heavyweight musical line-up over five nights from December 27.
BW, now in its 11th year, has grown to become a stand-alone festival event, with a capacity of 15,000 spread over five campgrounds.
This year's event will be headlined by Australian dance giant Flume. The moniker of 22-year-old Harley Edward Streten, his recent reworking of Lorde's song Tennis Court earned him nearly four million YouTube views, and he has a host of Aria Awards on his mantelpiece thanks to his self-titled 2012 debut.
Flume will headline BW alongside fellow Aussies Peking Duk and local acts Shapeshifter, David Dallas, Dick Johnson and Tim Phin.
BW's not just about the music, with food halls, crossfit classes, arm wrestling competitions, beach volleyball and football games, kayaking and even skinny dipping events all available to punters.
A range of ticket options, including combo deals with Rhythm and Vines, are available now through Minttix.com.
- TimeOut
