When ABC abruptly pulled a planned season of “The Bachelorette,” some whose livelihoods are wrapped up in the series were thrown for a loop.

His method of locating genes in human DNA allowed researchers to find disease-causing genes, and later to map the entire, sprawling human genome.

He channeled his martial arts skills into heroic roles in films like “The Delta Force” and “Missing in Action” and in the long-running TV series “Walker, Texas Ranger.”