Jack Dalton Jack met MacGyver in High school, and travelled with both Mac and Mike Forester through Europe after they graduated. He settled in California, where he ran a short-lived taxi service before setting up a private airline, Fly-By-Night. Subsequent enterprises include Jack-Be- Quick Messenger Service and his current business, Dalton Air. Despite his numerous business failures, Jack remains optimistic that he'll some day make the big score. Whenever Jack Dalton enters MacGyver's life, things always seem to get more complicated. He's always got something up his sleeve. MacGyver can tell when Jack's lying when his left eye twitches. In spite of all Jacks shortcomings and the problems he gets MacGyver into… he still remains one of MacGyver’s best friends, willing to drop everything at a moments notice to help MacGyver when he needs it. Read full bio

I love the MacGyver+Jack Dalton relationship. They truly seem like brothers. I not only grew to love MacGyver but some of my FAVORITE episodes involve Jack. My all time favorite is "The Odd Triple." Jack shows his true colors when he goes back out into France and tries to recruit help to go back and rescue MacGyver.

I think the FUNNIEST episode is Partners. It's really good in showing Mac and Jack's relationship... by allowing it to be observed by a third person - Pete. Nothing needs to be explained, it just happens.

Jack: Bazookas?...you can explain bazookas? YOU CAN NOT EXPLAIN BAZOOKAS!!!!

The hospital scene is the funniest thing I've ever seen. 20 years later... it was even funnier.

"Partners" is definitely a great one- I've seen it many times. And one of the few where MacGyver, Pete and Jack and Murdoc are all in it. I also love "Unfinished Business" just because it's so fun watching Jack sucker MacGyver and Pete into panning for gold (and fishing for Pete- clearly the only reason he came! )
But yeah- Jack Dalton offered some great comic relief- but at the same time was also a loyal friend to MacGyver. Sure, he'd pull stuff on him, like say, emptying his house of its contents for a gag- but he'd also help him whenever he needed it. (Good examples- "The Odd Triple" and especially "On a Wing and a Prayer")
And Jack is actually the most recurring character with 17 episodes- and we hear his voice in "The Widowmaker" as he left MacGyver a message on his answering machine, and he's mentioned in "Halloween Knights"- as MacGyver actually visits his hangar and finds his cap and is lured in by Murdoc. And Jack shows up in flashback in "Hind-Sight".
I think the next highest after Jack is Murdoc- with 7 episodes- and 2 appearances in flashback (on "Unfinished Business" and "Hind-Sight")

I'm glad Jack was around so much- he added a lot to MacGyver.

Yeah thats an excellent example.

MacGyver said "I need your help." and jack was in. didn't even care what it was, how dangerous it was. He was ready to help without a second thought.

On a wing and a prayer is indeed a good example and a great adventure involving the three. I do wish more episodes like that were made.
MacGyver having to ask Jack's help instead of Jack asking MacGyver. There's always Lost Love. It was always fun to have Jack around, always dragging MacGyver from one adventure into the other. Those adventures were great but what lifted up the level was like well MacGyver having to ask Jack for help, or when Jack just joined in. Jack in Friends, Jack helping Mac in Lost Love, Jack in Rock the Cradle (he didn't really asked for help), Jack in On a wing and a Prayer. That was actually a pretty nice gesture, sending the bill however...
Ma Dalton is even a better example, MacGyver just offers to help while Jack didn't ask him anything.
Brainwashed the same thing, but than they didn't know where they got in to. Jenny's Chance, an episode I dislikes because of the whole undercover thing, I liked it when Jack joined in the plan. Then again Kyle was his friend too.

When Mac asks Jack to help him out he said he's been waiting years for this. That proves Jack is ready to help whenever he can.

If I've said it once, I've said it a hun... well a dozen times.

I love Mac and Jack together.

As far as the relationship/friendship itself...

I have a friend like that. And I wouldn't call it a healthy relationship. She owes me money and has screwed me over in favor of a guy more times than I can count. Haven't talked to her in approx two years but if she called tomorrow, I'd go hang out, even if to just keep her out of trouble for those few hours. There's a history, familiarity and sense of loyalty (even if one way) that outweights the "bad blood". Silly wench!

".... Now tell me you're not having just a little bit of fun!"

I do love Jack Dalton, for all his follies and foibles! As much as I tug at my hair when he gets our beloved Mac into trouble... he certainly doesn't shirk at any chance to do a favour for his friend.

In 'Lost Love' when Mac said that it was going to take two people to steal the Ming Dragon... Jack was onboard in a heartbeat!

"What the heck... nobody lives forever!" That's our Jack!

Jack is one of my favourite recurring characters. There are times that, *gasp*, I think I favour him over Mac!

He brings out this side of Mac that few other people do; a petty, meanish, sarcastic, exasperated side that really fills out Mac's character.

Jack is more complex than he's often given credit for, capable of real emotion and noble sacrifice, all couched in his apparent self-centredness. His exuberance, enthusiasm, and zest for life lend themselves well to Jack's unique brand of humour. He's a comic, but rarely a clown.

Mac

I really like the mac <-> jack relationship.. they knew each other so well that they could tell what the other was thinking without saying it.

They could practically finish each others sentences.. and in spite of all Jacks shortcomings I think when it came down to it he was just as willing to put life and limb on the line for MacGyver, as Mac was for him.

I think Pete realized this also, in spite of the fact that he hated how fool hardy Jack was, and how he always dragged MacGyver into his problems. He knew they where like brothers.

They actually remind me of a friend I had in my early 20's. We where best friends from high school and was very similar to the Jack Mac friendship. He was always dragging me into his movie making schemes and all sorts of other ideas. But we where like brothers, we could finish each others sentences, we could tell what the other was thinking.. probably because we thought so much alike.

So that may be why I like the Mac-jack thing so much... but what ever the reason, its another aspect of MacGyver which really pulled me into the show.

Jack Dalton is a god. Period, the end.

LOVE HIM.

LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM, LOVE HIM.

I think my favorite episode is "On a Wing and a Prayer", but I also quite enjoy "Rock the Cradle", and well...just about any episode with Jack.

Love him.

The end.

Which reminds me that when I finish the huge SG fic I'm currently working on, I simply must finish my latest Mac fic, which stars, in no small role, one Jack Dalton.

Of course.

Jack Dalton is a great character. He has a spirit of adventure and lives in the moment as if each day is his last. He has the ability to pull people into his schemes and is always dreaming of the one big score.

The Mac/Jack dynamic is a lot of fun to watch. No other character brings out the petty side of Mac the way Jack does. This was especially clear in Jack in the Box. Jack lures Mac into a little podunk town in Arkansas where Mac gets arrested. Jack expects Mac to break them both out of the prison and assist on a treasure hunt. At the end of the episode, Mac is thoroughly exasperated with Jack and gives him a butt reaming. Jack justs laughs and says what are friends for? All Mac can do is shake his head and smile. For me, this ending scene sums up their relationship perfectly.

Jack gets into trouble and never doubts that Mac will come to his rescue. When Mac needs help, he never doubts that Jack will be the first in line to help. This is the way true friends are with each other.

I dated a Jack Dalton once. Our dates were a lot of fun and I don't think I ever laughed as much as I did then. He was the life of the party and everyone had a good time when he was a round. The downside was that, until he showed up at my door, I never knew for sure if the date was on. He was notoriously late and never returned a phone call. We had a great time but I wasn't surprised when he drifted out of my life as abruptly as he drifted into it.

Mee too, In with Jack. Although the way he sucks Mac in his own mess drives me UP THE WALL!! But what would kemosabe compadre be without his old pal Jack?

Gotta love Jack!! He's one of my favorite recurring characters. I love how he's introduced in Jack of Lies... you all know by now that the scene in the airplane hanger is one of my all-time fave scenes. No matter how many times I watch that eppy, it still cracks me up.

He's so marvelously goofy and just grabs life by the horns. He can always make Mac smile, even when he also irritates the heck out of him. Plus, he'd do anything for Mac, no matter how crazy or illegal. Friends that loyal and exuberant don't come along every day. Mac was very, very lucky to have Jack in his life, and I think he knew it.

Love Jack Dalton! Cooky fun and upbeat, adventure loving character that drives MacGyver mad. love the schemes he always thinks up and drags MacGyver into.

How did I miss Jack Dalton? (Bad me...!)

He is my favorite character in the whole MacGyver universe! Hands down! He a dreamer, schemer, all around pain in the a** who's a great friend friend to Mac.

Who else could get away with stealing a whole house full of furniture? Multiple times! Jack, of course.

I just love Jack!

didn't he only do it once?

I thought at least twice...

once in Jack of lies.. when was the other time?

It happened twice, but wasn't it Murdoc the second time?

Tricking Mac, using Jack's hat with blood on it...

And then it led him to the Mausoleum?

So...

Halloween Knights?

Oh, and turtle, I agree.

Best.

Character.

Ever.

Guess I REALLY have to brush up my Mac trivia. Maybe TVLand showed the same epi close together? I'm still in the 1st season with my DVD rewatching. My memory? ...phfttt... gone. *shrug*

Murdoc? Maybe that's what I'm thinking about...

I always look forward to the episodes with Jack in them... and Bruce McGill... I've seen him in a lot of roles, but nothing compares to Jack.

IMBd lists him in 19 episodes. Wow!

What I like about him is this feeling of familiarity. It's almost as if all of us have known someone like him--scheming, lying, failing at everything yet always optimistic and hopeful--you can't help but love him. He has a bit of naivete about life, an almost childish view of it, that also makes him endearing.

I just watched Jack of Lies the other night and I love Jack's character! It was fun to watch Mac sitting in the side car with that look on his face! I thought it was also great the way they intro.ed Jack by giving some back story. Made me feel like I already knew him.

Of course we all have a Jack Dalton in our lives. One of my best friends is very similar. Not so much the schemes but well know for late night calls and daring misadventures.

Kev

PS I added the Partners avatar and the same night watched that episode...(cue Twilight Zone music)

Can anyone name all the episodes that Jack was in? (without looking)

I already know that I'd have to cheat...

Hmm.. without looking eh?.. sounds like fun

Jack of Lies? is that what the first ones called (my brain just went numb)
Dalton: Jack of spies?

Lost Love (part 1 & 2)
Partners
Jack in the box
Rock the cradle
Mask of the Wolf
Brainwashed
Unfinished business
On a wing and a prayer
Ma Dalton
The odd Triple
Jenny's Chance
Serenity
MacGyver's women
Mountain of youth

I'm still a couple short

edit: Ok I looked up the IMDd to see what the last 2 are, but I'm not going to add them, because that would be cheating.

His voice was in Widowmaker... does that count?

*excellent* vote

The funny thing is, that I totally disliked Jack when I saw the series as a child.
BUT NOW I really love him. He is a very special character, he adds a lot of fun to the episodes and his body language and facial expression is great. And he is a true friend of Mac's, although he might sometimes cause "just a touch of trouble".
Can't imagine the series without him.

The scene I remember most is the one where Mac meets him in his hangar and Jack pretends to fall down from the (roof) beam, but is actually tied to a rope. What a mean trick.

Yeah, that was great.

No, can't say i know all the episodes Jack appeared in off the top of my head. but then i've yet to finish season 7 on DVD.

I love the way Jack rubbed MacGyver the wrong way with his practical gags and jokes. The look on Mac's face was always priceless when he realized it was Jack who was responsible.

what do you think is the best gag/prank Jack played on MacGyver?