Riggs was originally played by actor Mel Gibson in all four films from 1987 to 1998, and later by Clayne Crawford in the Fox television series from 2016 to 2018.

Rudd's enforcer, Pieter Vorstedt, killed Victoria Riggs by mistake and made the murder look like an automobile accident to cover up their involvement.

After avenging the deaths of his wife and Rika van den Haas (whom Riggs had become involved with romantically before she, too, was murdered by Rudd and his minions), he is able to move on with his life.

Meanwhile, Riggs and Murtaugh are assigned to protect a comically loudmouthed federal witness, Leo Getz, whom they ultimately become close friends with.

The two make an immediate connection and work closely together to clear Murtaugh's name after he is forced to kill his son's friend in self-defense.

In a March 2016 newspaper article, the plot for the television pilot is as follows: "When Texas cop and former Navy SEAL Martin Riggs...suffers the loss of his wife and baby, he moves to Los Angeles to start anew.

In the Season Three premiere, he dies from his gunshot wound in the hospital and is subsequently replaced by Wesley Cole as Murtaugh's partner.

[9][10][11] He is praised for his dramatic and brutal fight scene with Mr. Joshua (Gary Busey) and the sharp and clever dialogue provided by Shane Black.