Episode plots usually focused more on the criminals and victims portrayed by guest actors, characteristic of the "semi-anthology" narrative format common in early 1960s television (so called by the trade paper Variety).

The series was notable for featuring younger and/or lesser-known/little-known actors, some of whom became major stars, including Alan Alda, Michael Ansara, Ed Asner, Martin Balsam, Barbara Barrie, Orson Bean, Robert Blake, Sorrell Brooke, Hildy Brooks, James Caan, Godfrey Cambridge, Joseph Campanella, Diahann Carroll, James Coburn, Michael Constantine, Joan Copeland, William Daniels, Sandy Dennis, Bruce Dern, David Doyle, Keir Dullea, Robert Duvall, Louis Edmonds, Peter Falk, James Farentino, Peter Fonda, Conard Fowkes, Eileen Fulton, Frank Gorshin, Sallie Gracie, Harry Guardino, Gene Hackman, Barbara Harris, Dustin Hoffman, Dennis Hopper, Diana Hyland, Richard Jaeckel, David Janssen, Salome Jens, John Karlen, Jack Klugman, Shirley Knight, Piper Laurie, Diane Ladd, Audra Lindley, Jack Lord, George Maharis, Nancy Marchand, Sylvia Miles, Vic Morrow, Barry Morse, Robert Morse, Lois Nettleton, Leslie Nielsen, Carroll O'Connor, Susan Oliver, Paul O'Keefe, Marisa Pavan, Suzanne Pleshette, Robert Redford, Doris Roberts, Mitchell Ryan, Mark Rydell, Telly Savalas, George Segal, William Shatner, Martin Sheen, Tom Simcox, Jean Stapleton, Maureen Stapleton, Rod Steiger, Mel Stuart, Rip Torn, Charles Tyner, Cicely Tyson, Brenda Vaccaro, Diana van der Vlis, Dick Van Patten, Jon Voight, Christopher Walken, Deborah Walley, Richard Ward, Jack Warden, Tuesday Weld, and Dick York.

The show also featured more established and/or better-known actors, including Luther Adler, Eddie Albert, Robert Alda, Louise Allbritton, Kirk Alyn, Richard Basehart, Theodore Bikel, Nancy Carroll, Lee J. Cobb, Gladys Cooper, Hume Cronyn, Ludwig Donath, Diana Douglas, Betty Field, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Nina Foch, Ruth Ford, Martin Gabel, Peggy Ann Garner, Vincent Gardenia, Eileen Heckart, Barnard Hughes, Kim Hunter, Sam Jaffe, Glynis Johns, Kurt Kasznar, Abbe Lane, Eugenie Leontovich, Al Lewis, Viveca Lindfors, Ross Martin, Walter Matthau, Myron McCormick, Roddy McDowall, Burgess Meredith, James Mitchell, Jean Muir, Meg Mundy, Mildred Natwick, Cathleen Nesbitt, Jeanette Nolan, Nehemiah Persoff, Claude Rains, Eugenia Rawls, Aldo Ray, Ruth Roman, Mickey Rooney, Albert Salmi, George C. Scott, Sylvia Sidney, Jan Sterling, Robert Sterling, Beatrice Straight, Akim Tamiroff, Lawrence Tierney, Jo Van Fleet, Eli Wallach, David Wayne, Jesse White, Cara Williams, Roland Winters, and Keenan Wynn.

Guest stars: Al Hodge as Johnson, Joey Walsh as Lefty Hawkins, Bill Zuckert as Donahue, Alison Marshall as Debbie Halloran, Frank Downing as McGregor, Pat De Simone as Arturo, Barbara Banks as Sylvia.

Guest stars: Gary Morgan as Paulie, Jay Novello as Gio, Tarry Green as Jocko, Ruth Altman as Mother Superior, Leonardo Cimino as Shellshock, Mark Barkan as Laddie.

Guest stars: House Jameson as Morgan, Earl Rowe as Hanson, Robert Weil as Crane, Mark Allen as Greer, Donald Moffat as Brickwell, Janice Mars as Nurse Kaufman, Helm Lyon as Romaine, Jeno Mate as Parker.

Guest stars: Gerald Gordon as Walt Brown, Loretta Leversee as Nova, Arnold Merritt as Jimmy Barrick, David J. Stewart as Professor, Frank Campanella as Cameraman.

Guest stars: Will Kuluva as Mikel Storkich, George Maharis as Stroke Strokich, John Karlen as Chuck, Vic Werber as Leo, Richard Kronold as Detective Dutton.

Muller, John C. Becher as Doctor, Woodrow Parfrey as Andrew Eisert, Matt Crowley as Commissioner, Guy Spaull as Reverend Thomason, Dorothy Peterson as Mrs. Graither, Richard Kronold as Detective Dutton.

Guest stars: Kent Smith as George Blake, Jeanette Nolan as Kate, Lawrence Tierney as Mike Johnson, Florence Anglin as Secretary, Norma Crane as Fay Roberts, Charles Gaines as Coroner.

Guest stars: Bernard Kates as Madison, Jean Muir as Mrs. Kling, Jose Alcarez as Luis, Anthony Franke as Mark, Robert Morris as Flip Willer.

Guest stars: Robert Alda as Jess Burton, Bruno Damon as Manager, Rocky Graziano as Lou Curtis, Arnold Merritt as Larry, Morgan Sterne as Al McBride, Guy Sorel as Harry Weeks.

Guest stars: Ludwig Donath as Pawnbroker, Betty Sinclair as Ruth Barnaby, John C. Becher as Bank Teller, Anna Appel as Mrs. Lebinsky, Crahan Denton as Superintendent.

[4][5][6][7] Guest stars: Eli Wallach as Detective Bane, John Baragrey as Teddy Cochrane, George Maharis as Tony Bacallas, Jan Miner as Lia Wallace, Richard Ward as Shoeshine Man, Anne Helm as Diane, Godfrey Cambridge as George, Patricia Bosworth as Laura, Clifton James as Jacoby, Tom Ahearne as Monty, Leonardo Cimino as Johnny, Susan Melvin as Nancy Bacallas, Carla Hoffman as Sarah, Peter Falk as Gimpy, Jimmy Little as Desk Sergeant, Robert Weil as Blinky.

Guest stars: Leslie Nielsen as Norman Garry, Nehemiah Persoff as Max Evar, Geraldine Brooks as Vicky, House Jameson as Dr. Cogswell, Michael Dolan as Taxi Driver.

Guest stars: Jack Klugman as Sam Braden, John Baragrey as David Fairport, Mitchell Ryan as Marty Minters, Philip Abbott as Charles Alvis, Norma Crane as Lily Braden, Fred J. Scollay as Joe Corley, House Jameson as Williams, Dick Van Patten as Carhop, Richard Kronold as Detective Dutton Guest stars: Keenan Wynn as Maxwell Ronan, Abbe Lane as Estelle Reeves, Henry Lascoe as William Saxer, Sorrell Booke as Uncle George, Timmy Everett as Burt Ronan, Arny Freeman as Salesman, Daniel Ocko as Arthur Warfield, Jerry Jarrett as Moving Man, Perry Wilson as Betty Ronan, Tarry Green as Sidney, Mary James as Designer, Richard Kronold as Detective Dutton.

DA Colby, Robert Weil as Nesvady, Doris Rich as Mrs. Jassy, Christopher Barbieri as Livny, Muriel Franklin as Dierdre, Phoebe Mackay as Mrs. McDade, Joe Warren as Sean Ross.

Guest stars: Barry Morse as Dr. Paul Multer, George Voskovec as Johan von Bunow, Eugenie Leontovich as Mama Kelle, Mike Kellin as Anton, Viveca Lindfors as Lulu Kronen, Peter Turgeon as Bob Tower, Brad Herrman as Holbey.

Guest stars: Kurt Kasznar as Alcibiades, Glynis Johns as Miss Arlington, Gerald Hiken as Arthur Gerald, William Redfield as Phillip Weaver, Mitchell Ryan as Quayle, Rebecca Sand as Laura, Johnny Seven as Stitch, Jamie Smith as Marty, Sorrell Booke as Doctor, Graham Velsey as Henry, Brandon Maggart as Mullet, Eugene Roche as Plainclothes policeman, Chris Robinson as Detective on Bus.

Moroni, Jim Greene as Prisoner, Bill McNally as Johnny Clinton, Carmen Costi as Patrolman, Ed Crowley as Pharmacist, Alfred Hinckley as Officer Eckert.

Guest stars: Eli Wallach as George Manin, Keenan Wynn as Bodram Bogota, Lois Nettleton as Sara Applinger, Jimmy Little as Desk Sergeant, Remo Pisani as Houseman, Lou Criscuolo as Picklebarrel, Jim Beard as Dice Player, Chris Bohn as Dutton, Chuck Bruce as Detective Ragaway, Pierre Epstein as Desk Clerk, Alex Freeman as Dice Player, Frank Marth as Man, Robert Weil as Henny.

[4][5][6][7] Guest stars: Alan Alda as Poet in Bar, Burgess Meredith as Duncan Kleist, Jessica Walter as Woman in Bar, Herschel Bernardi as Stanley Dorkner, Eileen Heckart as Mildred Pepper, John Lasell as Sheldon, Barbara Dana as Beverly, Sanford Meisner as Kip Harris, Richard S. Castellano as Bartender, Lou Gilbert as Blind News Vendor, Candace Hilligoss as Mrs. Harris, Henderson Forsythe as Dr. Hennickson.

Guest stars: Aldo Ray as Elvin Rhodes, William Daniels as Harry Culverin, Coley Wallace as Pixie Gates, Sandy Dennis as Eleanor Hubber, Joe Silver as Assistant D.A.

Guest stars: Richard Jordan as Jonah, Barbara Barrie as Sarah Hinson, Martin Sheen as Nick, Florence Anglin as Mrs. Forrest, Michael Gorrin as Himmel, David Clarke as Attacker.

Guest stars: Robert Duvall as Johnny Meigs, Herschel Bernardi as Gus Slate, Shirley Knight as Kathy Meigs, Ludwig Donath as Doc Benton, Hy Anzell as Muzzo, Stefan Gierasch as Weller, Maxwell Glanville as Lars, Pete Gumeny as Handler, Sid Raymond as Bartender, Richard Roat as Dr. Lee Harper, Robert Weil as Prisoner, Remo Pisani as Bookie, Charles Dierkop as Suspect.

Guest stars: Frank Gorshin as Alan Starkie, Hilda Brawner as Polly, Val Avery as Franco, Sorrell Booke as Fentus, Richard Shepard as Soldier, Charles Tyner as Veyo, Louis Zorich as Manos, Jimmy Little as Desk Sergeant, Barry Newman as Cab Driver.

Guest stars: Barnard Hughes as Older Reporter, Gene Hackman as Jasper, Dort Clark as Tom Hanson, Richard Hamilton as Phillip Hames, Russell Hardie as Chief Guard, George L. Smith as Lt. Otel, Jack Stamberger as Father Donovan, Howard Wierum as Judge, Chris Gampel as Warden Darrell, Charles Dierkop as Symphony Audience Member.

Guest stars: Sandy Dennis as Lorraine Kirshwood, Donnie Melvin as Joey Dunnahan, Bruce Gordon as Dr. Sorensteen, Anthony Zerbe as Phil Karshow, Sam Gray as Sol Chaplin, Estelle Evans as Crossing Guard, John Horn as Freddy Eauchant, Bibi Osterwald as Grace, Peter Morelli as Alan.

Guest stars: Carol Eve Rossen as Rita Rakahowski, Nehemiah Persoff as Griffin, Anthony Franciosa as Gorilla, Alice Ghostley as Clara, Richard Ward as Nova Scotia, Lou Criscuolo as Tomasola, Marilyn Lovell as Miss Tilton, Howard Mann as Officer Durkin.

Guest stars: Elizabeth Allen as Ola Martin, Dustin Hoffman as Finney, Steven Hill as Stanley Walenty, Zohra Lampert as Clara Espuella, Henry Lascoe as Quale, Mitchell Ryan as Paul Tamarind, Mickey Freeman as Costumer, John C. Becher as Reporter, Mel Stuart as Man on Street, Ramon Bieri as Patrolman.