Appears as Sergeant Joe Friday on a 44¢ USA commemorative postage stamp, issued 11 August 2009, in the Early TV Memories issue honoring "Dragnet" (1951).
At the height of "Dragnet's" popularity, people would actually call the LAPD wanting to speak to Webb's character, Sgt. Joe Friday. The Department eventually came up with a stock answer to the large volume of calls: "Sorry, it's Joe's day off."
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 851-853. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
Contrary to popular belief, his character, Joe Friday, never said, "Just the facts, ma'am" in any episode of "Dragnet". The actual line was, "All we want [or "need"] are the facts, ma'am."
Despite being unhappy with an article Jack Jones had written about "Dragnet", Webb insisted on paying for Barbara Stewart's wedding to Jones after she told Webb that she had just returned from performing for the military in Europe.
Featured in "Bad Boys: The Actors of Film Noir" by Karen Burroughs Hannsberry (McFarland, 2003).
Had just over 6,000 jazz albums in his private collection.
He turned down the role of the Dean in Animal House (1978) because he felt it would be poking fun at his straight-laced, law-and-order image; he was closely identified with law and order, in particular police officers, and he felt that the film would be making fun of that, although he claimed he was willing to poke fun at himself - and, in fact, did just that in a famous skit on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" (1962).
He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 7040 Hollywood Boulevard and for Television at 6728 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Not only did the LAPD use "Dragnet" episodes as training films for a time, they also named a police academy auditorium after Webb.
Performed charity work related to widows and orphans of police officers killed in duty.
Portrayed the title character (AKA The Lion's Eye) on CBS Radio's "Jeff Regan, Investigator" (1948).
Portrayed the title character on NBC Radio's "Pete Kelly's Blues" (1951).
Starred as the title character on ABC Radio's "Pat Novak for Hire" (1946 and 1949).
Upon his death, the badge number 714, used by his character Joe Friday in the "Dragnet" TV shows, was officially retired by the Los Angeles Police Department. The badge belonged to Lt. Dan Cooke, his close friend.
Was a close friend of "Star Trek" (1966) creator Gene Roddenberry.
Was a huge baseball fan, and chose badge number 714 for Sgt. Friday because it was the number of home runs Babe Ruth hit.
Was best friends with: Bobby Troup, Webb's ex-wife: Julie London, Harry Morgan, Randolph Mantooth and Kent McCord.
Was buried with full honors befitting an LAPD detective, including a 17-gun salute.