John Edward Walsh Jr. (born December 26, 1945) is an American television personality, criminal investigator, victim rights advocate, as well as the host and creator of the TV show America's Most Wanted.
Walsh is known for his anti-crime activism, becoming involved following the abduction and brutal murder of his son Adam in 1981 (he was their only child at the time). Convicted serial killer Ottis Toole confessed to Adam's murder, but was never convicted of the crime because evidence was reportedly lost and Toole later recanted his confession. In 2008, the late serial killer Ottis Toole was officially named as Adam's killer and the case was considered closed.
John and Revé Walsh were portrayed by actors Daniel J. Travanti and JoBeth Williams in Adam, a 1983 NBC television film dramatizing the days following Adam's disappearance. The real Walshes appeared at the end of the broadcast to publicize photographs of other children who had vanished but were still missing. Later, a sequel called Adam: His Song Continues was produced and aired. Walsh's life story was also featured on The E! True Hollywood Story and Biography.
After securing a deal with Fox, he launched America's Most Wanted in 1988. By that time, he was well known due to his son's murder and his subsequent actions to help missing and exploited children. America's Most Wanted was the longest-running crime reality show in Fox's history and contributed to the capture of more than 1,000 fugitives. Fox canceled the series in June 2011, but aired four specials during the 2011-12 season.
