The Streets of San Francisco was a television police drama set in San Francisco, California in the 1970s and produced by Quinn Martin Productions .

It starred Karl Malden as Detective Lt. Mike Stone and Michael Douglas as Inspector Steve Keller (1972 - 76). It aired from 1972 - 77. There were 119 episodes made, each run for 60 min. The two main characters are plain-clothes homicide detectives who cruise the streets of San Francisco solving a variety of crimes, usually involving murder. Stone is the street smart veteran cop and Keller is the college educated rookie. Much of the success of the show was due to the relationship between the two leads.The show made Douglas a star. The series started with a TV movie of the same name in 1972. Michael Douglas quit the show in 1975 to produce One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975). His character's absence was explained by having him take a teaching position.

A TV movie "Back to the Streets of San Francisco" was released in 1992. Karl Malden returns as Mike Stone and Steve Keller is missing. Mike heads up an investigation, while at the same time investigating a brutal murder. He attempts to decide which of two inspectors shall be recommended for the position of Lieutenant. The two inspectors are played by actors Debrah Farentino and Conor O'Farrell.

Look for Martin Sheen playing Dean Knox in episode #2.2 "Betrayed" 20 September 1973 and Arnold Schwarzenegger playing Josef Schmidt in episode #5.19 5 May 1977.