after 19 years working in films, Stevens gained national prominence for his starring role in the private detective series Peter Gunn, which ran on NBC from September 1958 to September 1960 and then moved to ABC, where it continued for another year. The series was produced by Blake Edwards, who also wrote and directed many of the episodes. The iconic theme music for the series was composed by Henry Mancini. On May 7, 1959, Stevens was a guest star on the NBC variety series The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford. He and Tennessee Ernie Ford did a comedy skit based on Peter Gunn. He sang on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show with Dinah Shore. During the run of Peter Gunn Stevens guest starred on Special Agent 7, The Dinah Shore Chevy Show, and The Chevy Show. He shot a pilot called The Mighty O that was not picked up in 1961. After the show ended he and Smith toured in a 13-week run of Critic's Choice from 1961–62. Man of the World and Mr Broadway After Peter Gunn ended, Stevens was called on by Sir Lew Grade of ITV to move to London, England, to play the lead role in the television series Man of the World in 1962. During 1963–64, he appeared in the Broadway musical Here's Love, which ran for 334 performances. In 1964, Stevens followed this series with Mr. Broadway, the 13-week CBS drama in which he starred as Mike Bell, a New York City public relations specialist. Horace McMahon played his assistant and police contact, Hank McClure. The series was produced by David Susskind. In 1965, he and Smith toured on stage once more in a production of Mary, Mary. Stevens and Blake Edwards brought Peter Gunn to the big screen in 1967 with the feature film Gunn. Though it was advertised as "Gunn-Number One", there were no sequels. TV guest star Stevens shot an unsold pilot The Best Years, and guest starred on several television series including The Name of the Game; The Bold Ones: The Lawyers; McCloud; My World and Welcome to It; The Governor & J.J.; My Three Sons; To Rome with Love; Bracken's World; The Virginian; Gunsmoke; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Alias Smith and Jones; Medical Center; Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law; The Rookies; Here's Lucy; Love, American Style; The Snoop Sisters; Circle of Fear; Search; Faraday and Company; and Chase. He