A notable break for Spradlin resulted from his work in television in the 1960s. Casting director Fred Roos had cast Spradlin in television shows such as "I Spy" (as the immediate superior of Pentagon spies Kelly Robinson and Alexander Scott in the episode "Tonia"), "Mannix" (in an uncredited role as Senator Sid Abernathy in the episode "Turn Every Stone"), and "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." (as visiting Colonel Driscoll in the episode "Gomer Pyle Super Chef"). Spradlin portrayed Commander Maurice E. "Germany" Curts, Communications Officer, U.S. Pacific Fleet, in an uncredited role in "Tora! Tora! Tora!" in 1970. He was also in the counter-culture film "Zabriskie Point" (1970). He worked with Jack Webb on the series "Dragnet", playing multiple roles from a safecracker to a low-level con man.