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James Drury
James Drury

James Drury

ActingBorn April 18, 1934Died April 6, 2020 (age 85)New York City, New York, USA

Biography

James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American actor. He is best known for having played the title role in the 90-minute weekly Western television series The Virginian, which was broadcast on NBC from 1962 to 1971. Drury was born in New York City, the son of James Child Drury and Beatrice Crawford Drury. His father was a New York University professor of marketing. He grew up between New York City and Salem, Oregon, where his mother owned a farm. Drury contracted polio at the age of 10. He studied drama at New York University and took additional classes at UCLA to complete his degree after he began acting in films at MGM. On February 7, 1957, Drury married Cristall Othones, and fathered two sons, Timothy and James III. The couple divorced on November 23, 1964 and on April 27, 1968, he married Phyllis Jacqueline Mitchell; the marriage ended in divorce on January 30, 1979. His third marriage was to Carl Ann Head on July 30, 1979; it lasted until her death on August 25, 2019. Drury had three stepchildren from his previous marriages, a stepdaughter, Rhonda Brown, and two stepsons, Frederick Drury and Gary Schero. Drury died from natural causes on April 6, 2020.

Filmography

2025
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck

as Self (archive footage)

TV
2015
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo

as Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)

Movie
2005
Hell to Pay

as JT Coffee

Movie
2000Movie
1994
Maverick

as Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)

Movie
1993Movie
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger

as Captain Tom Price

TV
1981
Return to the Titanic

as Self - Host

Movie
1978
The Meanest Men in the West

as The Range Boss (The Virginian)

Movie
1974
Firehouse

as Captain Spike Ryerson

TV
1972
The Bull of the West

as Man from Virginia

Movie
1971Movie
1971
Alias Smith and Jones

as Sheriff Lom Trevors

TV
1971
Alias Smith and Jones

as Sheriff Tankersley

TV
1970
Breakout

as Joe Baker

Movie
1969
Backtrack!

as Ramrod (archive footage)

Movie
1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

as The Virginian (uncredited)

TV
1968
It Takes a Thief

as Mr. Clifton

TV
1967TV
1967
The Young Warriors

as Sergeant Cooley

Movie
1965
The Final Hour

as The Virginian

Movie
1964
The Brazen Bell

as The Virginian

Movie
1962
The Devil's Children

as The Virginian

Movie
1962
The Virginian

as The "Virginian"

TV
1962Movie
1962
Ride the High Country

as Billy Hammond

Movie
1960
Ten Who Dared

as Walter Powell

Movie
1960
Stagecoach West

as 'Stace'

TV
1960
Pollyanna

as George Dodds

Movie
1959TV
1959
The Rebel

as Bert Pace

TV
1959
The Rebel

as Paul Travers

TV
1959
Lock-Up

as Frank Crotty

TV
1959
Black Saddle

as Neal Adams

TV
1959
Rawhide

as Kenley

TV
1959
Rawhide

as Johnny Adler

TV
1959
Rawhide

as Rance

TV
1959
Good Day for a Hanging

as Paul Ridgely

Movie
1958
Lawman

as Clay

TV
1958
Lawman

as Stan Bates

TV
1958
The Rifleman

as Lloyd Carpenter

TV
1958
The Rifleman

as Spicer

TV
1958
The Texan

as Johnny Kaler

TV
1958
Bronco

as John Smith

TV
1958
Steve Canyon

as Lt. Richard Muller

TV
1958
Bitter Heritage

as Jesse James, Jr.

Movie
1957
Trackdown

as John Ward

TV
1957
Perry Mason

as Eddy King

TV
1957
Wagon Train

as Justin Claiborne

TV
1957
Wagon Train

as Cole Crawford

TV
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel

as Tony DeVries

TV
1957
Bernardine

as Langley Philip Beaymont

Movie
1957TV
1956
Love Me Tender

as Ray Reno

Movie
1956TV
1956
Broken Arrow

as Tahzay

TV
1956
The Last Wagon

as Lt. Kelly

Movie
1956
Forbidden Planet

as Crewman Strong

Movie
1956
Diane

as Lieutenant (uncredited)

Movie
1955Movie
1955TV
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Michael Grimes

TV
1955
Cheyenne

as Bill Magruder

TV
1955
Gunsmoke

as Booth Rider

TV
1955
Gunsmoke

as Jerry Cass

TV
1955
Gunsmoke

as Johnny Red

TV
1955
Gunsmoke

as Tom

TV
1955
Blackboard Jungle

as Hospital Attendant (uncredited)

Movie
1954
The Wonderful World of Disney

as Deputy Joe Monroe

TV
1954TV
1953TV
1953
Letter to Loretta

as Bob Prentiss

TV
1951TV
1950
Cameo Theatre

as George

TV
1950TV

Personal Info

DepartmentActing
BirthdayApril 18, 1934
Day of DeathApril 6, 2020
Place of BirthNew York City, New York, USA
Popularity0.8