James Drury
- Acting
- April 18, 1934 · New York City, New York, USA
- April 6, 2020
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.
Known for
Filmography
- Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck · Self
- The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo · Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (Voice)
- Hell to Pay · JT Coffee
- The Virginian · Rider
- Maverick · Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
- The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. · Ethan Emerson
- Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger · Captain Tom Price
- Walker, Texas Ranger · Captain Tom Price
- Kung Fu: The Legend Continues · Deacon, Doctor
- The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw · Jim
- Return to the Titanic · Self, Writer
- When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion · Self
- The Meanest Men in the West · The Range Boss (The Virginian)
- Firehouse · Captain Spike Ryerson
- The Bull of the West · Man from Virginia
- The Devil and Miss Sarah · Gil Turner
- Alias Smith and Jones · Sheriff Lom Trevors, Sheriff Tankersley
- Breakout · Joe Baker
- Backtrack! · Ramrod (archive footage)
- Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In · The Virginian (uncredited)
- It Takes a Thief · Mr. Clifton
- Ironside · Al
- The Young Warriors · Sergeant Cooley
- Hollywood Squares · Self
- The Final Hour · The Virginian
- The Brazen Bell · The Virginian
- The Devil's Children · The Virginian
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson · Self
- The Merv Griffin Show · Self
- The Virginian · The "Virginian"
- Third of a Man · Emmet
- Ride the High Country · Billy Hammond
- The Mike Douglas Show · Self
- Ten Who Dared · Walter Powell
- Rapids Ahead/Bear Country
- Stagecoach West · 'Stace'
- Pollyanna · George Dodds
- Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus · Jim Weaver
- The Detectives · Adrian
- Bourbon Street Beat
- The Rebel · Bert Pace, Paul Travers
- Lock-Up · Frank Crotty
- Black Saddle · Neal Adams
- Rawhide · Kenley, Johnny Adler
- Good Day for a Hanging · Paul Ridgely
- Lawman · Clay, Stan Bates
- The Rifleman · Lloyd Carpenter, Spicer
- The Texan · Johnny Kaler
- The Ed Wynn Show
- Bronco · John Smith
- Steve Canyon · Lt. Richard Muller
- Bitter Heritage · Jesse James, Jr.
- Trackdown · John Ward
- Perry Mason · Eddy King
- Wagon Train · Justin Claiborne, Cole Crawford
- Have Gun, Will Travel · Tony DeVries
- Bernardine · Langley Philip Beaymont
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective · Arthur Harding
- Love Me Tender · Ray Reno
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre · Jess McHugh, Roy Richards
- Broken Arrow · Tahzay
- The Last Wagon · Lt. Kelly
- Forbidden Planet · Crewman Strong
- Diane · Lieutenant (uncredited)
- The Tender Trap · Eddie
- The 20th Century Fox Hour · Anton Cavrek
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents · Michael Grimes
- Cheyenne · Bill Magruder
- Gunsmoke · Booth Rider, Jerry Cass
- Blackboard Jungle · Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
- The Wonderful World of Disney · Deputy Joe Monroe, George Dodds
- Letter to Loretta · Tony, Bob Prentiss
- The Red Skelton Show · Auctioneer
- Cameo Theatre · George
- The Bob Hope Show · Self