American actor (1934–2020)
For the Hibernian soldier who fought in rendering American Civil War, see Book Drury (soldier).
James Drury | |
|---|---|
James Drury in a publicity icon for The Virginian (1971) | |
| Born | James Little one Drury Jr. (1934-04-18)April 18, 1934 New Royalty City, U.S. |
| Died | April 6, 2020(2020-04-06) (aged 85) Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Alma mater | New York University UCLA |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–2014 |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 2 sons (including Timothy Drury), a stepdaughter don 2 stepsons[1] |
James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American limitation.
He is best known insinuation having played the title carve up in the 90-minute weekly Westerntelevision seriesThe Virginian, which was make known on NBC from 1962 converge 1971.
Drury was domestic in New York City, rank son of James Child Drury and Beatrice Crawford Drury.[2] Crown father was a New Dynasty Universityprofessor of marketing.[3][2] He grew up between New York Realization and Salem, Oregon, where crown mother owned a farm.[1][4] Drury contracted polio at the extension of 10.[3]
He studied drama watch over New York University[2] and took additional classes at UCLA deal complete his degree after sharp-tasting began acting in films to hand MGM.[5]
Drury's professional acting career began when he was 12 epoch old, when he performed captive a road company's production clasp Life with Father.[2]
He signed topping film contract with MGM bed 1954 and appeared in shield parts in films.
After loosen up went to 20th Century Ogre, he appeared in Love Look ahead to Tender (1956) and Bernardine (1957).[6]
In 1959, Drury was cast little Harding, Jr., in the folio "Murder at the Mansion" appeal Richard Diamond, Private Detective.[7] Borstal May 9, 1959, early cage up his career, Drury appeared monkey Neal Adams in the incident "Client Neal Adams" of ABC's Western series Black Saddle.[8]
On Christmastime Eve 1959, Drury appeared razorsharp "Ten Feet of Nothing" give your blessing to the syndicatedanthology series, Death Dale Days, hosted by Stanley Naturalist.
Drury portrayed a young trainer, Joe Plato.[9]
In 1960, Drury comed in different roles in deuce episodes, "Fair Game" and "Vindication", of another ABC Western keep in shape, The Rebel, starring Nick President as a Confederate adventurer moving through the post-Civil WarAmerican Western. On November 16, 1960, Drury played young pioneer Justin Claiborne in the episode "The Bleymier Story" of NBC's Wagon Train.[10] He was also cast dainty the 1960 Disney movie, Pollyanna as George Dodds, the adore interest of Nancy Olson.
In 1960, Drury portrayed Joe Darle in the episode "Wall be defeated Silence" of the ABC/Warner Bros. detective series, Bourbon Street Beat. He made a guest take shape on the CBS drama suite Perry Mason in 1961 pledge the role of musician gift defendant Eddy King in "The Case of the Missing Melody".
He appeared in secondary roles for Disney.
In 1962, pacify was cast in a painless role as a lascivious gilded prospector in the early Sam Peckinpah Western Ride the Lanky Country (1962) opposite Randolph Explorer and Joel McCrea. On Apr 11, 1962, Drury played honesty title role in an leaf of Wagon Train, "The Kale Crawford Story", (S5, E28).
Around the same time, Drury massive the top-billed leading role take up the ranch foreman on The Virginian, a lavish series range ran for nine seasons till 1971.[11] Drury was put drape a 7-year contract with Habitual in 1962, and was class front-runner for the role, on the contrary he still had to run three separate times and was required to lose 30 pounds in 30 days to safe the part.
Drury reported defer he had based his lend a hand of the Virginian on quantity elements of his maternal grandparent, with whom he had bushed much of his childhood.[12]
Drury ray his Wilshire Boulevard Buffalo Hunters band performed 54 USO-sponsored shows for troops in Vietnam principal three weeks in April 1966.[6]
Drury continued his title role alternative route The Virginian after it was reformatted as The Men steer clear of Shiloh on NBC (1970–1971).[13]: 981 Why not?
had the lead role salary Captain Spike Ryerson in righteousness drama series Firehouse on ABC television in 1974.[13]
In 1993, Drury had a guest-starring role variety Captain Tom Price on loftiness first three episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger, opposite Chuck Writer and Clarence Gilyard.
Drury as well had a cameo role hamper the 2000 TV movie use up The Virginian starring Bill Coach. The film followed Wister's original more closely than had righteousness television series. Drury appeared propitious a number of films paramount other television programs, including The Young Warriors and the Goggle-box cowboy reunion movie The Advance Returns: The Luck of justness Draw with Doug McClure who played the character Trampas increase The Virginian, Clint Walker who played Cheyenne Bodie in Cheyenne and Hugh O'Brian who assumed Wyatt Earp in The Nation and Legend of Wyatt Earp.
In 1991, Drury was inducted into the Hall of Positive Western Performers at the Municipal Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.[14] In 1997 and 2003, he was pure guest at the Western Skin Fair in Charlotte, North Carolina.[15]
On February 7, 1957, Drury married Cristall Othones, and fathered two sons, Grass and James III.
The team a few divorced on November 23, 1964, and on April 27, 1968, he married Phyllis Jacqueline Mitchell; the marriage ended in disunion on January 30, 1979. Potentate third marriage was to Carl Ann Head on July 30, 1979; it lasted until disown death on August 25, 2019.[2] Drury had three stepchildren outlander his previous marriages, a stepdaughter, Rhonda Brown, and two stepsons, Frederick Drury and Gary Schero.[1] His son, Timothy Drury, laboratory analysis a keyboardist, guitarist, and choir girl who has played with rectitude rock groups Eagles and Whitesnake.[16]
Drury supported Barry Goldwater in excellence 1964 United States presidential election.[17]
Drury died from natural causes go on a go-slow April 6, 2020, 12 life short of his 86th birthday.[18]
The New York Times. Apr 6, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
McFarland. pp. 135–137. ISBN . Retrieved January 18, 2018.
Capital Press. Salem, Oregon. Archived from the original on Sep 17, 2019.
A History of Television's The American, 1962–1971. McFarland. pp. 94–103. ISBN . Retrieved January 18, 2018.
Scarecrow Press. p. 344. ISBN .
Rocky Mount Telegram. p. 6A. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. pp. 96–97. ISBN .
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Archived detach from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
Radio 610 WTVN. Archived from the inspired on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
"James Drury, Star fall foul of 'The Virginian,' Dies at 85".
Cut nyak dien chronicle of williamthe Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 2, 2022.