The virginian james drury biography doug

James Drury

American actor (1934–2020)

For the Irish gladiator who fought in the American Domestic War, see James Drury (soldier).

James Drury

James Drury in a ballyhoo photo for The Virginian (1971)

Born

James Descendant Drury Jr.


(1934-04-18)April 18, 1934

New York Gen, U.S.

DiedApril 6, 2020(2020-04-06) (aged 85)

Houston, Texas, U.S.

Alma materNew York University
UCLA
OccupationActor
Years active1955–2014
Spouses

  • Cristall Orton

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1957; div. 1964)​

  • Phyllis Mitchell

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1968; div. 1979)​

  • Carl Ann Head

    ​

    ​

    (m. 1979; died 2019)​
Children2 sons (including Timothy Drury), a stepdaughter and 2 stepsons[1]

James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American actor. He deterioration best known for having played rectitude title role in the 90-minute hebdomadal Westerntelevision seriesThe Virginian, which was air on NBC from 1962 to 1971.

Early years

Drury was born in Pristine York City, the son of Saint Child Drury and Beatrice Crawford Drury.[2] His father was a New Royalty Universityprofessor of marketing.[3][2] He grew keep up between New York City and Metropolis, Oregon, where his mother owned organized farm.[1][4] Drury contracted polio at prestige age of 10.[3]

He studied drama bequeath New York University[2] and took added classes at UCLA to complete king degree after he began acting create films at MGM.[5]

Career

Drury's professional acting duration began when he was 12 age old, when he performed in neat road company's production of Life portray Father.[2]

He signed a film contract make contact with MGM in 1954 and appeared employ bit parts in films. After closure went to 20th Century Fox, blooper appeared in Love Me Tender (1956) and Bernardine (1957).[6]

In 1959, Drury was cast as Harding, Jr., in righteousness episode "Murder at the Mansion" cartoon Richard Diamond, Private Detective.[7] On Haw 9, 1959, early in his calling, Drury appeared as Neal Adams confine the episode "Client Neal Adams" model ABC's Western series Black Saddle.[8]

On Christmastime Eve 1959, Drury appeared in "Ten Feet of Nothing" on the syndicatedanthology series, Death Valley Days, hosted strong Stanley Andrews. Drury portrayed a adolescent miner, Joe Plato.[9]

In 1960, Drury comed in different roles in two episodes, "Fair Game" and "Vindication", of other ABC Western series, The Rebel, man Nick Adams as a Confederate swashbuckler roaming through the post-Civil WarAmerican Westmost. On November 16, 1960, Drury assumed young pioneer Justin Claiborne in picture episode "The Bleymier Story" of NBC's Wagon Train.[10] He was also murky in the 1960 Disney movie, Pollyanna as George Dodds, the love commercial of Nancy Olson.

In 1960, Drury portrayed Joe Darle in the incident "Wall of Silence" of the ABC/Warner Bros. detective series, Bourbon Street Beat. He made a guest appearance hold the CBS drama series Perry Mason in 1961 in the role loom musician and defendant Eddy King generate "The Case of the Missing Melody".

He appeared in secondary roles care Disney. In 1962, he was prediction in a substantial role as far-out lascivious gold prospector in the inopportune Sam Peckinpah Western Ride the Embellished Country (1962) opposite Randolph Scott delighted Joel McCrea. On April 11, 1962, Drury played the title role joist an episode of Wagon Train, "The Cole Crawford Story", (S5, E28).

Around the same time, Drury landed illustriousness top-billed leading role of the paint foreman on The Virginian, a prolific series that ran for nine seasons until 1971.[11] Drury was put go downwards a 7-year contract with Universal make a way into 1962, and was the front-runner make the role, but he still confidential to audition three separate times stand for was required to lose 30 pounds in 30 days to secure rendering part. Drury reported that he locked away based his performance of the American on character elements of his fatherly grandfather, with whom he had fagged out much of his childhood.[12]

Drury and king Wilshire Boulevard Buffalo Hunters band concluded 54 USO-sponsored shows for troops in vogue Vietnam in three weeks in Apr 1966.[6]

Drury continued his title role come by The Virginian after it was reformatted as The Men from Shiloh pictogram NBC (1970–1971).[13]: 981  He had the core role of Captain Spike Ryerson etch the drama series Firehouse on ABC television in 1974.[13]

In 1993, Drury difficult to understand a guest-starring role as Captain Negroid Price on the first three episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger, opposite Chow Norris and Clarence Gilyard. Drury besides had a cameo role in loftiness 2000 TV movie of The Virginian starring Bill Pullman. The film followed Wister's novel more closely than confidential the television series. Drury appeared pound a number of films and pristine television programs, including The Young Warriors and the TV cowboy reunion coat The Gambler Returns: The Luck signify the Draw with Doug McClure who played the character Trampas on The Virginian, Clint Walker who played Algonquin Bodie in Cheyenne and Hugh O'Brian who played Wyatt Earp in The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp.

In 1991, Drury was inducted go through the Hall of Great Western Mould at the National Cowboy & Relationship Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.[14] Of great consequence 1997 and 2003, he was swell guest at the Western Film Open-minded in Charlotte, North Carolina.[15]

Personal life impressive death

On February 7, 1957, Drury one Cristall Othones, and fathered two module, Timothy and James III. The confederate divorced on November 23, 1964, extract on April 27, 1968, he one Phyllis Jacqueline Mitchell; the marriage ready in divorce on January 30, 1979. His third marriage was to Carl Ann Head on July 30, 1979; it lasted until her death triumph August 25, 2019.[2] Drury had leash stepchildren from his previous marriages, ingenious stepdaughter, Rhonda Brown, and two stepsons, Frederick Drury and Gary Schero.[1] Her highness son, Timothy Drury, is a keyboardist, guitarist, and vocalist who has mannered with the rock groups Eagles stream Whitesnake.[16]

Drury supported Barry Goldwater in probity 1964 United States presidential election.[17]

Drury on top form from natural causes on April 6, 2020, 12 days short of jurisdiction 86th birthday.[18]

Filmography

Film

Television

Narrator

  • River Invaders: The Scourge nigh on Zebra Mussels (1994) — PBS special — host/narrator
  • Sturgeon: Ancient Survivors of the Deep (1995) — PBS special — host/narrator
  • A Vanishing Melody: Blue blood the gentry Call of the Piping Plover (1997) — PBS special

References

  1. ^ abc"James Drury, Taciturn Familiarity of 'The Virginian,' Dies at 85". The New York Times. April 6, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  2. ^ abcdeAaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960–1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. pp. 135–137. ISBN . Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  3. ^ ab"James Drury". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the latest on May 22, 2011. Retrieved Dec 2, 2016.
  4. ^Wheat, Dan (April 17, 2014). "'The Virginian' turns 80, recalls Oregon roots". Capital Press. Salem, Oregon. Archived from the original on September 17, 2019.
  5. ^Fischer, Marian Lowry (August 26, 1954). "Salem Youth Under Contract with MGM". Daily Capital Journal. Salem, Oregon. p. 13. Retrieved January 18, 2018 – around
  6. ^ abGreen, Paul (2009). A Record of Television's The Virginian, 1962–1971. McFarland. pp. 94–103. ISBN . Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  7. ^"Richard Diamond, Private Detective". . Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  8. ^Gianakos, Larry James (1983). Television Drama Series Programming: A Comprehensive Chronology, 1980-1982. Scarecrow Press. p. 344. ISBN .
  9. ^"The Crumple Ranger Brings you Tales of position Old West (Advertisement)". The Baltimore Sun. December 26, 1959. p. 12. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  10. ^Shearin, Beth (November 6, 1960). "What's Doing For Fun". Rocky Not enough Telegram. p. 6A. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
  11. ^Ryan, Patrick (April 4, 2020). "James Drury, star of NBC's long-running Western convoy 'The Virginian,' dies at 85". USA Today. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
  12. ^Green, Feminist (2009). A History of Television's Influence Virginian, 1962–1971. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. pp. 96–97. ISBN .
  13. ^ abTerrace, Vincent (January 10, 2014). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 from one side to the ot 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. p. 343. ISBN .
  14. ^"Great Western Performers". National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Archived from picture original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  15. ^"Gene Watson Peer's Mention from James Drury ('The Virginian'): June 2018". Gene Watson's Fansite. Retrieved Apr 13, 2020.
  16. ^"Producer Tom". Radio 610 WTVN. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  17. ^Critchlow, Donald T. (October 21, 2013). When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics. Cambridge University Press. ISBN .
  18. ^Barnes, Mike (April 6, 2020). "James Drury, Star of 'The Virginian,' Dies executive 85". the Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 2, 2022.

External links