Person
James Luisi
New York City, New York, USA
A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one seas…
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A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964). In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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1996
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
Movie Capt. Doug Chapman
-
1996
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
Movie Capt. Doug Chapman
-
1995
Baywatch Nights
TV show Murray
-
1991
Silk Stalkings
TV show
-
1991
Dark Justice
TV show
-
1989
Lethal Woman
Movie Colonel Jerry Maxim
-
1988
Feds!
Movie Sperry
-
1987
The Hidden
Movie Ferrari Salesman
-
1986
L.A. Law
TV show Paul Viola
-
1986
Murphy's Law
Movie Ed Reineke
-
1986
The Hogan Family
TV show
-
1985
Hell Town
TV show
-
1984
Partners in Crime
TV show
-
1984
Finder of Lost Loves
TV show Jordan Hollis
-
1984
The Red-Light Sting
Movie Renny Lucas
-
1983
Star 80
Movie Roy
More credits
-
1983
Sunset Limousine
Movie Angel
-
1983
China Lake
Movie Watch Commander
-
1983
The Renegades
TV show Lt. Marciano
-
1983
The A-Team
TV show Jimmy Durkee
-
1982
Knight Rider
TV show D.G. Grebs
-
1982
Matt Houston
TV show
-
1982
The Renegades
Movie Lt. Joe Marciano
-
1982
T. J. Hooker
TV show George Laszlo
-
1981
The Fall Guy
TV show
-
1981
Our Family Business
Movie Frank
-
1981
Here's Boomer
TV show
-
1980
Magnum, P.I.
TV show John Walter Costa
-
1980
The Asphalt Cowboy
Movie Lt. Lassiter
-
1980
Fade to Black
Movie Capt. M.L. Gallagher
-
1979
Knots Landing
TV show Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
-
1979
Hart to Hart
TV show
-
1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
TV show Hood
-
1979
Harris and Company
TV show
-
1979
Norma Rae
Movie George Benson
-
1978
Moment by Moment
Movie Dan Santini
-
1978
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
Movie Jimmy Karalla
-
1978
Vega$
TV show
-
1978
Sword of Justice
TV show
-
1978
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
TV show
