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James Drury
New York City, New York, USA
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 T…
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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
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
TV show Self (archive footage)
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2015
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
Movie Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)
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2005
Hell to Pay
Movie JT Coffee
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2000
The Virginian
Movie Rider
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1994
Maverick
Movie Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
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1993
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
TV show Ethan Emerson
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1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
TV show Captain Tom Price
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1993
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
Movie Captain Tom Price
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1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
TV show Deacon
- 1991
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1981
Return to the Titanic
Movie Self - Host
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1979
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Movie Self
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1978
The Meanest Men in the West
Movie The Range Boss (The Virginian)
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1974
Firehouse
TV show Captain Spike Ryerson
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1972
The Bull of the West
Movie Man from Virginia
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1971
The Devil and Miss Sarah
Movie Gil Turner
More credits
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1971
Alias Smith and Jones
TV show Sheriff Lom Trevors
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1970
Breakout
Movie Joe Baker
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1969
Backtrack!
Movie Ramrod (archive footage)
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1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
TV show The Virginian (uncredited)
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1968
It Takes a Thief
TV show Mr. Clifton
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1967
Ironside
TV show Al
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1967
The Young Warriors
Movie Sergeant Cooley
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1966
Hollywood Squares
TV show Self
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1965
The Final Hour
Movie The Virginian
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1964
The Brazen Bell
Movie The Virginian
-
1962
The Devil's Children
Movie The Virginian
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1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV show Self
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1962
The Merv Griffin Show
TV show Self
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1962
The Virginian
TV show The "Virginian"
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1962
Third of a Man
Movie Emmet
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1962
Ride the High Country
Movie Billy Hammond
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1961
The Mike Douglas Show
TV show Self
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1960
Ten Who Dared
Movie Walter Powell
- 1960
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1960
Stagecoach West
TV show 'Stace'
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1960
Pollyanna
Movie George Dodds
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1960
Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
Movie Jim Weaver
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1959
The Detectives
TV show Adrian
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1959
Bourbon Street Beat
TV show
