- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- April 18, 1934
- Place of Birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Died
- April 6, 2020
James Drury
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 Januar…
Filmography
tvTitanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
2025 · Self (archive footage)
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
2015 · Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)
movieHell to Pay
2005 · JT Coffee
movieThe Virginian
2000 · Rider
movieMaverick
1994 · Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
tvThe Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
1993 · Ethan Emerson
movieWalker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
1993 · Captain Tom Price
tvWalker, Texas Ranger
1993 · Captain Tom Price
tvKung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993 · Deacon, Doctor
movieThe Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
1991 · Jim
movieReturn to the Titanic
1981 · Self - Host, Writer
movieWhen the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
1979 · Self
movieThe Meanest Men in the West
1978 · The Range Boss (The Virginian)
tvFirehouse
1974 · Captain Spike Ryerson
movieThe Bull of the West
1972 · Man from Virginia
movieThe Devil and Miss Sarah
1971 · Gil Turner
tvAlias Smith and Jones
1971 · Sheriff Lom Trevors, Sheriff Tankersley
movieBreakout
1970 · Joe Baker
movieBacktrack!
1969 · Ramrod (archive footage)
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968 · The Virginian (uncredited)
tvIt Takes a Thief
1968 · Mr. Clifton
tvIronside
1967 · Al
movieThe Young Warriors
1967 · Sergeant Cooley
movieThe Final Hour
1965 · The Virginian
movieThe Brazen Bell
1964 · The Virginian
movieThe Devil's Children
1962 · The Virginian
tvThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962 · Self
tvThe Merv Griffin Show
1962 · Self
tvThe Virginian
1962 · The "Virginian"
movieThird of a Man
1962 · Emmet
movieRide the High Country
1962 · Billy Hammond
tvThe Mike Douglas Show
1961 · Self
movieTen Who Dared
1960 · Walter Powell
movieRapids Ahead/Bear Country
1960
tvStagecoach West
1960 · 'Stace'
moviePollyanna
1960 · George Dodds
movieToby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
1960 · Jim Weaver
tvThe Detectives
1959 · Adrian
tvBourbon Street Beat
1959
tvThe Rebel
1959 · Bert Pace, Paul Travers
tvLock-Up
1959 · Frank Crotty
tvBlack Saddle
1959 · Neal Adams
tvRawhide
1959 · Kenley, Rance, Johnny Adler
movieGood Day for a Hanging
1959 · Paul Ridgely
tvLawman
1958 · Clay, Stan Bates
tvThe Rifleman
1958 · Lloyd Carpenter, Spicer
tvThe Texan
1958 · Johnny Kaler
tvThe Ed Wynn Show
1958
tvBronco
1958 · John Smith
tvSteve Canyon
1958 · Lt. Richard Muller
movieBitter Heritage
1958 · Jesse James, Jr.
tvTrackdown
1957 · John Ward
tvPerry Mason
1957 · Eddy King
tvWagon Train
1957 · Justin Claiborne, Cole Crawford
tvHave Gun, Will Travel
1957 · Tony DeVries
movieBernardine
1957 · Langley Philip Beaymont
tvRichard Diamond, Private Detective
1957 · Arthur Harding
movieLove Me Tender
1956 · Ray Reno
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956 · Jess McHugh, Roy Richards
Broken Arrow
1956 · Tahzay
movieThe Last Wagon
1956 · Lt. Kelly
movieForbidden Planet
1956 · Crewman Strong
movieDiane
1956 · Lieutenant (uncredited)
movieThe Tender Trap
1955 · Eddie
tvThe 20th Century Fox Hour
1955 · Anton Cavrek
tvAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955 · Michael Grimes
tvCheyenne
1955 · Bill Magruder
tvGunsmoke
1955 · Booth Rider, Johnny Red, Jerry Cass, Tom
movieBlackboard Jungle
1955 · Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
tvThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954 · Deputy Joe Monroe, George Dodds, Jim Weaver
tvLetter to Loretta
1953 · Tony, Bob Prentiss
tvThe Red Skelton Show
1951 · Auctioneer
Cameo Theatre
1950 · George
tvThe Bob Hope Show
1950 · Self