James Gregory (actor)

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For other people with the same name, see James Gregory (disambiguation).
James Gregory
Gregory in 1948
Born(1911-12-23)December 23, 1911
New York City, U.S.
DiedSeptember 16, 2002(2002-09-16) (aged 90)
Sedona, Arizona, U.S.
Years active1939–1998
SpouseAnn Miltner

James Gregory (December 23, 1911 – September 16, 2002)[1][2] was an American character actor known for his deep, gravelly voice, and playing brash roles such as Schaffer in Al Capone (1959), the McCarthy-like Sen. John Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), the audacious General Ursus in Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970), and crusty Inspector Frank Luger in the television sitcom Barney Miller (1975–1982).

Career[edit]

In 1939, he made his Broadway debut in a production of Key Largo.[3] He served from 1941 to 1946 in the United States Navy[4] and the United States Marine Corps during World War II.[2] His early acting work included army training films; one such appearance is excerpted in The Atomic Café (1982). He also worked in radio, including a year (1955–1956) on 21st Precinct.[citation needed]

Gregory was the lead in The Lawless Years, a 1920s-era crime drama which aired 45 episodes on NBC. In the series, which ran from 1959 to 1961, he played NYPD Detective Barney Ruditsky.[5]: 588 

After his appearance as the McCarthyistic Senator Iselin in The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Gregory starred in the film PT 109 (1963) with Cliff Robertson. He played Dean Martin's spy boss MacDonald, in the Matt Helm film series; in the original Star Trek series in the episode "Dagger of the Mind" (1966), as Dr. Tristan Adams; and in the Elvis Presley film Clambake (1967). In the pilot movie for the 1968 Hawaii Five-O series, Gregory became the first actor to portray State Department official Jonathan Kaye, a recurring character on the series.

Gregory portrayed Nick Hannigan on Detective School.[5] He was a semiregular on the TV series Barney Miller as Deputy Inspector Frank Luger. His final acting credit was in a 1986 episode of Mr. Belvedere.

Personal life and death[edit]

Gregory was married to Ann Miltner for 58 years.[2] He died of natural causes on September 16, 2002, in Sedona, Arizona, aged 90.[6]

Selected TV and filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "James Gregory". tcm.com. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Oliver, Myrna (September 19, 2002). "James Gregory, 90; Veteran Player of Cops and Generals in Movies and Television". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. ^ "James Gregory". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  4. ^ Navy profile, navy.togetherweserved.com. Accessed August 6, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 255. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  6. ^ "James Gregory -- Actor, 90". The New York Times. Associated Press. September 19, 2002. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved September 18, 2023.

External links[edit]

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