James Drury
Known for: Acting
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
Series
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
Series
Perry Mason
Eddy King
1957
Series
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Series
Wagon Train
Justin Claiborne
1957
Series
Wagon Train
Cole Crawford
1957
Series
Ironside
Al
1967
Series
The Rifleman
Lloyd Carpenter
1958
Series
The Rifleman
Spicer
1958
Series
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
Series
The Virginian
The "Virginian"
1962
Series
Have Gun, Will Travel
Tony DeVries
1957
Series
Lawman
Clay
1958
Series
Lawman
Stan Bates
1958
Series
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Jess McHugh
1956
Series
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Roy Richards
1956
Series
Cheyenne
Bill Magruder
1955
Series
Rawhide
Kenley
1959
Series
Rawhide
Rance
1959
Series
Rawhide
Johnny Adler
1959
Series
Walker, Texas Ranger
Captain Tom Price
1993
Series
The Red Skelton Show
Self - Auctioneer
1951
Series
Gunsmoke
Booth Rider
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Johnny Red
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Jerry Cass
1955
Series
Gunsmoke
Tom
1955
Series
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Deacon
1993
Series
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Doctor
1993
Series
Alias Smith and Jones
Sheriff Lom Trevors
1971
Series
Alias Smith and Jones
Sheriff Tankersley
1971
Series
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Series
The Rebel
Bert Pace
1959
Series
The Rebel
Paul Travers
1959
Series
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
The Virginian (uncredited)
1968
Series
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Michael Grimes
1955
Series
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Arthur Harding
1957
Series
The Texan
Johnny Kaler
1958
Series
Trackdown
John Ward
1957
Series
The Detectives
Adrian
1959
Series
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Anton Cavrek
1955
Series
It Takes a Thief
Mr. Clifton
1968
Series
Black Saddle
Neal Adams
1959
Series
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Ethan Emerson
1993
Series
Lock-Up
Frank Crotty
1959
Series
Bronco
John Smith
1958
Series
Stagecoach West
'Stace'
1960
Broken Arrow
Tahzay
1956
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Deputy Joe Monroe
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
George Dodds
1954
Series
The Wonderful World of Disney
Jim Weaver
1954
Series
Bourbon Street Beat
1959
Series
Letter to Loretta
Tony
1953
Series
Letter to Loretta
Bob Prentiss
1953
Film
Maverick
Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
1994
Film
Forbidden Planet
Crewman Strong
1956
Series
Steve Canyon
Lt. Richard Muller
1958
Cameo Theatre
George
1950
Film
Diane
Lieutenant (uncredited)
1956
Film
Ride the High Country
Billy Hammond
1962
Series
Firehouse
Captain Spike Ryerson
1974
Film
Blackboard Jungle
Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
1955
Series
The Ed Wynn Show
1958
Film
Pollyanna
George Dodds
1960
Film
Love Me Tender
Ray Reno
1956
Film
The Last Wagon
Lt. Kelly
1956
Film
The Tender Trap
Eddie
1955
Film
Hell to Pay
JT Coffee
2005
Film
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
Jim
1991
Film
The Meanest Men in the West
The Range Boss (The Virginian)
1978
Film
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Self
1979
Film
Ten Who Dared
Walter Powell
1960
Film
Good Day for a Hanging
Paul Ridgely
1959
Film
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
Captain Tom Price
1993
Film
The Virginian
Rider
2000
Film
The Bull of the West
Man from Virginia
1972
Film
Backtrack!
Ramrod (archive footage)
1969
Film
Bitter Heritage
Jesse James, Jr.
1958
Film
Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
Jim Weaver
1960
Series
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Breakout
Joe Baker
1970
Film
Bernardine
Langley Philip Beaymont
1957
Film
Third of a Man
Emmet
1962
Film
The Devil and Miss Sarah
Gil Turner
1971
Film
The Final Hour
The Virginian
1965
Film
The Devil's Children
The Virginian
1962
Film
The Young Warriors
Sergeant Cooley
1967
Film
The Brazen Bell
The Virginian
1964
Film
Rapids Ahead/Bear Country
1960
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)
2015
Film
Return to the Titanic
Self - Host
1981