James Luisi
Known for: Acting
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
Series
Knots Landing
Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
1979
Series
Magnum, P.I.
John Walter Costa
1980
Series
Ironside
Mike Purcell
1967
Series
The A-Team
Jimmy Durkee
1983
Series
Adam-12
Antonio Minetti
1968
Series
Knight Rider
D.G. Grebs
1982
Series
L.A. Law
Paul Viola
1986
Series
Quincy, M.E.
1976
Series
The Rockford Files
Doug Chapman
1974
Series
The Rockford Files
Burt Stryker
1974
Series
The Rifleman
1958
Series
The F.B.I.
Sam Kehoe
1965
Series
The F.B.I.
Little Julio
1965
Series
T. J. Hooker
George Laszlo
1982
Series
T. J. Hooker
Vincent Hazzard
1982
Series
Hart to Hart
1979
Series
Cannon
1971
Series
Naked City
Mark Andrew
1958
Series
Starsky & Hutch
1975
Series
Fantasy Island
Arbogast
1978
Series
Silk Stalkings
1991
Series
Barnaby Jones
Nick Gorman
1973
Series
Barnaby Jones
Burt Logan
1973
Series
The Fall Guy
1981
Series
Kojak
Det. Geno Alessi
1973
Series
Kojak
Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau
1973
Series
The Rookies
1972
Series
Matt Houston
1982
Series
The Streets of San Francisco
1972
Series
Gunsmoke
Ivers
1955
Series
The Hogan Family
1986
Series
Vega$
1978
Series
Wonder Woman
George
1975
Series
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Hood
1979
Series
Police Story
1973
Series
Baywatch Nights
Murray
1995
Series
CHiPs
1977
Series
Another World
1964
Series
Ghost Story
Rick
1972
Series
Finder of Lost Loves
Jordan Hollis
1984
Series
Dark Justice
1991
Series
S.W.A.T.
1975
Series
Hawkins
Andy Tyler
1973
Series
Here's Boomer
1981
Film
The Hidden
Ferrari Salesman
1987
Series
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
1978
Series
Good Heavens
1976
Series
Partners in Crime
1984
Series
Hell Town
1985
Series
City of Angels
1976
Series
Hunter
1977
Series
Spencer's Pilots
1976
Series
Sword of Justice
1978
Film
Norma Rae
George Benson
1979
Film
Murphy's Law
Ed Reineke
1986
Series
The Renegades
Lt. Marciano
1983
Film
Fade to Black
Capt. M.L. Gallagher
1980
Film
Ben
Ed
1972
Film
Star 80
Roy
1983
Film
Moment by Moment
Dan Santini
1978
Film
China Lake
Watch Commander
1983
Film
Feds!
Sperry
1988
Film
Killer's Delight
Sgt. Vince De Carlo
1978
Film
Lethal Woman
Colonel Jerry Maxim
1989
Film
Honky Tonk
Blackie
1974
Film
The Renegades
Lt. Joe Marciano
1982
Film
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
Capt. Doug Chapman
1996
Film
Sunset Limousine
Angel
1983
Film
I Escaped from Devil's Island
Dazzas
1973
Film
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
Capt. Doug Chapman
1996
Film
Stunts
Alvin Blake
1977
Film
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
Lazzeri
1978
Film
Cry Rape
Det. Kroger
1973
Harris and Company
1979
Film
Contract on Cherry Street
Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer
1977
Film
The Red-Light Sting
Renny Lucas
1984
Film
Future Cop
Paterno
1976
Film
The Take
Benedetto
1974
Film
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
Jimmy Karalla
1978
Film
Our Family Business
Frank
1981
Film
Love Is Not Enough
Harry Foreman
1978
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
George Washington
1975
The Man from Independence
Stranger
1974
The Asphalt Cowboy
Lt. Lassiter
1980
Film
Cat Ballou
Spider Levinsky
1971