Acting
James Luisi
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
The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
Film · 1996
The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
Film · 1996
Baywatch Nights
Series · 1995
Silk Stalkings
Series · 1991
Dark Justice
Series · 1991
Lethal Woman
Film · 1989
Feds!
Film · 1988
The Hidden
Film · 1987
Murphy's Law
Film · 1986
L.A. Law
Series · 1986
The Hogan Family
Series · 1986
Hell Town
Series · 1985
The Red-Light Sting
Film · 1984
Partners in Crime
Series · 1984
Finder of Lost Loves
Series · 1984
Star 80
Film · 1983
Sunset Limousine
Film · 1983
China Lake
Film · 1983
The A-Team
Series · 1983
The Renegades
Series · 1983
The Renegades
Film · 1982
Knight Rider
Series · 1982
Matt Houston
Series · 1982
T. J. Hooker
Series · 1982
T. J. Hooker
Series · 1982
Our Family Business
Film · 1981
The Fall Guy
Series · 1981
Here's Boomer
Series · 1981
Fade to Black
Film · 1980
The Asphalt Cowboy
Film · 1980
Magnum, P.I.
Series · 1980
Norma Rae
Film · 1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Series · 1979
Knots Landing
Series · 1979
Hart to Hart
Series · 1979
Harris and Company
Series · 1979
Killer's Delight
Film · 1978
Moment by Moment
Film · 1978
Love Is Not Enough
Film · 1978
One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
Film · 1978
A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
Film · 1978
Vega$
Series · 1978
Sword of Justice
Series · 1978
The Eddie Capra Mysteries
Series · 1978
Fantasy Island
Series · 1978
Contract on Cherry Street
Film · 1977
Stunts
Film · 1977
Hunter
Series · 1977
CHiPs
Series · 1977
Future Cop
Film · 1976
Quincy, M.E.
Series · 1976
City of Angels
Series · 1976
Good Heavens
Series · 1976
Spencer's Pilots
Series · 1976
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
Film · 1975
Starsky & Hutch
Series · 1975
Wonder Woman
Series · 1975
S.W.A.T.
Series · 1975
The Man from Independence
Film · 1974
The Take
Film · 1974
Honky Tonk
Film · 1974
The Rockford Files
Series · 1974
The Rockford Files
Series · 1974
I Escaped from Devil's Island
Film · 1973
Cry Rape
Film · 1973
Hawkins
Series · 1973
Kojak
Series · 1973
Police Story
Series · 1973
Kojak
Series · 1973
Barnaby Jones
Series · 1973
Barnaby Jones
Series · 1973
Ben
Film · 1972
The Rookies
Series · 1972
The Streets of San Francisco
Series · 1972
Ghost Story
Series · 1972
Cat Ballou
Film · 1971
Cannon
Series · 1971
Adam-12
Series · 1968
Ironside
Series · 1967
The F.B.I.
Series · 1965
The F.B.I.
Series · 1965
Another World
Series · 1964
Naked City
Series · 1958
The Rifleman
Series · 1958
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955