Acting
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 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
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
Series · 2025
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
Film · 2015
Hell to Pay
Film · 2005
The Virginian
Film · 2000
Maverick
Film · 1994
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
Film · 1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Series · 1993
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Series · 1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
Series · 1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Series · 1993
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
Film · 1991
Return to the Titanic
Film · 1981
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Film · 1979
The Meanest Men in the West
Film · 1978
Firehouse
Series · 1974
The Bull of the West
Film · 1972
The Devil and Miss Sarah
Film · 1971
Alias Smith and Jones
Series · 1971
Alias Smith and Jones
Series · 1971
Breakout
Film · 1970
Backtrack!
Film · 1969
It Takes a Thief
Series · 1968
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Series · 1968
The Young Warriors
Film · 1967
Ironside
Series · 1967
Hollywood Squares
Series · 1966
The Final Hour
Film · 1965
The Brazen Bell
Film · 1964
Ride the High Country
Film · 1962
Third of a Man
Film · 1962
The Devil's Children
Film · 1962
The Virginian
Series · 1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Series · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Series · 1961
Pollyanna
Film · 1960
Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
Film · 1960
Ten Who Dared
Film · 1960
Rapids Ahead/Bear Country
Film · 1960
Stagecoach West
Series · 1960
Good Day for a Hanging
Film · 1959
Bourbon Street Beat
Series · 1959
Rawhide
Series · 1959
The Rebel
Series · 1959
The Detectives
Series · 1959
Rawhide
Series · 1959
Rawhide
Series · 1959
The Rebel
Series · 1959
Lock-Up
Series · 1959
Black Saddle
Series · 1959
Bitter Heritage
Film · 1958
Bronco
Series · 1958
Lawman
Series · 1958
The Texan
Series · 1958
The Rifleman
Series · 1958
Steve Canyon
Series · 1958
The Ed Wynn Show
Series · 1958
The Rifleman
Series · 1958
Lawman
Series · 1958
Bernardine
Film · 1957
Perry Mason
Series · 1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Series · 1957
Trackdown
Series · 1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Series · 1957
Wagon Train
Series · 1957
Wagon Train
Series · 1957
Diane
Film · 1956
Love Me Tender
Film · 1956
Forbidden Planet
Film · 1956
The Last Wagon
Film · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Series · 1956
Broken Arrow
Series · 1956
Blackboard Jungle
Film · 1955
The Tender Trap
Film · 1955
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Series · 1955
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Gunsmoke
Series · 1955
Cheyenne
Series · 1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
The Wonderful World of Disney
Series · 1954
Letter to Loretta
Series · 1953
Letter to Loretta
Series · 1953
The Red Skelton Show
Series · 1951
The Bob Hope Show
Series · 1950
Cameo Theatre
Series · 1950