James Drury
Known for: Acting
Born: April 18, 1934
Died: April 6, 2020
Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA
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.
Advertisement
Filmography
32 movies · 43 TV shows, newest first
NR
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
2025NR
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
2015
6.5
Hell to Pay
2005
5.4
The Virginian
2000
6.9
Maverick
1994
7.1
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
1993
6.0
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
1993
7.0
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
6.7
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993
4.8
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
1991
NR
Return to the Titanic
1981
NR
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
1979
4.2
The Meanest Men in the West
1978
7.0
Firehouse
1974
5.7
The Bull of the West
1972
6.7
The Devil and Miss Sarah
1971
7.0
Alias Smith and Jones
1971
7.0
Breakout
1970
6.0
Backtrack!
1969
6.8
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
7.2
It Takes a Thief
1968
6.8
Ironside
1967
6.8
The Young Warriors
1967
7.5
Hollywood Squares
1966
7.0
The Final Hour
1965
10.0
The Brazen Bell
1964
9.0
The Devil's Children
1962
7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
6.8
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
6.5
The Virginian
1962
9.0
Third of a Man
1962
7.1
Ride the High Country
1962
5.8
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
6.0
Ten Who Dared
1960
NR
Rapids Ahead/Bear Country
1960
6.7
Stagecoach West
1960
7.0
Pollyanna
1960
6.4
Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
1960
6.7
The Detectives
1959
6.0
Bourbon Street Beat
1959
5.1
The Rebel
1959
6.4
Lock-Up
1959
6.2
Black Saddle
1959
7.2
Rawhide
1959
6.4
Good Day for a Hanging
1959
6.0
Lawman
1958
7.1
The Rifleman
1958
6.0
The Texan
1958
7.0
The Ed Wynn Show
1958
6.0
Bronco
1958
7.3
Steve Canyon
1958
8.0
Bitter Heritage
1958
6.9
Trackdown
1957
7.7
Perry Mason
1957
6.6
Wagon Train
1957
7.3
Have Gun, Will Travel
1957
7.6
Bernardine
1957
6.8
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
6.2
Love Me Tender
1956
6.2
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
19566.5
Broken Arrow
1956
6.5
The Last Wagon
1956
7.3
Forbidden Planet
1956
6.0
Diane
1956
6.2
The Tender Trap
1955
6.0
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
7.8
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
6.2
Cheyenne
1955
6.7
Gunsmoke
1955
6.9
Blackboard Jungle
1955
7.9
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
6.6
Letter to Loretta
1953
7.4
The Red Skelton Show
19518.0
Cameo Theatre
1950
7.0
The Bob Hope Show
1950