James Drury
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.
Known for
Acting74
tvTitanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
2025
Self (archive footage)
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
2015
Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)
movieHell to Pay
2005
JT Coffee
movieMaverick
1994
Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
tvThe Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
1993
Ethan Emerson
movieWalker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
1993
Captain Tom Price
tvWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
Captain Tom Price
tvKung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993
Deacon / Doctor
movieReturn to the Titanic
1981
Self - Host
movieThe Meanest Men in the West
1978
The Range Boss (The Virginian)
tvFirehouse
1974
Captain Spike Ryerson
movieThe Bull of the West
1972
Man from Virginia
movieThe Devil and Miss Sarah
1971
Gil Turner
tvAlias Smith and Jones
1971
Sheriff Lom Trevors / Sheriff Tankersley
movieBreakout
1970
Joe Baker
movieBacktrack!
1969
Ramrod (archive footage)
tvRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
The Virginian (uncredited)
tvIt Takes a Thief
1968
Mr. Clifton
movieThe Young Warriors
1967
Sergeant Cooley
movieThe Final Hour
1965
The Virginian
movieThe Brazen Bell
1964
The Virginian
movieThe Devil's Children
1962
The Virginian
tvThe Virginian
1962
The "Virginian"
movieRide the High Country
1962
Billy Hammond
movieTen Who Dared
1960
Walter Powell
tvStagecoach West
1960
'Stace'
moviePollyanna
1960
George Dodds
tvThe Detectives
1959
Adrian
tvThe Rebel
1959
Bert Pace / Paul Travers
tvLock-Up
1959
Frank Crotty
tvBlack Saddle
1959
Neal Adams
tvRawhide
1959
Kenley / Rance / Johnny Adler
movieGood Day for a Hanging
1959
Paul Ridgely
tvLawman
1958
Clay / Stan Bates
tvThe Rifleman
1958
Lloyd Carpenter / Spicer
tvThe Texan
1958
Johnny Kaler
tvBronco
1958
John Smith
tvSteve Canyon
1958
Lt. Richard Muller
movieBitter Heritage
1958
Jesse James, Jr.
tvTrackdown
1957
John Ward
tvPerry Mason
1957
Eddy King
tvWagon Train
1957
Justin Claiborne / Cole Crawford
tvHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
Tony DeVries
movieBernardine
1957
Langley Philip Beaymont
tvRichard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
Arthur Harding
movieLove Me Tender
1956
Ray Reno
tvDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
Jess McHugh / Roy Richards
movieThe Last Wagon
1956
Lt. Kelly
movieForbidden Planet
1956
Crewman Strong
movieDiane
1956
Lieutenant (uncredited)
tvThe 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
Anton Cavrek
tvAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
Michael Grimes
tvCheyenne
1955
Bill Magruder
tvGunsmoke
1955
Booth Rider / Johnny Red / Jerry Cass / Tom
movieBlackboard Jungle
1955
Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
tvThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
Deputy Joe Monroe / George Dodds / Jim Weaver
tvLetter to Loretta
1953
Tony / Bob Prentiss
tvThe Red Skelton Show
1951
Auctioneer
