James Luisi
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.
Known for
Acting79
movieThe Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
1996
Capt. Doug Chapman
movieThe Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
1996
Capt. Doug Chapman
tvBaywatch Nights
1995
Murray
movieLethal Woman
1989
Colonel Jerry Maxim
movieFeds!
1988
Sperry
movieThe Hidden
1987
Ferrari Salesman
tvL.A. Law
1986
Paul Viola
movieMurphy's Law
1986
Ed Reineke
tvFinder of Lost Loves
1984
Jordan Hollis
movieThe Red-Light Sting
1984
Renny Lucas
tvThe Renegades
1983
Lt. Marciano
tvThe A-Team
1983
Jimmy Durkee
tvKnight Rider
1982
D.G. Grebs
movieThe Renegades
1982
Lt. Joe Marciano
tvT. J. Hooker
1982
George Laszlo / Vincent Hazzard
tvMagnum, P.I.
1980
John Walter Costa
The Asphalt Cowboy
1980
Lt. Lassiter
movieFade to Black
1980
Capt. M.L. Gallagher
tvKnots Landing
1979
Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
movieNorma Rae
1979
George Benson
movieMoment by Moment
1978
Dan Santini
movieOne in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
1978
Jimmy Karalla
movieLove Is Not Enough
1978
Harry Foreman
movieKiller's Delight
1978
Sgt. Vince De Carlo
tvFantasy Island
1978
Arbogast
movieContract on Cherry Street
1977
Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer
movieStunts
1977
Alvin Blake
movieFuture Cop
1976
Paterno
tvWonder Woman
1975
George
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
1975
George Washington
tvThe Rockford Files
1974
Doug Chapman / Burt Stryker
movieThe Take
1974
Benedetto
movieHonky Tonk
1974
Blackie
movieCry Rape
1973
Det. Kroger
tvKojak
1973
Det. Geno Alessi / Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau
tvHawkins
1973
Andy Tyler
tvBarnaby Jones
1973
Nick Gorman / Burt Logan
movieCat Ballou
1971
Spider Levinsky
tvAdam-12
1968
Antonio Minetti
tvIronside
1967
Mike Purcell
tvThe F.B.I.
1965
Sam Kehoe / Little Julio
tvNaked City
1958
Mark Andrew
tvGunsmoke
1955
Ivers