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.
TV Shows(42)
Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
Self (archive footage)
2025
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Ethan Emerson
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
Captain Tom Price
1993
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Deacon
1993
Firehouse
Captain Spike Ryerson
1974
Alias Smith and Jones
Sheriff Lom Trevors
1971
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
The Virginian (uncredited)
1968
It Takes a Thief
Mr. Clifton
1968
Ironside
Al
1967
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Self
1962
The Virginian
The "Virginian"
1962
The Mike Douglas Show
Self
1961
Stagecoach West
'Stace'
1960
The Detectives
Adrian
1959
Bourbon Street Beat
1959
The Rebel
Bert Pace
1959
Lock-Up
Frank Crotty
1959
Black Saddle
Neal Adams
1959
Rawhide
Kenley
1959
Lawman
Clay
1958
The Rifleman
Lloyd Carpenter
1958
The Texan
Johnny Kaler
1958
The Ed Wynn Show
1958
Bronco
John Smith
1958
Steve Canyon
Lt. Richard Muller
1958
Trackdown
John Ward
1957
Perry Mason
Eddy King
1957
Wagon Train
Justin Claiborne
1957
Have Gun, Will Travel
Tony DeVries
1957
Richard Diamond, Private Detective
Arthur Harding
1957
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Jess McHugh
1956
Broken Arrow
Tahzay
1956
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Anton Cavrek
1955
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Michael Grimes
1955
Cheyenne
Bill Magruder
1955
Gunsmoke
Booth Rider
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Deputy Joe Monroe
1954
Letter to Loretta
Tony
1953
The Red Skelton Show
Self - Auctioneer
1951
Cameo Theatre
George
1950
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
Movies(31)
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)
2015
Hell to Pay
JT Coffee
2005
The Virginian
Rider
2000
Maverick
Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
1994
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
Captain Tom Price
1993
The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
Jim
1991
Return to the Titanic
Self - Host
1981
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Self
1979
The Meanest Men in the West
The Range Boss (The Virginian)
1978
The Bull of the West
Man from Virginia
1972
The Devil and Miss Sarah
Gil Turner
1971
Breakout
Joe Baker
1970
Backtrack!
Ramrod (archive footage)
1969
The Young Warriors
Sergeant Cooley
1967
The Final Hour
The Virginian
1965
The Brazen Bell
The Virginian
1964
The Devil's Children
The Virginian
1962
Third of a Man
Emmet
1962
Ride the High Country
Billy Hammond
1962
Ten Who Dared
Walter Powell
1960
Rapids Ahead/Bear Country
1960
Pollyanna
George Dodds
1960
Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
Jim Weaver
1960
Good Day for a Hanging
Paul Ridgely
1959
Bitter Heritage
Jesse James, Jr.
1958
Bernardine
Langley Philip Beaymont
1957
Love Me Tender
Ray Reno
1956
The Last Wagon
Lt. Kelly
1956
Forbidden Planet
Crewman Strong
1956
Diane
Lieutenant (uncredited)
1956
Blackboard Jungle
Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
1955