Known For
Acting
Known Credits
89
Gender
Male
Birthday
April 18, 1934 (92 years old)
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.
| 2025 | Titanic: Secrets of the Shipwreckas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2015 | The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamoas Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice) | |
| 2005 | Hell to Payas JT Coffee | |
| 2000 | The Virginianas Rider | |
| 1994 | Maverickas Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited) | |
| 1993 | The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.as Ethan Emerson | |
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Rangeras Captain Tom Price | |
| 1993 | Walker, Texas Rangeras Captain Tom Price | |
| 1993 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continuesas Deacon | |
| 1993 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continuesas Doctor | |
| 1991 | The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Drawas Jim | |
| 1981 | Return to the Titanicas Self - Host | |
| 1979 | When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunionas Self | |
| 1978 | The Meanest Men in the Westas The Range Boss (The Virginian) | |
| 1974 | Firehouseas Captain Spike Ryerson | |
| 1972 | The Bull of the Westas Man from Virginia | |
| 1971 | The Devil and Miss Sarahas Gil Turner | |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jonesas Sheriff Lom Trevors | |
| 1971 | Alias Smith and Jonesas Sheriff Tankersley | |
| 1970 | Breakoutas Joe Baker | |
| 1969 | Backtrack!as Ramrod (archive footage) | |
| 1968 | Rowan & Martin's Laugh-Inas The Virginian (uncredited) | |
| 1968 | It Takes a Thiefas Mr. Clifton | |
| 1967 | Ironsideas Al | |
| 1967 | The Young Warriorsas Sergeant Cooley | |
| 1965 | The Final Houras The Virginian | |
| 1964 | The Brazen Bellas The Virginian | |
| 1962 | The Devil's Childrenas The Virginian | |
| 1962 | The Merv Griffin Showas Self | |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self | |
| 1962 | The Virginianas The "Virginian" | |
| 1962 | Third of a Manas Emmet | |
| 1962 | Ride the High Countryas Billy Hammond | |
| 1961 | The Mike Douglas Showas Self | |
| 1960 | Ten Who Daredas Walter Powell | |
| 1960 | Rapids Ahead/Bear Countryas | |
| 1960 | Stagecoach Westas 'Stace' | |
| 1960 | Pollyannaas George Dodds | |
| 1960 | Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circusas Jim Weaver | |
| 1959 | The Detectivesas Adrian | |
| 1959 | Bourbon Street Beatas | |
| 1959 | The Rebelas Bert Pace | |
| 1959 | The Rebelas Paul Travers | |
| 1959 | Lock-Upas Frank Crotty | |
| 1959 | Black Saddleas Neal Adams | |
| 1959 | Rawhideas Johnny Adler | |
| 1959 | Rawhideas Kenley | |
| 1959 | Rawhideas Rance | |
| 1959 | Good Day for a Hangingas Paul Ridgely | |
| 1958 | Lawmanas Clay | |
| 1958 | Lawmanas Stan Bates | |
| 1958 | The Riflemanas Lloyd Carpenter | |
| 1958 | The Riflemanas Spicer | |
| 1958 | The Texanas Johnny Kaler | |
| 1958 | The Ed Wynn Showas | |
| 1958 | Broncoas John Smith | |
| 1958 | Steve Canyonas Lt. Richard Muller | |
| 1958 | Bitter Heritageas Jesse James, Jr. | |
| 1957 | Trackdownas John Ward | |
| 1957 | Perry Masonas Eddy King | |
| 1957 | Wagon Trainas Cole Crawford | |
| 1957 | Wagon Trainas Justin Claiborne | |
| 1957 | Have Gun, Will Travelas Tony DeVries | |
| 1957 | Bernardineas Langley Philip Beaymont | |
| 1957 | Richard Diamond, Private Detectiveas Arthur Harding | |
| 1956 | Love Me Tenderas Ray Reno | |
| 1956 | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Jess McHugh | |
| 1956 | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Roy Richards | |
| 1956 | Broken Arrowas Tahzay | |
| 1956 | The Last Wagonas Lt. Kelly | |
| 1956 | Forbidden Planetas Crewman Strong | |
| 1956 | Dianeas Lieutenant (uncredited) | |
| 1955 | The Tender Trapas Eddie | |
| 1955 | The 20th Century Fox Houras Anton Cavrek | |
| 1955 | Alfred Hitchcock Presentsas Michael Grimes | |
| 1955 | Cheyenneas Bill Magruder | |
| 1955 | Gunsmokeas Booth Rider | |
| 1955 | Gunsmokeas Jerry Cass | |
| 1955 | Gunsmokeas Johnny Red | |
| 1955 | Gunsmokeas Tom | |
| 1955 | Blackboard Jungleas Hospital Attendant (uncredited) | |
| 1954 | The Wonderful World of Disneyas Deputy Joe Monroe | |
| 1954 | The Wonderful World of Disneyas George Dodds | |
| 1954 | The Wonderful World of Disneyas Jim Weaver | |
| 1953 | Letter to Lorettaas Bob Prentiss | |
| 1953 | Letter to Lorettaas Tony | |
| 1951 | The Red Skelton Showas Auctioneer | |
| 1950 | Cameo Theatreas George | |
| 1950 | The Bob Hope Showas Self |
| 1981 | Return to the Titanic...Writer |