James Gregory (actor) - Definition and Overview

James Gregory (December 23, 1911 - September 16, 2002) was a great American character actor noted for playing brash roles such as McCarthy-like Senator Joseph Iselin in the Manchurian Candidate (1962) and loudmouthed Inspector Luger in Barney Miller (TV-Series 1975 - 1982).

Biography

Gregory was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York and grew up in New Rochelle, New York. In high school he was president of the Drama Club. He briefly worked on Wall Street as a runner in 1929 and thought of being a stockbroker but, by 1935, had become a professional actor instead. In 1939, he made his Broadway debut in a production of Key Largo and did about twenty-five more Broadway productions over the next sixteen years. Gregory served three years in the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II.

He died in Sedona, Arizona of natural causes.

Selected filmography

• The Scarlet Hour (1956)
• X-15 (1961)
• The Manchurian Candidate (1962)
• PT 109 (1963)
• The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
• The Silencers (1966)
• Murderers' Row (1966)
• The Ambushers (1967)
• The Secret War of Harry Frigg (1968)
• Beneath the Planet of the Apes (1970)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1973) (TV)
• Barney Miller (1975) (TV series)
• The Strongest Man in the World (1975)
• Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home! (1983) (TV)

Resources

• "James Gregory". The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) (http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0339834/). Retrieved Oct. 14, 2004.