James Franciscus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Franciscus
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Franciscus in 1977
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| Born |
James Grover Franciscus
January 31, 1934 Clayton, Missouri, U.S.
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| Died | July 8, 1991 (aged 57) North Hollywood, California, U.S.
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| Other names | James Francicus |
| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Years active | 1957–1985 |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathleen Wellman
(m. 1960; div. 1977)Carla Ankney
(m. 1980) |
| Children | 4 |
James Grover Franciscus (born January 31, 1934 – died July 8, 1991) was an American actor. He was well-known for his roles in movies and several TV shows. Some of his famous TV series include Mr. Novak, Naked City, Longstreet, and Hunter.
Life and Career
James Franciscus was born in Clayton, Missouri. His father passed away during World War II when James was nine years old. In 1957, James graduated from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. He earned a degree in English and theatre arts. He was a very good student, graduating with high honors.
His first important acting job was playing Detective Jim Halloran in the TV show Naked City. He also appeared as a guest star on other TV shows like Hennesey and The Americans. In 1961, he got the main role in a 13-episode series called The Investigators. He played Russ Andrews, an insurance investigator.
James Franciscus acted in many movies and TV shows during the 1960s and 1970s. He had a small part in an episode of The Twilight Zone in 1959. He also appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Presents several times.
He starred in the movie I Passed for White (1960). He is perhaps best remembered for his main roles in two TV series: Mr. Novak (1963–1965) and Longstreet (1971–1972). In Longstreet, his character was blind and learned martial arts from Bruce Lee. James Franciscus also provided the voice for the main character in the movie Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973).
He hosted a TV show called Waterworld from 1972 to 1975. In 1977, he starred in his fifth TV series, Hunter, where he played a secret agent.
James Franciscus also appeared in many feature films. These included Marooned, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, and City on Fire. He worked in Italian movies too. He starred in the thriller The Cat o' Nine Tails in 1971. He also appeared in Killer Fish (1979) and Great White (1981).
Later in his career, when he received fewer acting roles, James Franciscus started writing screenplays and producing films. His last project was in 1991, the year he passed away. He worked as an associate producer and writer for the film 29th Street.
Personal Life
On March 28, 1960, James Franciscus married Kathleen "Kitty" Wellman. She was the daughter of a famous film director. They had four children together: Jamie, Kellie, Korie, and Jolie. After they divorced, he married Carla Ankney in 1980. They were still married when he died in 1991. James Franciscus passed away at the age of 57 in North Hollywood, California, due to a lung condition called emphysema.
Images for kids
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Franciscus in 1977
See also
In Spanish: James Franciscus para niños
