James Westerfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Westerfield
Westerfield on The Chase (1964)
Born	James A. Westerfield (1913-03-22)March 22, 1913 Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died	September 20, 1971(1971-09-20) (aged 58) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Years active	1940–1971
Spouse(s)	Frances Lansing (1950s) Alice G. Fay (1962–1971) his death

James A. Westerfield (March 22, 1913 – September 20, 1971) was an American actor. He was known for playing many different kinds of roles in plays, movies, and TV shows.

Early Life and Childhood

James Westerfield was born in Nashville, Tennessee. His parents were Brasher and Dora Westerfield. He was raised in Detroit, Michigan. However, some old news reports suggest he might have spent his childhood in Denver, Colorado.

Acting Career

James Westerfield loved theater from a young age. In the 1930s, he joined the famous Pasadena Community Playhouse. There, he acted in many plays.

Stage Performances

After his first movie role in 1940, Westerfield moved to New York City. He performed on Broadway, which is famous for its plays. He won two awards for his acting in plays like The Madwoman of Chaillot and Detective Story. After this success, he went back to Hollywood and acted in over 40 more movies.

Even with his busy movie and TV career, Westerfield always loved the theater. He directed more than 50 musicals at a summer theater he owned in Danbury, Connecticut. He was also the first director and producer for the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. He directed three seasons of "Theatre Under the Stars" in Vancouver, British Columbia. He also performed in musicals with groups in Detroit, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In the early 1940s, he was active in a San Francisco opera company.

Movie Roles

James Westerfield appeared in many well-known films. Some of his movie roles include:

• The Magnificent Ambersons (1942)
• On the Waterfront (1954)
• Lucy Gallant (1955)
• Decision at Sundown (1957)
• Cowboy (1958)
• The Shaggy Dog (1959)
• The Absent-Minded Professor (1961) and its sequel Son of Flubber (1963)
• Birdman of Alcatraz (1962)
• Man's Favorite Sport (1964)
• The Sons of Katie Elder (1965)
• Hang 'Em High (1968)
• True Grit (1969)

Television Appearances

Westerfield also had many roles on television shows. From 1963 to 1964, he played John Murrel in seven episodes of The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters. This show starred child actor Kurt Russell.

He appeared twice on Perry Mason. He played Sheriff Bert Elmore in one episode and Roger Quigley in another. He also appeared in a 1954 episode of the Western show The Lone Ranger.

Some other TV shows where James Westerfield appeared include:

• The Rifleman
• The Californians
• The Alaskans
• The Rebel
• Hazel
• The Twilight Zone
• The Big Valley
• The Andy Griffith Show
• Daniel Boone
• The Beverly Hillbillies
• Maverick (two episodes)
• Gunsmoke (four episodes)
• Lost in Space (where he played Dr. Marvello in the "Space Circus" episode)
• My Three Sons

Personal Life

When James Westerfield was a young man, he shared a room with fellow actor George Reeves at the Pasadena Playhouse. They remained close friends until Reeves passed away in 1959.

In the 1950s, Westerfield was married to Frances Lansing, who was an actress. Later, he married Alice G. Fay, who was also an actress known as Fay Tracey.

James Westerfield passed away from a heart attack in Woodland Hills, California, when he was 58 years old.

Selected Filmography