James N. Harrell was an American actor who is best known for his roles in “A Bullet for Pretty Boy,” “Race with the Devil,” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.”
Personal and Family Life
James Nelson Harrell was born on September 3, 1918, in Waco, Texas, to Margaret Teny and Jefferson Whitfield Harrell, who was the Chair of the Mathematics Department at Baylor University. He graduated from Waco High School and went on to earn a degree from Baylor University, followed by a Master’s in Drama from Trinity University. He studied acting under Paul Baker at the original Baylor Theater during the 1930s.
Career
James began his acting career after being invited to join Michael Chekhov’s Acting Studio in Connecticut in 1940. He toured the East Coast, performing until World War II interrupted his career. After serving four years in the U.S. Army, he appeared in over 75 films and television shows. James also taught acting at the Dallas Theater Center and spent 24 years teaching at Southwest Texas State University, retiring as an Associate Professor in 1994.
Death and Legacy
James N. Harrell passed away on February 1, 2000, in San Marcos, Texas. His contributions to theater and film, along with his dedication to teaching, left a lasting impact on many students and the acting community. He is fondly remembered as “little Jimmy Harrell from Waco, Texas.”
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| A Bullet for Pretty Boy | 1970-07-15 | Sam Floyd |
| Race with the Devil | 1975-06-01 | Gun Shop Owner |
| Lost Angels | 1989-05-05 | Shelby |
| The Dollmaker | 1984-05-13 | Old John Miller |
| The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 | 1986-08-22 | Cut-Rite Manager |
| Flesh and Bone | 1993-11-05 | Woody |
| The Whole Shootin’ Match | 1979-03-16 | Rhonda Lynn’s Father |
| JFK | 1991-12-20 | Sam Holland |
| Paper Moon | 1973-05-09 | The Minister |
| Don’t Hang Up! | 1974-05-03 | Dr. Crawther |
| A Family Thing | 1996-03-29 | Earl Pilcher Sr. |
| Nadine | 1987-08-07 | Deacon |
| The Hot Spot | 1990-10-12 | Elderly Man (as James Harrell) |
| The Sugarland Express | 1974-04-05 | Mark Fenno |
| Encounter with the Unknown | 1972-11-15 | Brother Taylor |
| Texasville | 1990-09-28 | Odessa Oil Man |
| Michael | 1996-12-25 | Old Geezer #1 |
| Outlaw Blues | 1977-07-15 | Cop Chauffeur |
| The Great Waldo Pepper | 1975-03-13 | Farmer |
| Raggedy Man | 1981-09-18 | Ticket Taker |
| Urban Cowboy | 1980-06-06 | Minister at Gravesite |
| The Good Old Boys | 1995-03-05 | Pierson Phelps |
| Resurrection | 1980-09-26 | Doc Lurkin |
| Country | 1984-09-29 | Bank Officer, Jim |
| Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind | 1991-01-01 | Hoyle Barker |
| Houston, We’ve Got a Problem | 1974-03-02 | Newsman |
| Leap of Faith | 1992-12-18 | Ramsey |
| Pair of Aces | 1990-01-14 | Charlie |
| Murder in Texas | 1981-05-03 | Minister |