James Wainwright was an American actor who is best known for his roles in Jigsaw, Joe Kidd, and The Survivors.
Personal and Family Life
James Wainwright was born on March 5, 1938, in Danville, Illinois. He discovered his artistic abilities early on, earning a scholarship to Carnegie University. However, his pursuit of acting was interrupted when he joined the Marines. After his service, he worked various unskilled jobs before fully committing to a career in acting.
Career
Wainwright started his acting career with roles as a villain, but gained recognition in 1969 with a recurring part on the TV show Daniel Boone. He starred as Lt. Frank Dain in his own series Jigsaw in 1972. Although his show did not last long, he went on to perform alongside famous stars like Clint Eastwood and Walter Matthau in several films throughout the years. His later projects included guest roles on popular TV series and a brief return to acting in the 1980s.
Death and Legacy
James Wainwright passed away on December 20, 1999, in Los Angeles, California, due to lung cancer at the age of 61. Despite a career that included both television and film, he remained relatively under the radar within the entertainment industry. His diverse roles leave behind a lasting impression on fans of classic television and film.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Killdozer | 1974-02-02 | Jules ‘Dutch’ Krasner |
| Warlords of the 21st Century | 1982-01-01 | Straker |
| The Survivors | 1983-06-24 | Wes Huntley |
| Joe Kidd | 1972-07-19 | Mingo |
| The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover | 1977-12-01 | Young Hoover |
| Mean Dog Blues | 1978-03-03 | Sgt. Hubbell Wacker |
| The President’s Plane Is Missing | 1973-10-23 | Gen. Dunbar |
| Bridger | 1976-09-10 | Jim Bridger |
| The Hell Raiders | 1986-12-30 | Rico Callahan |
| Jigsaw | 1972-03-26 | Lt. Frank Dain |
| Undercover with the KKK | 1979-10-23 | T.J. Barker |
| Gunsmoke | 1955-09-10 | Mark Riker |
| Beyond Westworld | 1980-03-05 | Simon Quaid |
| CHiPs | 1977-09-15 | Reno Hale |
| The Rockford Files | 1974-09-13 | Gene Chechik |
| The Incredible Hulk | 1977-11-04 | Tom Wallace |
| A Woman Called Moses | 1978-12-11 | Andrew Coleman |
| MASH | 1972-09-17 | Colonel Lacy |
| Kung Fu | 1972-10-14 | Luke Haskell |
| Hawaii Five-O | 1968-09-20 | Richard Royce |
| Code R | 1977-01-21 | Mitch |
| Cowboy in Africa | 1967-09-11 | George |
| The Virginian | 1962-09-19 | Boyd Dewey |
| Quincy, M.E. | 1976-10-03 | Arthur Lanz |