James Drury
James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American actor. He is best known for having played the title role in the 90-minute weekly Western television series The Virginian, which was broadcast on NBC from 1962 to 1971. Drury was born in New York City, the son of James Child Drury and Beatrice Crawford Drury. His father was a New York University professor of marketing. He grew up between New York City and Salem, Oregon, where his mother owned a farm. Drury contracted polio at the age of 10. He studied drama at New York University and took additional classes at UCLA to complete his degree after he began acting in films at MGM. On February 7, 1957, Drury married Cristall Othones, and fathered two sons, Timothy and James III. The couple divorced on November 23, 1964 and on April 27, 1968, he married Phyllis Jacqueline Mitchell; the marriage ended in divorce on January 30, 1979. His third marriage was to Carl Ann Head on July 30, 1979; it lasted until her death on August 25, 2019. Drury had three stepchildren from his previous marriages, a stepdaughter, Rhonda Brown, and two stepsons, Frederick Drury and Gary Schero. Drury died from natural causes on April 6, 2020.
Filmography (74 titles)
ShowTitanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
Self (archive footage) · 2025
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice) · 2015
6.5MovieHell to Pay
JT Coffee · 2005
5.4MovieThe Virginian
Rider · 2000
6.9MovieMaverick
Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited) · 1994
7.1ShowThe Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
Ethan Emerson · 1993
6.0MovieWalker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
Captain Tom Price · 1993
7.0ShowWalker, Texas Ranger
Captain Tom Price · 1993
6.7ShowKung Fu: The Legend Continues
Deacon · 1993
4.8MovieThe Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
Jim · 1991
MovieReturn to the Titanic
Self - Host · 1981
MovieWhen the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Self · 1979
4.4MovieThe Meanest Men in the West
The Range Boss (The Virginian) · 1978
7.0ShowFirehouse
Captain Spike Ryerson · 1974
5.7MovieThe Bull of the West
Man from Virginia · 1972
6.7MovieThe Devil and Miss Sarah
Gil Turner · 1971
7.0ShowAlias Smith and Jones
Sheriff Lom Trevors · 1971
7.0MovieBreakout
Joe Baker · 1970
6.0MovieBacktrack!
Ramrod (archive footage) · 1969
6.8ShowRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
The Virginian (uncredited) · 1968
7.2ShowIt Takes a Thief
Mr. Clifton · 1968
6.9ShowIronside
Al · 1967
6.8MovieThe Young Warriors
Sergeant Cooley · 1967
7.0MovieThe Final Hour
The Virginian · 1965
10.0MovieThe Brazen Bell
The Virginian · 1964
9.0MovieThe Devil's Children
The Virginian · 1962
7.5ShowThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · 1962
6.6ShowThe Merv Griffin Show
Self · 1962
6.5ShowThe Virginian
The "Virginian" · 1962
9.0MovieThird of a Man
Emmet · 1962