James Gregory has one of the
most familiar faces and voices in entertainment, having performed in theater, radio,
films, and television, where he portrayed more than 1,000 characters.
His diverse depictions range from detectives, priests and doctors to
gangsters, drunks and gunslingers.
Perhaps his most memorable movie roles are Laurence Harvey's nemesis
politician in The Manchurian Candidate; Elvis Presley's father in Clambake; Rod Steiger's
pursuing Police Captain in Al Capone; and John Wayne's ranch-thieving adversary in
The
Sons of Katie Elder. Incidentally, Gregory has a "cult" following for his
rendering of Beneath the Planet of the Apes' malicious gorilla, General Ursus --- a part,
it was rumored, for which Orson Welles was being considered.
Gregory demonstrated another talent when he played the piano in the
Louis Prima/Keely Smith musical, Hey Boy! Hey Girl!. Off the screen he also strummed the
guitar and ukulele, and sang in a barbershop quartet.
On television, Gregory appeared in numerous programs including
Mission:
Impossible, Night Gallery, The Untouchables, The Fugitive, and
Star Trek. He is especially
remembered today for his role as the trenchcoated Inspector Frank Luger, whom he played
eight seasons on the ABC sitcom, Barney Miller.
Gregory has also frequented Hollywood's Old West. Whether playing a
peace officer, cowpuncher, or scalphunter, some of his most rugged Western roles were in
the films Gun Glory, Shoot Out, and A Distant Trumpet, and TV's
The High Chaparral, The
Virginian, and Gunsmoke. When asked if he liked working in Westerns, Gregory said, "I
enjoyed all facets of show business."
James Gregory was born in the Bronx, New York on December 23, 1911, and
was raised in nearby Rochelle. His roots in performing may go back....................
Also in this article:
"James Gregory and the Hollywood Hackers"
"Laughing with James Gregory" |
