Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born November 11, 1928
A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964). In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.
MovieThe Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play
1996
as Capt. Doug Chapman
MovieThe Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...
1996
as Capt. Doug Chapman
TVBaywatch Nights
1995
as Murray
TVSilk Stalkings
1991
TVDark Justice
1991
MovieLethal Woman
1989
as Colonel Jerry Maxim
MovieFeds!
1988
as Sperry
MovieThe Hidden
1987
as Ferrari Salesman
TVL.A. Law
1986
as Paul Viola
MovieMurphy's Law
1986
as Ed Reineke
TVThe Hogan Family
1986
TVHell Town
1985
TVPartners in Crime
1984
TVFinder of Lost Loves
1984
as Jordan Hollis
MovieThe Red-Light Sting
1984
as Renny Lucas
MovieStar 80
1983
as Roy
MovieSunset Limousine
1983
as Angel
TVThe Renegades
1983
as Lt. Marciano
TVThe A-Team
1983
as Jimmy Durkee
TVKnight Rider
1982
as D.G. Grebs
TVMatt Houston
1982
MovieThe Renegades
1982
as Lt. Joe Marciano
TVT. J. Hooker
1982
as George Laszlo
TVThe Fall Guy
1981
MovieOur Family Business
1981
as Frank
TVHere's Boomer
1981
TVMagnum, P.I.
1980
as John Walter Costa
The Asphalt Cowboy
1980
as Lt. Lassiter
MovieFade to Black
1980
as Capt. M.L. Gallagher
TVKnots Landing
1979
as Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia
TVHart to Hart
1979
TVBuck Rogers in the 25th Century
1979
as Hood
Harris and Company
1979
MovieNorma Rae
1979
as George Benson
MovieMoment by Moment
1978
as Dan Santini
MovieOne in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story
1978
as Jimmy Karalla
TVVega$
1978
TVSword of Justice
1978
TVThe Eddie Capra Mysteries
1978
MovieLove Is Not Enough
1978
as Harry Foreman
MovieKiller's Delight
1978
as Sgt. Vince De Carlo
TVFantasy Island
1978
as Arbogast
MovieA Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story
1978
as Lazzeri
MovieContract on Cherry Street
1977
as Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer
TVCHiPs
1977
MovieStunts
1977
as Alvin Blake
TVHunter
1977
TVQuincy, M.E.
1976
TVSpencer's Pilots
1976
MovieFuture Cop
1976
as Paterno
TVGood Heavens
1976
TVCity of Angels
1976
TVWonder Woman
1975
as George
First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington
1975
as George Washington
TVStarsky & Hutch
1975
TVS.W.A.T.
1975
TVThe Rockford Files
1974
as Doug Chapman
MovieThe Take
1974
as Benedetto
MovieHonky Tonk
1974
as Blackie
The Man from Independence
1974
as Stranger
MovieCry Rape
1973
as Det. Kroger
TVKojak
1973
as Det. Geno Alessi
MovieI Escaped from Devil's Island
1973
as Dazzas
TVPolice Story
1973
TVHawkins
1973
as Andy Tyler
TVBarnaby Jones
1973
as Nick Gorman
TVThe Streets of San Francisco
1972
TVGhost Story
1972
as Rick
TVThe Rookies
1972
MovieBen
1972
as Ed
TVCannon
1971
MovieCat Ballou
1971
as Spider Levinsky
TVAdam-12
1968
as Antonio Minetti
TVIronside
1967
as Mike Purcell
TVThe F.B.I.
1965
as Sam Kehoe
TVAnother World
1964
TVNaked City
1958
as Mark Andrew
TVThe Rifleman
1958
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Ivers
