Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born April 18, 1934
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.
TVTitanic: Secrets of the Shipwreck
2025
as Self (archive footage)
The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo
2015
as Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)
MovieHell to Pay
2005
as JT Coffee
MovieThe Virginian
2000
as Rider
MovieMaverick
1994
as Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
TVThe Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.
1993
as Ethan Emerson
MovieWalker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
1993
as Captain Tom Price
TVWalker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Captain Tom Price
TVKung Fu: The Legend Continues
1993
as Deacon
MovieThe Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw
1991
as Jim
MovieReturn to the Titanic
1981
as Self - Host
MovieWhen the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
1979
as Self
MovieThe Meanest Men in the West
1978
as The Range Boss (The Virginian)
TVFirehouse
1974
as Captain Spike Ryerson
MovieThe Bull of the West
1972
as Man from Virginia
MovieThe Devil and Miss Sarah
1971
as Gil Turner
TVAlias Smith and Jones
1971
as Sheriff Lom Trevors
MovieBreakout
1970
as Joe Baker
MovieBacktrack!
1969
as Ramrod (archive footage)
TVRowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as The Virginian (uncredited)
TVIt Takes a Thief
1968
as Mr. Clifton
TVIronside
1967
as Al
MovieThe Young Warriors
1967
as Sergeant Cooley
MovieThe Final Hour
1965
as The Virginian
MovieThe Brazen Bell
1964
as The Virginian
MovieThe Devil's Children
1962
as The Virginian
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Virginian
1962
as The "Virginian"
MovieThird of a Man
1962
as Emmet
MovieRide the High Country
1962
as Billy Hammond
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
MovieTen Who Dared
1960
as Walter Powell
MovieRapids Ahead/Bear Country
1960
TVStagecoach West
1960
as 'Stace'
MoviePollyanna
1960
as George Dodds
MovieToby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus
1960
as Jim Weaver
TVThe Detectives
1959
as Adrian
TVBourbon Street Beat
1959
TVThe Rebel
1959
as Bert Pace
TVLock-Up
1959
as Frank Crotty
TVBlack Saddle
1959
as Neal Adams
TVRawhide
1959
as Kenley
MovieGood Day for a Hanging
1959
as Paul Ridgely
TVLawman
1958
as Clay
TVThe Rifleman
1958
as Lloyd Carpenter
TVThe Texan
1958
as Johnny Kaler
TVThe Ed Wynn Show
1958
TVBronco
1958
as John Smith
TVSteve Canyon
1958
as Lt. Richard Muller
MovieBitter Heritage
1958
as Jesse James, Jr.
TVTrackdown
1957
as John Ward
TVPerry Mason
1957
as Eddy King
TVWagon Train
1957
as Justin Claiborne
TVHave Gun, Will Travel
1957
as Tony DeVries
MovieBernardine
1957
as Langley Philip Beaymont
TVRichard Diamond, Private Detective
1957
as Arthur Harding
MovieLove Me Tender
1956
as Ray Reno
TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Jess McHugh
Broken Arrow
1956
as Tahzay
MovieThe Last Wagon
1956
as Lt. Kelly
MovieForbidden Planet
1956
as Crewman Strong
MovieDiane
1956
as Lieutenant (uncredited)
MovieThe Tender Trap
1955
as Eddie
TVThe 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
as Anton Cavrek
TVAlfred Hitchcock Presents
1955
as Michael Grimes
TVCheyenne
1955
as Bill Magruder
TVGunsmoke
1955
as Booth Rider
MovieBlackboard Jungle
1955
as Hospital Attendant (uncredited)
TVThe Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Deputy Joe Monroe
TVLetter to Loretta
1953
as Tony
TVThe Red Skelton Show
1951
as Auctioneer
Cameo Theatre
1950
as George
TVThe Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
