James Gregory (actor)

James Gregory (December 23, 1911 – September 16, 2002) was an American character actor noted for playing brash roles such as McCarthy-like Senator Joseph Iselin in "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962), the audacious General Ursus in "Beneath the Planet of the Apes", and loudmouthed Inspector Luger in "Barney Miller" (TV-Series 1975 - 1982). He also played Dean Martin's spy boss MacDonald, in the "Matt Helm" movie series, and is fondly remembered for his role as Dr. Tristan Adams, the villainous director of the Tantalus IV Penal Colony on the "Star Trek" Original Series episode, "Dagger of the Mind". Another of his roles many recall was playing the father of Scott Hayward in Elvis Presley's 1967 musical "Clambake".

Biography

Gregory was born in The Bronx, New York City, New York and grew up in New Rochelle, New York. In high school he was president of the Drama Club. He briefly worked on Wall Street as a runner in 1929 and thought of being a stockbroker but, by 1935, had become a professional actor instead. In 1939, he made his Broadway debut in a production of "Key Largo" and did about twenty-five more Broadway productions over the next sixteen years. Gregory served three years in the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. His early acting work included Army training films; one such appearance is excerpted in "The Atomic Café".He also starred in "PT 109" with Cliff Robertson in 1963.He died in Sedona, Arizona of natural causes.

elected filmography

* "The Scarlet Hour" (1956)
* "Nightfall" (1957)
* "Onionhead" (1958)
* "X-15" (1961)
* "The Twilight Zone" Episode 069 "The Passersby", (10/06/1961)
* "The Manchurian Candidate" (1962)
* "PT 109" (1963)
* "A Distant Trumpet" (1964)
* "The Sons of Katie Elder" (1965)
* "F Troop" "Too Many Cooks Spoil The Troop" (TV Series) (1966)
* "The Silencers" (1966)
* "Murderers' Row" (1966)
* "The Ambushers" (1967)
* "The Secret War of Harry Frigg" (1968)
* "Clambake" (1968)
* "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" (1970)
* "Miracle on 34th Street" (1973) (TV)
* "Barney Miller" (1975) (TV series)
* "The Strongest Man in the World" (1975)
* "Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home!" (1983) (TV)

External links

*imdb name|id=0339834|name=James Gregory
* [http://www.timem.com/starwebs/jamesgregory/index.htm James Gregory's official website]