Post by teleadm on Apr 18, 2019 8:25:15 GMT
Happy 85th Birthday James Drury!!! 
Born on April 18, 1934 in New York City
American actor, though a New Yorker, rode into many television viewers hearts as The Virginian in the 1960s.
His father was a New York University professor of marketing at New York University. He grew up in both New York and Oregon. Drury contracted polio at the age of ten.
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.
Drury's professional acting career began when he was twelve years old, when he performed in a road company's production of Life with Father.
He signed a film contract with MGM in 1954 and appeared in bit parts in films. After he went to 20th Century Fox, he appeared in Love Me Tender 1956 and Bernardine 1957.
During the 1950s up until 1962, Drury acted in all kinds of TV-series, like Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Rifleman, Rawhide and Perry Mason. Plus three Disney movies and Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country 1962. Around that time, Drury landed the top-billed leading role of the ranch foreman on The Virginian, a lavish 90-minutes series which ran for nine seasons until 1971, during the 1970-1971 seasons it changed it's name to The Men from Shiloh.
Drury and his Wilshire Boulevard Buffalo Hunters band performed 54 USO-sponsored shows for troops in Vietnam in three weeks in April 1966.
After his role in the drama series Firehouse 1974, that only lasted 13 episodes, Drury semi-retired from acting, though doing a few guest star roles, and went into the oil and natural gas businesses.
Drury still make appearances signing photos.
Drury has always considered Lee J. Cobb has his acting mentor.
James Drury's movie debut, as an uncredited Hospital Attendant in The Blackboard Jungle 1955
As Crewman Strong in Forbidden Planet 1956
Standing behind Elvis in Love Me Tender 1956
Disney's Toby Tyler 1960
Pollyanna 1960, with Nancy Olsen
Ride the High Country 1962, with Mariette Hartley, with Warren Oates looking on behind.
As The Virginian in The Virginian between 1962 to 1971 in 249 episodes, seen here with Lee J. Cobb and Roy Engel.
The Young Warriors aka Eagle Warriors 1967
After the change of name to The Men from Shiloh during the 1970 to 1971 season of The Virginian, with Doug McClure and Stewart Granger.
Being too associated with a certain character can damage a career, Firehouse 1974 TV-series only lasted 13 episodes.
Born on April 18, 1934 in New York City
American actor, though a New Yorker, rode into many television viewers hearts as The Virginian in the 1960s.
His father was a New York University professor of marketing at New York University. He grew up in both New York and Oregon. Drury contracted polio at the age of ten.
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.
Drury's professional acting career began when he was twelve years old, when he performed in a road company's production of Life with Father.
He signed a film contract with MGM in 1954 and appeared in bit parts in films. After he went to 20th Century Fox, he appeared in Love Me Tender 1956 and Bernardine 1957.
During the 1950s up until 1962, Drury acted in all kinds of TV-series, like Gunsmoke, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Rifleman, Rawhide and Perry Mason. Plus three Disney movies and Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country 1962. Around that time, Drury landed the top-billed leading role of the ranch foreman on The Virginian, a lavish 90-minutes series which ran for nine seasons until 1971, during the 1970-1971 seasons it changed it's name to The Men from Shiloh.
Drury and his Wilshire Boulevard Buffalo Hunters band performed 54 USO-sponsored shows for troops in Vietnam in three weeks in April 1966.
After his role in the drama series Firehouse 1974, that only lasted 13 episodes, Drury semi-retired from acting, though doing a few guest star roles, and went into the oil and natural gas businesses.
Drury still make appearances signing photos.
Drury has always considered Lee J. Cobb has his acting mentor.
James Drury's movie debut, as an uncredited Hospital Attendant in The Blackboard Jungle 1955
As Crewman Strong in Forbidden Planet 1956
Standing behind Elvis in Love Me Tender 1956
Disney's Toby Tyler 1960
Pollyanna 1960, with Nancy Olsen
Ride the High Country 1962, with Mariette Hartley, with Warren Oates looking on behind.
As The Virginian in The Virginian between 1962 to 1971 in 249 episodes, seen here with Lee J. Cobb and Roy Engel.
The Young Warriors aka Eagle Warriors 1967
After the change of name to The Men from Shiloh during the 1970 to 1971 season of The Virginian, with Doug McClure and Stewart Granger.
Being too associated with a certain character can damage a career, Firehouse 1974 TV-series only lasted 13 episodes.
