James Wainwright (actor)

American actor (1938–1999)

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James Wainwright

Born| (1938-03-05)March 5, 1938

Danville, Illinois, U.S.

Died| December 20, 1999(1999-12-20) (aged 61)
Occupation| Actor
Years active| 1967-1990
Spouse(s)| Janet L. Cook
(m. 1967; div. 1978)

James Lee Wainwright[1] (March 5, 1938 - December 20, 1999[1]) was an American actor best known for his roles in films such as Joe Kidd (1972),[2] The President's Plane Is Missing (1973), Killdozer (1974), Bridger (1976, as Jim Bridger), The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977), Mean Dog Blues (1978), Battletruck (1982) and The Survivors (1983).

His television appearances include Beyond Westworld and Jigsaw.

## Early life and career

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Born out of wedlock in Danville, Illinois and left in a foundling home in Chicago when he was two days old,[3][4] Wainwright was raised by a succession of foster parents before being adopted at either five or six years of age by Leo Wainwright and Esther L. Embry.[5][4][3] By 1950, the Wainwrights had separated, but James continued to live with his adoptive mother.[6]

The adoptive cousin (once removed) of General Jonathan M. Wainwright,[7] James Wainwright served with distinction in the United States Marines during the Korean War.[1]

## Personal life and death

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From 1967 until their divorce in 1978, Wainwright was married to Janet L. Cook.[8][9][10] They had two children, both daughters.[1] On March 26, 1973, Wainwright and his wife appeared together as themselves, competing against Dave Madden and his wife, on the TV game show It's Your Bet.[11]

Wainwright died on December 20, 1999 at age 61 from lung cancer, survived by his two daughters.[1]

## Filmography

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Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes

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|
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1969 | The Virginian | Jack Withers | saison 7 episode 16 (Last grave at Socorro creek)
1971 | The Virginian | Boyd Dewey | saison 9 episode 16 (The Animal)
1972 | Joe Kidd | Olin Mingo |
1973 | The President's Plane Is Missing | General Dunbar |
1974 | Killdozer | Jules 'Dutch' Krasner |
1974 | Cannon | Roy | Episode: "Duel in the Desert"
1975 | Cannon | Old Coach | Episode: "Search and Destroy"
1976 | Bridger | Jim Bridger |
1977 | The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover | Young J. Edgar Hoover |
1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Richard Royce | Episode: "Shake Hands with the Man on the Moon"
1977 | The Oregon Trail | Hubbard | Episode: "The Man Who Wouldn't Die"
1978 | Mean Dog Blues | Sergeant Hubbell Wacker |
1979 | M*A*S*H | Lieutenant Colonel Lacy | Episode: "Preventative Medicine"
1979 | The Incredible Hulk | Tom Wallace | Episode: "No Escape"
1982 | Battletruck | Straker |
1983 | The Survivors | Wes Huntley |
1986 | Stingray | Henry Pollard | Episode: "Below The Line"
1988 | Hell Raiders | 'Boom-Boom' Callahan |
1990 | Mission Manila | Harrison | (final film role)

## References

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1. ^ a b c d e "Obituaries/Funeral Announcements". The Los Angeles Times. December 22, 1999. p. 34\. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
2. ^ Greenspun, Roger (July 20, 1972). "Film: Eastwood Western". The New York Times.
3. ^ a b "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6KQM-21MT : 10 February 2023), James Lee Wainwright, .
4. ^ a b Shull, Richard (October 17, 1972). "Character Actor Jim Wainwright Has Played Himself 34 Years". Pensacola News Journal. p. 5\. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
5. ^ Fox, Vernon (UPI Hollywood Correspondent). "Actor Chooses TV Role Over Part in Sure Hit". October 15, 1972. p. 17\. Retrieved August 25, 1972
6. ^ "United States Census, 1950", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X18-Z1PJ : Thu Oct 05 10:05:22 UTC 2023), Entry for Esther L Wainwright and James M Wainwright, 10 April 1950.
7. ^ Wood, Mary (October 21, 1972). "Wainwright Was a Missing Person". The Cincinnati Post TV Time Magazine. p. 3\. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
8. ^ "TV Mailbox". Sunday Post-Crescent TV Time. October 6, 1974. p. 23\. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
9. ^ "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPT2-4WZ : 15 May 2014), Janet L Cook and James L Wainwright, Oct 1977; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Los Angeles, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
10. ^ "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VP5F-TVJ : 27 November 2014), James L Wainwright and Janet L, 18 May 1978; from "California Divorce Index, 1966-1984," database and images, Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : 2007); citing Los Angeles, California, Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, Sacramento.
11. ^ "Monday Morning, March 26". Sunday Call-Chronicle. March 25, 1973. p. TV18. Retrieved August 25, 2024.

## External links

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* James Wainwright at IMDb

Authority control databases: National |

* Spain

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