In one choreographed fight, a stuntman threw an extra punch, “which was not in the script and hit me in the temple like a Missouri mule,” Mr. Drury said in an“The Virginian’s” cast, which rotated over the years, included The show also featured a host of guest stars, like In 2018, Mr. Drury told the Oklahoma newspaper The Daily Ardmoreite that he was grateful for his years as the Virginian, even though the role defined the rest of his career.“The Virginian was an indelible character,” he said. According to “There were times when we had five Virginian episodes shooting on the same day,” Drury recalled in his “He wanted everything changed to make him the star of the show.
He was 85. James Drury stars as the titular character in television series 'The Virginian,' circa 1965.
The series was adapted from the 1902 Owen Wister western novel, 'The Virginian'. (Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
He was 85. “He loved the show and told me he wished he had been on from the beginning. Each episode would run for 90 minutes.“There were times when we had five ‘Virginian’ episodes shooting on the same day,” “The Virginian,” which aired on NBC, had the third-longest run of any TV Western, topped only by CBS’s “Gunsmoke” (20 seasons) and NBC’s “Bonanza” (14). IMDB James Drury starred on 'The Virginian' from 1962 to 1971.
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Drury and co-star Doug McClure appearsed on all 249 episodes.
Before his passing, Drury wrote a blog post for True West, revealing some tidbits about his life. He made his professional acting debut at the age of 12 in a touring company of “Life With Father.”Drury was trained as an actor at New York University and credited with 12 Shakespeare roles.
Learn everything that there is to know about the 'Virginian' star's Children. A product of New York City and an Oregon ranch, he played the title character, a ranch foreman who is never named, for its entire nine-season run.James Drury, an actor best remembered as the stolid, black-hatted title character of the long-running NBC western “The Virginian,” died on Monday at his home in Houston.
"It is with immense sadness that I let you all know that James Drury, our beloved Virginian and dear friend passed away this morning of natural causes, Monday, April 6, 2020. Nick Thomas. James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American actor best known for playing the title role in the 90-minute weekly Western television series The Virginian, broadcast on NBC from 1962 to 1971.
Check out what's clicking today in entertainment.The actor's assistant, Karen Lindsey, confirmed his death in a Facebook post, stating that "THE COWBOY took his last ride," Lindsey wrote. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. The series was loosely based on Owen Wister’s 1902 novel “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains,” in which the name of the main character was never revealed.In its last year, the TV show was re-titled “The Men From Shiloh.” In the book “A History of Television’s The Virginian, 1962-1971,” Drury said he was sad that the show was canceled and added, “I would have gone on for another 10 years.”Drury starred in the ABC series “Firehouse” and appeared on series “Alias Smith and Jones,” “The Adventures of Brisco County Jr.,” “The Fall Guy” and “Walker, Texas Ranger.” In recent years, he had maintained an extensive traveling schedule to Western events, festivals and autograph shows across the country “speaking about the West and how cowboy values shaped our country and how those values still hold true to those who will adhere to them.”
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Growing up, he spent a lot of time on his family's ranch in Oregon, and it was there that he developed a love for horses and the outdoors.He first started acting at the age of 8 when he starred as Herod in a children’s Christmas play. “I had a great deal of issues getting past being seen as the man in the black hat.”James Child Drury Jr. was born on April 18, 1934, in New York City to James and Beatrice Drury. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here.
James Drury, Taciturn Star of ‘The Virginian,’ Dies at 85 A product of New York City and an Oregon ranch, he played the title character, a …
James Drury, best known for playing the titular role on the TV series The Virginian, passed away on April 6, 2020. He wasn’t well and everybody wanted him to go home but he insisted on finishing his part and staying around. We finished the show on a Friday night about midnight and it was a bitterly cold evening. ©2020 FOX News Network, LLC. "The Virginian" is the third longest running western series in the history of television. All rights reserved. James Drury as he appears in the television show, 'The Virginian.'
Drury was born April 18, 1934 in New York City. “It’s a wonderful feeling to know the show is still viable after all these years.” Turns out James Drury, the real cowboy, is not as reticent as his TV counterpart.
Mr. Drury, who had iceberg-blue eyes and a no-nonsense mien befitting a frontier hero, appeared on television westerns like “Broken Arrow,” “Cheyenne” and “Wagon Train” before he landed the role on “The Virginian.” The show, which was loosely based on Owen Wister’s novel “The Virginian: A Horseman of the Plains” (1902), began airing in 1962.Mr. Many of the 249 episodes, airing over nine seasons until 1971, involved his character fending off outlaws and rustlers.
"Lindsey added that a memorial service will be determined at a later date.Drury was born on April 18, 1934, in New York City. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, “John was perfect in every scene I ever saw him do.”The final (9th) season saw major overhauls including a new name and theme with Stewart Granger being brought in.“He was a disaster and I couldn’t stand him,” admitted Drury.
He first appeared on stage at the age of 8 when he played King Herod in a children’s Christmas play. “He did an interview saying he thought the show was terrible and wished he could buy up all the film and turn it into banjo picks!”Cobb was replaced by veteran film actor Charles Bickford.“We had John Dehner for a short time then Charles came along and he did just a wonderful job,” said Drury. Doug McClure (left) and James Drury in “The Virginian” Originally airing on NBC from 1962 to 1971 and currently re-running on several cable networks (INSP and Starz), the enduring popularity of the “The Virginian” doesn’t surprise 85-year-old James Drury who starred throughout the series in the title role (see www.thevirginian.net ). © Copyright 2020 Variety Media, LLC, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC.