Friday, September 24, 2010

Anthony James

"THAT-GUY" PROFILE: Anthony James
The closest he ever came to a regular television role was four episodes as Elbert Moses on GUNSMOKE. But for twenty-five years, whenever a producer needed a menacing, lanky, slimy henchman-type, Anthony James was on the job. 6'3", with hawk-like features and pocked skin, he worked often and well...so well that five series brought him back to play another character (four different characters on GUNSMOKE alone). Did you see him on BONANZA, HAWAII FIVE-O, IRONSIDE, THE MOD SQUAD, S.W.A.T., STARSKY AND HUTCH, MAN FROM ATLANTIS, VEGA$, QUINCY, B.J. AND THE BEAR, SIMON AND SIMON(3x), THE A-TEAM(3x), KNIGHT RIDER, HUNTER, THE FALL GUY, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, and MARRIED WITH CHILDREN? Was he a shady deputy in "Angels in Chains", the greatest episode of CHARLIE'S ANGELS? Was he Laird the alien tracker in the greatest episode of V? Was he Varek, the irradiated, super-powered, sympathetic henchman in BUCK ROGERS(2x)? Was he even possibly a romulan? Yup. Did we love him at the movies too? How about IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT, HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER, a gay hitchhiker in VANISHING POINT, and his final role, Skinny the pimp in UNFORGIVEN? Or our personal favorite, Hector Savage in NAKED GUN 2 1/2, getting caught up in the song "The Way We Were", as he prepares to kill Jane in the shower?
Did he give up his serial sleaziness in the early 90s to become a celebrated painter? Yes, he did.
Nicely done, Anthony. We thank you.

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