JAMES DRURY

(18 April 1924 - 6 April 2020)

The American actor James Drury, who has died aged 85, will be chiefly remembered for playing the eponymous role of The Virginian on television. The initial series began in 1958 under the title Decision. Then in 1962 NBC toughened up the character and called the series The Virginian and Drury starred in nearly 250 episodes until 1971. Apart from the weekly episodes there were also occasional TV feature films, the last one in 2000. Although born in New York, Drury spent much time on the family ranch in Oregon, riding and learning to be a woodsman with his grandfather, the inspiration for his characterisation of The Virginian role. He began acting in school, did some touring and studied drama at New York University where his father was a professor. Drury graduated from UCLA in farming but was offered a screen contract with MGM and made his film debut in Blackboard Jungle in 1955. This was followed by Love Me or Leave Me with Doris Day, The Tender Trap with Frank Sinatra, Diane with Lana Turner, Forbidden Planet with Walter Pidgeon, The Last Wagon with Richard Widmark, Love Me Tender with Elvis Presley, and Bernadine with Pat Boone. Apart from The Virginian, he also appeared in many other TV series, mainly westerns on account of his deep voice and macho appearance, and a few more films including Good Day for a Hanging with Fred MacMurray, Pollyanna with Hayley Mills, Ten Who Dared with Brian Keith, Sam Peckinpah’s Ride the High Country with his idols Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea, and Maverick with Mel Gibson. His last film was Hell to Pay in 2005, while his TV movie Billy and the Bandit awaits release. James Drury was married to Cristall Orton, Phyllis Mitchell and Carl Ann Head. He is father to four children, including Timothy Drury, formerly keyboardist for the rock band Whitesnake.

MICHAEL DARVELL