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James Drury

James Drury

Actor · Died April 6, 2020, aged 85 · New York City, New York, USA

James Child Drury Jr. (April 18, 1934 – April 6, 2020) was an American actor. He is best known for having played the title role in the 90-minute weekly Western television series The Virginian, which was broadcast on NBC from 1962 to 1971. Drury was born in New York City, the son of James Child Drury and Beatrice Crawford Drury. His father was a New York University professor of marketing. He grew up between New York City and Salem, Oregon, where his mother owned a farm. Drury contracted polio at the age of 10. 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. On February 7, 1957, Drury married Cristall Othones, and fathered two sons, Timothy and James III. The couple divorced on November 23, 1964 and on April 27, 1968, he married Phyllis Jacqueline Mitchell; the marriage ended in divorce on January 30, 1979. His third marriage was to Carl Ann Head on July 30, 1979; it lasted until her death on August 25, 2019. Drury had three stepchildren from his previous marriages, a stepdaughter, Rhonda Brown, and two stepsons, Frederick Drury and Gary Schero. Drury died from natural causes on April 6, 2020.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 18, 1934
Died
April 6, 2020 (aged 85)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
31 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 16% in 30 days

What are James Drury's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Western2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 36th percentile
: browse their Western movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
39%
Bonds
26%
Society
13%
Survival
10%
Self
8%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 10 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 2 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 5 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 9 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
5
Hopeful
3
Warm
2
Dread
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Bittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch James Drury's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 31 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Drury's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 31 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Cartoon Cowboys: Spirit of the Alamo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Buffalo Bill Cody (voice)/"The Mysterious Traveler" (voice)

  • Hell to Pay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as JT Coffee

  • The Virginian(2000)

    as Rider

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Maverick(1994)

    as Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Ethan Emerson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Walker, Texas Ranger(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Captain Tom Price

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Captain Tom Price

  • Kung Fu: The Legend Continues(1993)

    Show 1 episode · as Deacon · as Doctor

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all shows

  • The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw(1991)

    as Jim

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Return to the Titanic (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Writer · as Self - Host

  • Bad Men of the West(1974)

    as The Range Boss (The Virginian)

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • Firehouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as Captain Spike Ryerson

  • The Bull of the West(1972)

    as Man from Virginia

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Devil and Miss Sarah(1971)

    as Gil Turner

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Alias Smith and Jones (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · as Sheriff Lom Trevors · as Sheriff Tankersley

  • Breakout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Joe Baker

  • Backtrack! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ramrod (archive footage)

  • Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In(1967)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Virginian (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • It Takes a Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Clifton

  • Ironside (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Al

  • The Young Warriors (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Sergeant Cooley

  • The Final Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as The Virginian

  • The Brazen Bell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as The Virginian

  • The Devil's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as The Virginian

  • The Virginian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Show 249 episodes · as The "Virginian"

  • Third of a Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Emmet

  • Ride the High Country(1962)

    as Billy Hammond

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Ten Who Dared(1960)

    as Walter Powell

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Rapids Ahead/Bear Country (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Actor

  • Stagecoach West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Stace'

  • Pollyanna(1960)

    as George Dodds

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus(1960)

    as Jim Weaver

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • The Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Adrian

  • Bourbon Street Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Rebel(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Bert Pace · as Paul Travers

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Lock-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Crotty

  • Black Saddle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Neal Adams

  • Rawhide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Adler · as Kenley · as Rance

  • Good Day for a Hanging(1959)

    as Paul Ridgely

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Lawman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Clay · as Stan Bates

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Lloyd Carpenter · as Spicer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Texan(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Johnny Kaler

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Ed Wynn Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Bronco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as John Smith

  • Steve Canyon(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Richard Muller

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Bitter Heritage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Jesse James, Jr.

  • Trackdown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as John Ward

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Eddy King

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Cole Crawford · as Justin Claiborne

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Have Gun, Will Travel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Tony DeVries

  • Bernardine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Langley Philip Beaymont

  • Richard Diamond, Private Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Arthur Harding

  • Love Me Tender(1956)

    as Ray Reno

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Jess McHugh · as Roy Richards

  • Broken Arrow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Tahzay

  • The Last Wagon(1956)

    as Lt. Kelly

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Forbidden Planet(1956)

    as Crewman Strong

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Diane(1956)

    as Lieutenant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Tender Trap(1955)

    as Eddie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Anton Cavrek

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Grimes

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Magruder

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Gunsmoke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Booth Rider · as Jerry Cass · as Johnny Red · as Tom

  • Blackboard Jungle(1955)

    as Hospital Attendant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 3 episodes · as Deputy Joe Monroe · as George Dodds · as Jim Weaver

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob Prentiss · as Tony

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Auctioneer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Cameo Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as George

Career shape

Star power in the 88th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 68 titles from 1950 to 2015.

Biggest box office

Love Me Tender (1956)

$314 worldwide

Highest rated

Ride the High Country (1962)

Midcredits 93rd

Most popular right now

Pollyanna (1960)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 68: 67 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score68thWriting1 of 68: 1 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s36 · acting1960s16 · acting1970s6 · acting1980s1 · crew1990s6 · acting2000s2 · acting2010s1 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 8 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do James Drury's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 55th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

55thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 31 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th10
  • 25th to 49th5
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

14 of their 31 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Crowd Pleaser14
  • Mixed9

Most divisive · actor

Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)

70th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Forbidden Planet (1956)

Midcredits 93rd · 82% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 72, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does James Drury work with?

People who share at least 2 of James Drury's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Walt Disney shares the most, 3.

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers