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James Luisi

James Luisi

Actor · Died June 7, 2002, aged 73 · New York City, New York, USA

A native New Yorker, James Luisi attended St. Francis College in Brooklyn Heights on a basketball scholarship. He served in the Army during the Korean War. He then played one season (1953-54) with the Baltimore Bullets in the National Basketball Association. His acting career began on the stage with early parts coming in the Broadway musicals "Sweet Charity" and "Zorba". His early movies were minor, though his "beefcake" appeal was evident in 1973's I Escaped from Devil's Island (1973) in which he rarely wore a shirt. Most of his later work was on TV. In 1976 he shared a "best actor" daytime Emmy for playing George Washington in a daytime drama special titled First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (1975). Also in 1976 he started his four-season role as Jim Rockford's (James Garner) nemesis Lt. Chapman in The Rockford Files (1974). In 1983 he played the cop in charge of some street-gang-members-turned-undercover-agents in the short-lived series The Renegades (1983), which provided a boost for Patrick Swayze, who played one of the gang members. Along with guest spots on numerous TV shows, Luisi also appeared in the soap operas Days of Our Lives (1965) and Another World (1964). In the 1990s he returned to acting in and directing stage work in the Los Angeles area. Stricken with cancer he passed away on 7 June 2002 and is survived by his wife of 41 years, the former Georgia Phillips.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 11, 1928
Died
June 7, 2002 (aged 73)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 80 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 51% in 30 days

What are James Luisi's films like?

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

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 33rd percentile
: browse their Crime 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
37%
Bonds
18%
Self
17%
Survival
13%
Power
13%
Society
2%
Justice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 10 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 2 · Charged 5 · Intense 3

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

A split, not a type: Steady 5 · Shifting 4 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 0

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 0

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

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

4 analyzed roles

Usually the Threshold guardian: 2 of 4 analyzed roles.

Threshold guardian
2 of 4
Hero
1 of 4
Shadow
1 of 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Warm
6
Thrilling
3
Dread
2
Hopeful
1
Other
5

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic2
  • Ambiguous1

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 Luisi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 20 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (12).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for James Luisi'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

80 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Rockford Files: Friends and Foul Play(1996)

    as Capt. Doug Chapman

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits...(1996)

    as Capt. Doug Chapman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Baywatch Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Murray

  • Silk Stalkings(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all shows

  • Dark Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lethal Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Colonel Jerry Maxim

  • Feds(1988)

    as Sperry

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Hidden(1987)

    as Ferrari Salesman

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Viola

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • Murphy's Law(1986)

    as Ed Reineke

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Hogan Family (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 3 episodes · Actor

  • Hell Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Partners in Crime(1984)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all shows

  • Finder of Lost Loves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Jordan Hollis

  • The Red-Light Sting(1984)

    as Renny Lucas

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Star 80(1983)

    as Roy

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Sunset Limousine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Angel

  • China Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Watch Commander

  • The Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · as Lt. Marciano

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Jimmy Durkee

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as D.G. Grebs

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Renegades (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Lt. Joe Marciano

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as George Laszlo · as Vincent Hazzard

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • The Fall Guy(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Our Family Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Frank

  • Here's Boomer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Magnum, P.I.(1980)

    Show 1 episode · as John Walter Costa

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all shows

  • The Asphalt Cowboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Lt. Lassiter

  • Fade to Black(1980)

    as Capt. M.L. Gallagher

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · as Lieutenant Gilbert Garcia

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Hart to Hart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Hood

  • Harris and Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 4 episodes · Actor

  • Norma Rae(1979)

    as George Benson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Moment by Moment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Dan Santini

  • One in a Million: The Ron LeFlore Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Jimmy Karalla

  • Vega$ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Sword of Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Eddie Capra Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Love Is Not Enough(1978)

    as Harry Foreman

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Killer's Delight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Sgt. Vince De Carlo

  • Fantasy Island(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Arbogast

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all shows

  • A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story(1977)

    as Lazzeri

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Contract on Cherry Street(1977)

    as Al Palmini / Arnold Palmer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • CHiPs(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all shows

  • Stunts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    as Alvin Blake

  • Hunter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Quincy, M.E. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Spencer's Pilots (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Future Cop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Paterno

  • Good Heavens (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • City of Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wonder Woman(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as George

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • First Ladies Diaries: Martha Washington (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    as George Washington

  • Starsky and Hutch(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • S.W.A.T.(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all shows

  • The Rockford Files(1974)

    Show 22 episodes · as Burt Stryker · as Doug Chapman

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • The Take (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Benedetto

  • Honky Tonk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Blackie

  • The Man from Independence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Stranger

  • Cry Rape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Det. Kroger

  • Kojak(1973)

    Show 2 episodes · as Capt. Henry 'Hank' Rosseau · as Det. Geno Alessi

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • I Escaped from Devil's Island(1973)

    as Dazzas

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Police Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Hawkins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Andy Tyler

  • Barnaby Jones(1973)

    Show 1 episode · as Burt Logan · as Nick Gorman

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Streets of San Francisco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Ghost Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as Rick

  • The Rookies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Ben(1972)

    as Ed

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Cannon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cat Ballou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    as Spider Levinsky

  • Adam-12(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Antonio Minetti

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all shows

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mike Purcell

  • The F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Little Julio · as Sam Kehoe

  • Another World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1,547 episodes · Actor

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Mark Andrew

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • The Rifleman(1958)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

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

    Show 2 episodes · as Ivers

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 80 titles from 1955 to 1996; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

Murphy's Law (1986)

$9.9M worldwide

Highest rated

The Rockford Files (1974)

Midcredits 93rd

Film career

19551996

Peak 1987 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1972Screen debut· Ben

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting80 of 80: 80 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score55th

By decade

1950s3 · acting1960s4 · acting1970s43 · acting1980s25 · acting1990s5 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · 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 Luisi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 14; across their 10 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 45th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Approval · how many liked their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Reach · how many have seen their films

40thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 10

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Love Is Not Enough (1978)

78th percentile spread · 22% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Rockford Files: If the Frame Fits... (1996)

Midcredits 94th · 81% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 7 reviewed titles; fans 71, detractors 38. 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 Luisi work with?

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

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers