James Franciscus

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James Grover Franciscus (born January 31, 1934 in Clayton , Missouri , † July 8, 1991 in North Hollywood , California ) was an American film actor and producer .

Life

Franciscus was the eldest of two sons of John Allen and Loraine Franciscus; his brother's name was John. Franciscus lost his father at a young age when he was killed as a pilot in the United States Air Force in World War II .

Goey - that was his nickname - concluded in 1957 his studies in English and theater studies at the Yale University with magna cum laude from. In the same year he also made his film debut in the crime film Four Boys and a Gun .

Over the years, Franciscus has appeared in numerous feature films and television series. He gained fame in 1970 for his role in the science fiction film Return to the Planet of the Apes . But also in 1973 he drew attention to himself with the film adaptation of the novel Die Möwe Jonathan , in which he was only present as a voice off-screen. In 1965, Franciscus was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in the television series Mr. Novak .

Martial arts fans also know Franciscus as a blind student (Mike) Longstreet, who appears as the leading actor at the side of Bruce Lee in the television series of the same name and is instructed by him in martial arts and philosophy (Paramount Studios, four episodes with B. Lee, 1971 -1972).

In addition, Franciscus was a socially engaged person who founded a tennis club for celebrities in the mid-1970s. The entrance fee went to a foundation that had set itself the goal of researching multiple sclerosis . Franciscus' mother died of this disease.

The actor was married twice privately. So he married on March 28, 1960 Kathleen Wellman, daughter of the director William A. Wellman . With her he had four daughters, Jamie, Kelly, Corie and Jolie.

After his divorce in the late 1970s, he married a middle-class woman, Carla Ankney, in the mid-1980s. With her he retired to his farm in the San Fernando Valley for the last six years of his life .

Franciscus died of emphysema at the age of 57 .

Filmography (selection)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Franciscus, James
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Franciscus, James Grover (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American film actor and film producer
DATE OF BIRTH January 31, 1934
PLACE OF BIRTH Clayton , Missouri, United States
DATE OF DEATH July 8, 1991
Place of death North Hollywood , California, United States