Jim Davis (actor)

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Jim Davis (born August 26, 1909 in Edgerton , Platte County , Missouri , † April 26, 1981 in Northridge , California ; actually Marlin Otho Davis ) was an American actor .

Life

Davis' career in show business began in a circus. As a traveling salesman he ended up in Los Angeles in 1940 , where he gradually gained a foothold in the film industry and repeatedly got smaller roles. His first major leading role was the counterpart to Bette Davis in the melodrama Winter-Meeting (1948). His film career consisted mainly of B-films , including many westerns, although he made quite an impression as an American senator in Warren Beatty's plot thriller "The Parallax View" (1974).

Jim Davis had at least 200 guest appearances in his acting career, switching between the "good" and the "bad" roles again and again. He made one of his greatest films in 1952 with Kirk Douglas : The Indian Woman's Secret . A well-known role was that of the railroad detective Matt Clark in the television series Stories of the Century (39 episodes).

A stroke of fate struck him when his only child, daughter Tara Diane (1953–1970), died in a car accident at the age of 16.

Davis played family patriarch Jock Ewing on the television series Dallas from 1978 until his death in 1981. Davis was diagnosed with multiple myeloma , a cancer of the bone marrow , while filming season 4 , but continued filming as long as he was physically able to do so was able to. In many scenes this season, Jim Davis was seen sitting, apparently wearing a wig, looking and sounding tired. A plot within the story relating to the Takapa Project and his breakup with Miss Ellie suddenly ended, and the writers left the couple for an extended second honeymoon (their limo departure was Davis' last appearance on the series ) as it was already becoming apparent that Davis could no longer continue with the work. He finally died as a result of his illness while the season was being broadcast in the spring of 1981.

The writers made the decision not to immediately incorporate his death into the plot. Initially, plans were made to replace him with another actor, but these were dropped because of the popularity of the Jock character. His role was kept alive within the plot for 13 episodes after his death, with an explanation that he was in South America drilling for oil. The episode The Search , which confirmed Jock's death in a helicopter crash, aired on January 8, 1982.

Davis had a close friendly relationship with Dallas co-star Victoria Principal (Pamela), who reportedly bore a strong resemblance to his late daughter. He carried photos of her and his daughter in his pocket on the day of his funeral.

Jim Davis has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 6290 Hollywood Boulevard, for his contribution to the television industry.

Jim Davis was buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale .

Filmography (selection)

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Davis, Jim
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Davis, Marlin (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION US-American actor
DATE OF BIRTH August 26, 1909
PLACE OF BIRTH Edgerton , Missouri
DATE OF DEATH April 26, 1981
Place of death Northridge , California