James Daly (actor)

James Firman Daly (October 23, 1918 – July 3, 1978) was an American theater, film, and television actor, who is perhaps best known for his role as Paul Lochner in the hospital drama series Medical Center, in which he played Chad Everett's superior.[1]

James Daly
Daly in Medical Center, 1969
Born
James Firman Daly

(1918-10-23)October 23, 1918
DiedJuly 3, 1978(1978-07-03) (aged 59)
Alma materCornell College
OccupationActor
Years active1953–1978
TelevisionMedical Center, Twelve O'Clock High
Spouse(s)
Hope Newell
(m. 19421965)
Children4 (including Tyne and Tim Daly)
AwardsEmmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Drama
1966 Eagle in a Cage

Early life

Daly was born in Wisconsin Rapids in Wood County in central Wisconsin, to Dorothy Ethelbert (Hogan) Mullen, who later worked for the Central Intelligence Agency, and Percifer Charles Daly, a fuel merchant.[2] During the 1930s, Daly studied drama and acted in shows before he worked for the armed services, and served with the United States Navy as World War II ended.

Daly was a music major at the University of Wisconsin, a drama major at Iowa State University, and attended Carroll College before receiving a degree from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.[3] Cornell College later presented him with an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.[3]

Career

Daly was an accomplished stage actor, starting out in 1946 as Gary Merrill's understudy in Born Yesterday.[3] His starring roles on Broadway included Archibald MacLeish's Pulitzer Prize- winning J.B. and Tennessee Williams' Period of Adjustment.

Between 1953 and 1955, Daly appeared in the TV series Foreign Intrigue. He guest-starred on many television series, including Appointment with Adventure (two episodes), Breaking Point, Mission: Impossible, The Twilight Zone ("A Stop at Willoughby"), The Tenderfoot (1964) for Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, The Road West (1966 episode "The Gunfighter"), Custer, Gunsmoke, Combat!, The Fugitive, The Virginian, and Twelve O'Clock High. He portrayed Mr. Flint (an apparently immortal human) in the Star Trek episode "Requiem for Methuselah" (1969).[4]

In 1958, Daly signed a contract with the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company to do television commercials for Camel cigarettes. He served as the Camel representative for seven years, being flown by Reynolds throughout the United States to be filmed smoking a Camel cigarette at various locations.[3]

In addition to his acting career, Daly was one of the hosts on NBC Radio's weekend Monitor program in 1963–1964.

Daly's last screen role was as Mr. Boyce in the mini-series Roots: The Next Generations.

Personal life

According to his son Tim Daly during an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, James Daly came out to Tim as gay a decade after divorcing his wife Hope. His struggle to come to terms with his sexual orientation nearly put a rift between him and his family. As homosexuality was still considered a mental illness until the early 1970s, he and his wife tried and failed at "curing" him. After their divorce, Daly decided to limit his contact with his children out of fear that they would end up mentally ill themselves.[5]

Two of Daly's children, Tyne Daly and Tim Daly, and his granddaughter, Kathryne Dora Brown, and grandson, Sam Daly, are actors. Tyne appeared on Daly's TV series, Foreign Intrigue, as a child. The elder Daly and his daughter both guest-starred separately in the original Mission: Impossible TV series. Tim appeared as a child with his father in Henrik Ibsen's play, An Enemy of the People. Daly had two other children: daughters Mary Glynn and Pegeen Michael.[6]

Death

Daly died on July 3, 1978, of heart failure in Nyack, New York,[6] two years after Medical Center ended, and while he was preparing to star in the play Equus in Tarrytown, New York.[7] His ashes were sprinkled into the Atlantic Ocean.

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1950The Sleeping CityInterneUncredited
1955The Court-Martial of Billy MitchellLt. Col. Herbert White
1957The Young StrangerThomas 'Tom' Ditmar
1960I Aim at the StarsU.S. Major William Taggert
1968Planet of the ApesHonorious
1968Code Name, Red RosesMajor Mike Liston(original Italian title: Rose rosse per il führer)
1969The Big BounceRay Ritchie
1969The Five Man ArmyAugustus
1971The Resurrection of Zachary WheelerDr. Redding
1972Wild in the SkyThe President
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1954 Westinghouse Studio One Major Gaylord Episode: The Strike
1957 Omnibus (US TV series) General Robert E. Lee Episode: "Lee at Gettysburg"
1960 The Twilight Zone Gart Williams Season 1, Episode 30: "A Stop at Willoughby"
1961–1967 Hallmark Hall of Fame Barabbas, Owen Wister, Dr. O'Meara, Dunois Episodes: "Give Us Barabbas,” "The Magnificent Yankee,” "Eagle in a Cage,” and “Saint Joan"
Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 1966
1966 An Enemy of the People Dr. Thomas Stockmann American Playhouse production
The Fugitive Michael Ballinger

Arthur Brame

Episodes: "Running Scared", "The Evil Men Do"
1967 Mission: Impossible Carl Wilson / Josef Gort Episode: "Shock"
1967 Combat! Capt. Cole Episode: "Encounter"
1967 Mission: Impossible Alfred Belzig Episode: "The Bank"
1967 The Invaders Alan Landers Episode: "Beachhead"
1968 The Invaders General Samuel ConCannon Episodes: "The Peacemaker"
1969 Star Trek Flint Episode: "Requiem for Methuselah"
1969–1976 Medical Center Dr. Paul Lochner
1970 Ironside Judge McIntire Episode: "People Against Judge McIntire"

Theatre

Year Production Role Notes and awards
1963 Jenny Kissed Me by Jean Kerr

"Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolf?" Co-starring with Colleen Dewhurst 1965

Performances: Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, Pennsylvania

Awards

Year Award Category Film Result
1966Emmy AwardOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama SeriesHallmark Hall of FameWon

References

  1. "TV, Stage Actor James Daly Dies; Was State Native". Milwaukee Journal. Google.com. 5 July 1978. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  2. See, Carolyn. (1970, February 21–27). Nothing Personal: James Daly will talk about anything – except himself. TV Guide, pp 26–30.
  3. "James Daly: Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  4. Interview with Tim Daly. CBS News Sunday Morning (June 19, 2016). Via YouTube.
  5. "Actor James Daly Dead". Ocala Star Banner. Google.com. 5 July 1978. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
  6. "James Daly, Actor, Is Dead at 59; Took Many TV Character Roles; Had Part in 'Roots II' Won an Emmy Award" (PDF). Retrieved 26 July 2012.
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