James F. Nolan (November 29, 1915 – July 29, 1985) was an American film, stage and television actor. Nolan was born in

San Francisco, California San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...

. After serving in

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

he began his acting career in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

, performing in stage plays such as ''

A Streetcar Named Desire ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of pe ...

'' and ''

Bus Stop A bus stop is a place where Public transport bus service, buses stop for passengers to get on and off the bus. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage, where stops at busy locations may have shelter (building), shelters ...

''. Nolan then moved to

Hollywood, California Hollywood, sometimes informally called Tinseltown, is a List of districts and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, neighborhood and district in the Central Los Angeles, central region of Los Angeles County, California, within the city of Los Angeles. ...

James Nolan-Winifred Ainslee in Bus Stop

Nolan guest-starred in numerous television programs including ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

'', ''

The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was b ...

'', '' The Fugitive'', ''

Get Smart ''Get Smart'' is an American comedy television series parodying the Spy fiction, secret agent genre that had become widely popular in the first half of the 1960s with the release of the ''James Bond'' films. It was created by Mel Brooks and Bu ...

'', '' Harbor Command'', ''

The Wild Wild West ''The Wild Wild West'' is an American Western (genre), Western, spy film, spy, and science fiction on television, science fiction television series that ran on the CBS television network for four seasons from September 17, 1965, to April 11, 19 ...

'', ''

McHale's Navy ''McHale's Navy'' is an American sitcom starring Ernest Borgnine that aired 138 half-hour episodes over four seasons, from October 11, 1962, to April 12, 1966, on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network. The series was filmed i ...

'', ''

Leave It to Beaver ''Leave It to Beaver'' is an American television sitcom that follows the misadventures of a suburban boy, his family and his friends. It starred Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers. CBS first broadcast the show ...

'', ''

Emergency! ''Emergency!'' is an American Action fiction, action-adventure medical drama television series jointly produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. Debuting on NBC as a midseason replacement on January 15, 1972, replacing two situatio ...

'', ''

The Jack Benny Program ''The Jack Benny Program'', starring Jack Benny, is a radio and television comedy series. The show ran for over three decades, from 1932 to 1955 on radio, and from 1950 to 1965 on television. It won numerous awards, including the 1959 and 19 ...

'', ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural mountainous Western Virginia of the Appalachian Mountains / Allegheny Mountains / Blue Ridge Mountains chain, during the economic hardships and mass unemp ...

'', ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'', '' Perry Mason'', ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb and produced by Mark VII Limited and Universal Television. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pe ...

'' and ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from September 19, 1970 ...

''. He also appeared in films, including '' Charley Varrick'', '' Support Your Local Gunfighter'', ''

Dirty Harry ''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American action-thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the Dirty Harry (film series), ''Dirty Harry'' series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first appearance as San Francisco Polic ...

'', '' All Night Long'', ''

The Toolbox Murders ''The Toolbox Murders'' is a 1978 American slasher film directed by Dennis Donnelly, from a screenplay by Neva Friedenn, Robert Easter, and Anne Kindberg. Starring Cameron Mitchell, Pamelyn Ferdin, and Wesley Eure. It follows a series of viol ...

'' and ''

The Shootist ''The Shootist'' is a 1976 American Western film directed by Don Siegel and based on Glendon Swarthout's 1975 novel of the same name,Swarthout, Glendon (1975). ''The Shootist'', New York, New York: Doubleday. and written by Miles Hood Swart ...

''. He played the role of the

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

Father Steven Lonigan in the 1970 film ''

Airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

''. Nolan died in July 1985 of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving Cell growth#Disorders, abnormal cell growth with the potential to Invasion (cancer), invade or Metastasis, spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Po ...

at the Motion Picture & Television Fund cottages in

Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California, United States. History The area was inhabited for around 8,000 years by Native Americans in the United States, ...

, at the age of 69.

Selected filmography

*'' Torchy Blane in Panama'' (1938) as Ship's Officer Nelson *''

Little Miss Thoroughbred ''Little Miss Thoroughbred'' is a 1938 film directed by John Farrow. Peggy Ann Garner made her debut in the film. It was also known as Little Lady Luck. Plot Knowing her father's out there somewhere, little Janet runs away from an orphanage. A c ...

'' (1938) as First Intern at General Hospital *'' When Were You Born'' (1938) as Ship Passenger (uncredited) *''

Cowboy from Brooklyn ''Cowboy from Brooklyn'' is a 1938 American Western musical romantic comedy film directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Earl Baldwin. It stars Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien and Priscilla Lane. The film was based on the 1937 Broadway play ''Howd ...

'' (1938) as Alvey's Secretary (uncredited) *'' Racket Busters'' (1938) as Jim Smith, Allison's Secretary (uncredited) *'' Boy Meets Girl'' (1938) as Young Man Brought in for Susie (uncredited) *'' Garden of the Moon'' (1938) as Sound Man with Microphone (uncredited) *''

Girls on Probation ''Girls on Probation'' is a 1938 American crime film directed by William C. McGann and written by Crane Wilbur. The film stars Jane Bryan, Ronald Reagan, Anthony Averill, Sheila Bromley, Henry O'Neill and Elisabeth Risdon. The film was releas ...

'' (1938) as Dave Warren, Connie's Date (uncredited) *'' Men Are Such Fools'' (1938) as Bill Collyer (uncredited) *''

Winged Victory The ''Winged Victory of Samothrace'', or the ''Niké of Samothrace'', is a Votive offering, votive monument originally discovered on the island of Samothrace in the northeastern Aegean Sea. It is a masterpiece of Greek sculpture from the Helleni ...

'' (1944) as Stranger on Street (uncredited) *'' Because of Him'' (1946) as Reporter (uncredited) *'' Little Miss Big'' (1946) as Detective Lieutenant (uncredited) *'' The Brute Man'' (1946) as Police Dispatcher (uncredited) *''

Lady in the Lake ''Lady in the Lake'' is a 1947 American film noir starring Robert Montgomery, Audrey Totter, Lloyd Nolan, Tom Tully, Leon Ames and Jayne Meadows. An adaptation of the 1943 Raymond Chandler murder mystery '' The Lady in the Lake'', the pictu ...

'' (1946) as Party Guest (uncredited) *''

Abie's Irish Rose ''Abie's Irish Rose'' is a popular comedy by Anne Nichols, which premiered in 1922. Initially a Broadway theatre, Broadway Play (theatre), play, it has become familiar through repeated stage productions, films and radio programs. The basic premi ...

'' (1946) as Policeman *'' Alias Mr. Twilight'' (1946) as Customs Guard (uncredited) *'' The Beginning or the End'' (1947) as President Roosevelt's Bodyguard (uncredited) *'' Dark Delusion'' (1947) as Orderly (uncredited) *'' Unconquered'' (1947) as Villager (uncredited) *'' Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome'' (1947) as Dan Sterne *''

The Miracle of the Bells ''The Miracle of the Bells'' is a 1948 American drama film directed by Irving Pichel, written by Quentin Reynolds and Ben Hecht, and produced by RKO. It stars Fred MacMurray, Alida Valli, Frank Sinatra and Lee J. Cobb. The film is based on the 1 ...

'' (1948) as Tod Jones *''

Berlin Express ''Berlin Express'' is a 1948 American drama film starring Robert Ryan, Merle Oberon and Paul Lukas and directed by Jacques Tourneur. Thrown together by chance, a group of people search a city for a kidnapped peace activist. Set in Allied-occu ...

'' (1948) as ROT Captain on First Train (uncredited) *'' Fighting Father Dunne'' (1948) as Policeman Danny Briggs *'' The Arizona Ranger'' (1948) as Nimino Welch *'' Guns of Hate'' (1948) as Sheriff Bradley *'' Race Street'' (1948) as Herbie *'' They Live by Night'' (1948) as Schreiber *'' Sons of Adventure'' (1948) as Frank, Publicity Man (uncredited) *'' Night Time in Nevada'' (1948) as Jim Andrews *'' Son of God's Country'' (1948) as Bill Sanger *'' Rogues' Regiment'' (1948) as American Colonel *'' He Walked by Night'' (1948) as Harry (uncredited) *'' The Countess of Monte Cristo'' (1948) as Lieutenant (uncredited) *'' One Sunday Afternoon'' (1948) as Henry (uncredited) *'' Wake of the Red Witch'' (1948) as First Diver (uncredited) *'' The Lucky Stiff'' (1949) *'' Siren of Atlantis'' (1949) as Major *'' Daughter of the Jungle'' (1949) as Lamser *'' The Clay Pigeon'' (1949) as Faber (uncredited) *'' Outpost in Morocco'' (1949) as Legionnaire Colonel's Aide (uncredited) *'' Death Valley Gunfighter'' (1949) as Shad *'' The Stratton Story'' (1949) as Reporter (uncredited) *'' The Window'' (1949) as Stranger on Street (uncredited) *''

Illegal Entry Illegal entry is the act of foreign nationals arriving in or crossing the borders into a country in violation of its immigration law. Human smuggling is the practice of aiding people in crossing international borders for financial gain, often i ...

'' (1949) as Agent Benson *'' Too Late for Tears'' (1949) as Detective Parker (uncredited) *'' Bandit King of Texas'' (1949) as Dan McCabe *'' Thieves' Highway'' (1949) as Smaller Cop at Roadside Bar (uncredited) *'' Flame of Youth'' (1949) as Policeman (uncredited) *'' Strange Bargain'' (1949) as Policeman (uncredited) *'' The Woman on Pier 13'' (1949) as Policeman (uncredited) *'' Alias the Champ'' (1949) as Al Merlo *''

Rusty's Birthday ''Rusty's Birthday'' is a black-and-white American juvenile drama, released by Columbia Pictures in November 1949. Structured as an hour-long second feature, it is the final entry in the eight-film low-budget series which centers on the bond bet ...

'' (1949) as Motor Officer (uncredited) *'' Mary Ryan, Detective'' (1949) as Detective Johnson (uncredited) *''

Adam's Rib ''Adam's Rib'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor from a screenplay written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn as married lawyers who come to oppose each other in ...

'' (1949) as Dave (uncredited) *'' Port of New York'' (1949) as Charles Lindsay (uncredited) *'' Paid in Full'' (1950) as Charlie Malloy, Lawyer (uncredited) *'' Riding High'' (1950) as Deputy (uncredited) *'' Double Dynamite'' (1951) as Detective (uncredited) *'' The Boss'' (1956) as Matt's Lawyer (uncredited) *''

Alfred Hitchcock Presents ''Alfred Hitchcock Presents'' is an American television anthology series created, hosted and produced by Alfred Hitchcock, airing on CBS and NBC, alternately, between 1955 and 1965. It features dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. Between 1962 ...

'' (1957) (Season 2 Episode 21: "Number Twenty-Two") as Detective Kelly *'' The Big Caper'' (1957) as Police Sergeant Waldo Harris (uncredited) *'' The Big Circus'' (1959) as Police Lieutenant (uncredited) *'' Portrait in Black'' (1960) as Detective *'' An American Dream'' (1966) as Monsignor Jim (uncredited) *'' Madigan'' (1968) as Detective (uncredited) *''

'' (1970) as Father Steven Lonigan *'' Support Your Local Gunfighter'' (1971) as Train Conductor (uncredited) *''

'' (1971) as Liquor Proprietor *'' Charley Varrick'' (1973) as Clerk *''

'' (1976) as Gambler (uncredited) *'' Telefon'' (1977) as Appliance Store Clerk *''

'' (1978) as Bartender *'' All Night Long'' (1981) as Grandfather Gibbons *'' Jinxed!'' (1982) as Father

References

External links

* *
Rotten Tomatoes profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nolan, James 1915 births 1985 deaths Male actors from San Francisco American male film actors American male television actors American male stage actors 20th-century American male actors