James Stephens (born May 18, 1951) is an American actor best known for his starring role as James T. Hart in the

television series A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed ...

The Paper Chase The Paper Chase (stylized as "the pAper chAse") was an American alternative rock band formed in 1998 by producer/engineer John Congleton in Dallas, Texas, who were signed to Kill Rock Stars and Southern Records. Their albums ''God Bless Your Blac ...

''.

Biography

Stephens was born in Mount Kisco, New York. He is best known for his role as idealistic Minnesota-born law student James T. Hart in ''The Paper Chase'' (1978–1979 and 1983–1986), taking on the role originated by

Timothy Bottoms Timothy James Bottoms (born August 30, 1951) is an American actor and film producer. He is best known for playing the lead in '' Johnny Got His Gun'' (1971); Sonny Crawford in '' The Last Picture Show'' (1971), where he and his fellow co-stars, ...

in the movie of the same name. He is also known for his role in Tom Bosley's ABC television series, ''

Father Dowling Mysteries ''Father Dowling Mysteries'' (also known as ''Father Dowling Investigates'' in the United Kingdom) is an American mystery television series that aired from January 20, 1989 to May 2, 1991. Prior to the series, a TV movie aired on November 30, 1987 ...

'' (1989-1991), in which Stephens was cast as Father Philip Prestwick. His first role was as C. L. Bradley in the pilot and two episodes of the ABC

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that i ...

series, '' How the West Was Won'', starring

James Arness James Arness (born James King Aurness; May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011) was an American actor, best known for portraying Marshal Matt Dillon for 20 years in the CBS television series ''Gunsmoke''. Arness has the distinction of having played the r ...

. He guest-starred in such series as '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer'', '' Diagnosis: Murder'', '' L.A. Law'', '' Matlock'', '' Moonlighting'', ''

M*A*S*H ''M*A*S*H'' (Mobile Army Surgical Hospital) is an American media franchise consisting of a series of novels, a film, several television series, plays, and other properties, and based on the semi-autobiographical fiction of Richard Hooker (auth ...

'', '' Eischied'', multiple characters on ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The ser ...

'', a recurring role on ''

Cagney & Lacey ''Cagney & Lacey'' is an American police procedural drama television series that aired on the CBS television network for seven seasons from March 25, 1982, to May 16, 1988. The show is about two New York City police detectives who lead very di ...

'', and the role of the young Doctor Auschlander in 1945 in flashbacks on ''

St. Elsewhere ''St. Elsewhere'' was an American medical drama television series created by Joshua Brand and John Falsey, that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982, to May 25, 1988. The series stars Ed Flanders, Norman Lloyd, and William Daniels as ...

''. His film appearances have included roles in '' True Grit: A Further Adventure'' (1978), ''

First Monday in October ''First Monday in October'' is a 1978 play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The title refers to the day on which the United States Supreme Court traditionally convenes following its summer recess. Productions The play premiered on Broadwa ...

'' (1981), '' The Getaway'' (1994), '' A Perry Mason Mystery:The Case of the Lethal Lifestyle'' (1994), and '' Against the Law'' (1997).

References

External links

* * 1951 births Living people American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from New York (state) People from Mount Kisco, New York {{US-tv-actor-1950s-stub