James Carter Houghton (November 7, 1948 – August 27, 2024) was an American actor and soap opera writer. He was best known as an original cast member of CBS prime time soap opera ''

Knots Landing ''Knots Landing'' is an American primetime television soap opera that aired on CBS from December 27, 1979, to May 13, 1993. A spin-off of ''Dallas (TV series), Dallas'', it was set in a fictitious coastal suburb of Los Angeles and initially cente ...

'' and played the role of Kenny Ward during seasons one through four (1979–1983).

Life and career

Houghton was born in Los Angeles, California on November 7, 1948. He was the son of producer

Buck Houghton Archible Ernest "Buck" Houghton (May 4, 1915 – May 14, 1999) was an American television producer and writer best known for producing the first three seasons of ''The Twilight Zone'', as well as many other television programs and independen ...

. He began his acting career with appearances in the television shows ''Man With A Camera'', ''

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 ...

,'' and '' McKeever & the Colonel''. He was an original cast member of

CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...

daytime soap opera ''

The Young and the Restless ''The Young and the Restless'' (often abbreviated as ''Y&R'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in the fictional Genoa City (named after the real-life Genoa City, Wiscon ...

'' where he played Greg Foster from 1973 to 1976. After leaving daytime, Houghton was cast in a leading role in the short-lived CBS action series '' Code R'' in 1977. His most prominent role is that of Kenny Ward,

Kim Lankford Kim Lankford (born June 14, 1954) is an American businesswoman and retired actress, best known for her role as Ginger Ward on '' Knots Landing'' from 1979 to 1983. Life and career Lankford was born in Montebello, California. She made her scre ...

's character's husband, on the long-running CBS prime time soap opera '' Knots Landing ''from 1979 to 1983. During the 1980s, he also guest-starred on ''

Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. ...

'', ''Hotel'', ''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy-drama television series created by Wilford Lloyd Baumes that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1977, to May 24, 1986. In addition, three TV movies aired before the regular series pre ...

'', and ''

Remington Steele ''Remington Steele'' is an American television series co-created by Robert Butler and Michael Gleason. The series, starring Stephanie Zimbalist and Pierce Brosnan, was produced by MTM Enterprises and first broadcast on NBC from October 1, 1982, ...

''. In 1986, he had a small role in the ABC miniseries ''

North and South, Book II ''North and South'' is a trilogy of American television miniseries broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company network in 1985, 1986, and 1994. Set before, during, and immediately after the American Civil War, they are based on the 1980s tri ...

'' and went on to play Cash Cassidy on the

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Broadcasting * Aliw Broadcasting Corporation, Philippine broadcast company * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial American ...

prime time soap opera ''

The Colbys ''The Colbys'' (originally titled ''Dynasty II: The Colbys'') is an American prime time soap opera that originally aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from November 20, 1985, to March 26, 1987. Created by Richard and Esther Shapiro and E ...

'' from 1986 to 1987. Houghton appeared in a number of films, including, '' Sweet Sugar'' (1972), '' One on One'' (1977), ''

I Wanna Hold Your Hand "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Recorded on 17 October 1963 and released on 29 November 1963 in the United Kingdom, it was the first Beatles record to be mad ...

'' (1978), ''

More American Graffiti ''More American Graffiti'' is a 1979 American coming-of-age comedy film written and directed by Bill L. Norton, produced by Howard Kazanjian. The film, shot in multiple aspect ratios for comedic and dramatic emphasis, is the sequel to the 1973 ...

'' (1979), ''

Superstition A superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic (supernatural), magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly app ...

'' (1982) and ''

Purple People Eater Purple is a color similar in appearance to violet light. In the RYB color model historically used in the arts, purple is a secondary color created by combining red and blue pigments. In the CMYK color model used in modern printing, purple is m ...

'' (1988). In 1991, Houghton returned to '' The Young and the Restless ''and also ''

The Bold and the Beautiful ''The Bold and the Beautiful'' (often referred to as ''B&B'') is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. It premiered on March 23, 1987, as a sister show to the Bells' other soap opera ''Th ...

'' as a script writer, a position he held into the 2000s. He is also credited along with his sister, Mona Houghton, for writing several episodes of the long-running series, ''

.'' Houghton died of

peritoneal mesothelioma Peritoneal mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of the abdomen. This type of cancer affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work ...

on August 27, 2024, at the age of 75. His death was not announced until February 28, 2025.

Awards and nominations

Daytime Emmy Awards The Daytime Emmy Awards, or Daytime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NA ...

*WINS (1992, 1997, 2000, 2006; Best Writing Team; ''The Young and the Restless'') *NOMINATIONS (1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004 & 2005; Best Writing; ''The Young and the Restless'')

Writers Guild of America Award The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film, television, and radio writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949. Eligibility Th ...

*WGA WINS (2002 & 2005 seasons; ''The Young and the Restless'') *WGA NOMINATIONS (1999 & 2001 seasons; ''The Young and the Restless'')

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Houghton, Jim 1948 births 2024 deaths American soap opera writers American male screenwriters American television producers Daytime Emmy Award winners American male television actors American male soap opera actors Writers Guild of America Award winners American male television writers